Aim an arrow at three-dimensional targets. Catch the biggest fish. Get hints on how to photograph wildlife, and watch the pros put Labrador retrievers to work. If you like paddle sports, come learn kayaking techniques. Get free advice on improving your casting.
That’s just a few of the hands-on things to choose from among an assortment of hunting and fishing-related activities at the National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebration held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 16. Morning events kick off at Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery, and
Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge plays host to the afternoon events. Both sites are located near Tishomingo, Oklahoma.
“Bring the family and try a new outdoor-related activity or take advantage of the many experts who will be at the celebration,” said Kerry Graves, Manager of the Hatchery. “Everything but lunch is free.”
The day begins with an opening ceremony at 8 a.m. at the hatchery followed by hands-on fly casting seminars, taught by certified Master Casters from the Federation of Fly Fishers. Pro bass angler Kitsy Cunningham will tell her fall fishing secrets. See live giant alligator gar – the second-largest freshwater fish in North America. The Oklahoma Fish Stickers will show you how to bowfish. Thirty randomly drawn people will win a fishing rod and tackle and then show off their prowess in a fishing contest that goes from 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Following lunch at the Refuge, afternoon activities include a casting contest, retriever demonstrations, guided walks, hands-on instruction using steel shot, a wildlife photography clinic and a display of wildlife art.
Call 580-384-5463 for a brochure and complete listing of events, and the whole host of area businesses and conservation groups that will be in attendance. KKAJ Radio will broadcast live from the event.
To reach the Hatchery for events from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., follow Highway 377/99 north from Tishomingo, then turn west on Highway 7 and follow it for six miles to the hatchery.
To reach the Refuge for the events beginning at 11:30 a.m., follow Highway 78 to the eastern edge of town. Turn south on Refuge Road at the high school (watch for sign). Follow Refuge Road 3 miles to headquarters.
National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebration is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wonders of Wildlife Museum. The event is being held on the 35th anniversary of National Hunting and Fishing Day which was established to recognize the contributions hunters and anglers have made to wildlife conservation in the United States. More than half of the 545 National Wildlife Refuges support hunting and fishing programs; nearly all of the 69 National Fish Hatcheries raise various game fishes.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.By: Elizabeth Slown
