As part of the National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrations, officials from the Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission and the Governor’s Youth Hunting, Fishing and Conservation Council were joined by several respected statewide sportsmen's organizations to highlight the various benefits that Pennsylvanians receive from hunting, trapping and fishing.

Those sportsmen's clubs participating in the event were: the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania, the Ruffed Grouse Society and the Pennsylvania Chapter of Pheasants Forever.

"It has been said many times that sportsmen and sportswomen were America's first conservationists," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "It was the hunters, trappers and anglers who were the first to raise their voices about the need for conservation."

Roe noted that, in the late 1800s, hunters, trappers and anglers were the ones who first decried the losses afield from the commercialization of wildlife and the destruction of wildlife habitat.

"Sportsmen were some of the first Americans to recognize the toll of pollution on fish and wildlife, and the need to preserve our wild spaces," Roe said. "Names like Roosevelt, Hornaday, Leopold and Audubon, were hunters first before they became names that are revered today.

"And, even to this day, hunters, trappers and anglers continue to almost solely fund fish and wildlife conservation in Pennsylvania, as well as managing Pennsylvania's wildlife through hunting and trapping. There is no question that sportsmen and sportswomen play a vital role in supporting the state economy, as well as the economic well-being of many rural areas of the Commonwealth."

Roe noted that, according to a 1998 Center for Rural Pennsylvania study, hunting, trapping and fishing have a $9.6 billion annual economic impact on the state and support some 88,000 jobs.

Dr. Douglas Austen, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission executive director, said that Pennsylvania also has played an historical role in these activities.

"Pennsylvania has been the birthplace of many fishing firsts," Dr. Austen said. "The country's first fishing club was formed in Philadelphia in 1732, the nation's first fishing magazine and first fishing book were published here and, throughout history, the Keystone state has been home to many important angling innovators who popularized the sport across the country.

"Today, Pennsylvania remains a top fishing destination for anglers who travel here to sample our famous trout streams and world-class bass fisheries."

Each year, nearly two million people, including about 500,000 children, go fishing in Pennsylvania. Residents and visitors combine to take some 18 million fishing trips in the Commonwealth annually. But, anglers aren't the only ones making a prize catch; fishing is a real trophy for Pennsylvania's economy.

Austen noted that several studies have documented the economic contributions from sportfishing in Pennsylvania. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the American Sportfishing Association estimate fishing and fishing-related activities generate more than $1.6 billion for Pennsylvania's economy each year. The Center for Rural Pennsylvania projects the positive economic impact at $4.7 billion annually.

"Sportfishing in Pennsylvania supports 14,000 jobs and generates $53 million in annual revenue for the state's general fund through sales and income taxes," Austen said.

Roe and Austen pointed out that, in 1970, the first to suggest an official day of thanks to sportsmen was Ira Joffe, owner of Joffe's Gun Shop in Upper Darby, Delaware County. Then Gov. Raymond Shafer adopted Joffe's idea and created "Outdoor Sportsman's Day" in the state.

With determined prompting from various sportsmen, the concept soon emerged on the national level when, in early 1972, Congress unanimously passed legislation authorizing a National Hunting and Fishing Day. On May 2, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed the first proclamation of National Hunting and Fishing Day, and soon after, all 50 governors and more than 600 mayors had joined in by proclaiming state and local versions of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

9/29/2006