<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0x2NPN_0viwh2qE00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0x2NPN_0viwh2qE00" width="540" height="405" ></figure>On Sept. 18, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) encouraged New Yorkers to give back to the State lands and sites they treasure and get outdoors by participating in stewardship events for Fish and Wildlife Day on Saturday, Sept. 28.This summer, Governor Kathy Hochul launched the ‘Get Offline, Get Outside’ campaign to encourage New Yorkers to put down their phones and screens and spend time in nature and Fish and Wildlife Day provides a perfect opportunity to participate in fish and wildlife conservation service projects and educational workshops across the state, celebrating New York’s diverse wildlife and habitats.“New York’s abundant and peerless natural resources draw millions of visitors to the outdoors every year, requiring continued efforts to protect and preserve wildlife habitats,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “The stewardship opportunities during Love Our New York Lands Fish and Wildlife Day bolster our efforts to protect State lands and sites and are perfect for groups or individuals seeking to give back to nature and the special places they love.”Registration is currently open for the first Fish and Wildlife Day. New Yorkers are encouraged to visit Parks &amp; Trails website to sign up for events and show appreciation for the natural world. Participants can plant native plant species and remove invasives to foster healthy wildlife habitat at a nearby State Park, learn how to build and repair bird houses that will benefit species at a DEC Wildlife Management Area, or pair stewardship efforts with a birding or nature walk that highlights the importance of wildlife conservation.Fish and Wildlife Day is part of the Love Our New York Lands Stewardship campaign, a series of themed public stewardship events that encourage year-round collaboration and highlight the state’s outdoor recreation assets and the need to safeguard those resources. The series began in April with Canal Clean Sweep, followed by “I Love My Park” Day in May, and the first Adirondack and Catskill Park Day on Sept. 7. The days are offered and organized in partnership with Parks &amp; Trails New York (PTNY), DEC, State Parks, and the New York State Canal Corporation.National Hunting and Fishing Day was designated by Congress in 1972 to encourage people to experience, understand, and appreciate traditional outdoor sports and recreation and our abundant natural resources. This day also recognizes hunters and anglers for their leadership in fish and wildlife conservation.To encourage year-round stewardship, the goal of Love Our New York Lands is to help protect the state’s natural resources by providing visitors with the knowledge necessary to reduce their impact, engage users to practice sustainable and safe recreation, and help all visitors feel welcome while visiting State lands. The efforts to enhance New York’s public lands align with Governor Hochul’s plan to plant 25 million trees across New York State by 2033, announced during her 2024 State of the State.HuntFishNY Events– Workshops to Develop Your Hunting and Fishing SkillsFor New Yorkers interested in trying out a shooting sport or beginning and advanced fishing programs DEC offers in-person, instructor-led courses which provide hands-on experience in shooting, hunting, trapping and fishing. For hunting-related courses, certified DEC instructors teach these four-hour courses. While hunter education certification is not offered with these courses, they are a great way for new hunters or those interested in becoming a hunter to develop their skills. Check out the HuntFishNY Events page for currently scheduled programs.DEC also designates several dates throughout the year as free fishing days, which allows anyone to recreationally fish without a freshwater fishing license in New York State! To complement National Hunting and Fishing Day, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, is designated as a free fishing day. This offers the perfect opportunity to try out fishing for the first time, for getting back into the sport after taking a break, or for taking a friend or the whole family along to fish. Even though a license is not needed, all fishing regulations apply.Photo at top: NYS DEC photo.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

National Hunting and Fishing Day includes free fishing day, more events on Sept. 28

On Sept. 18, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) encouraged New Yorkers to give back to the State lands and sites they treasure and get outdoors by participating in stewardship events for Fish and Wildlife Day on Saturday, Sept. 28.