ROANOKE, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and the West Virginia Wildlife Federation are teamed up again to present the 2025 National Hunting and Fishing Day event Saturday at Stonewall Resort in Lewis County.
The event, which is an array of activities scattered throughout the park is centered on a celebration of hunting and fishing. There are a myriad of demonstrations of outdoor activities. Those would include field dressing and butchering deer, fish cleaning, birds of prey demonstrations, squirrel dogs and coon dog demonstrations, casting with spinning and fly tackle, archery, and on the shooting range all visitors will be afforded a chance to shoot muzzleloaders, rifles, and shotguns under the guidance of Natural Resources Police.
“West Virginia is a perfect place for this and our primary focus is to let everybody know everything the outdoors has to offer. You can learn some new skills or even eat some things you’d never eaten before,” said Chris Scraggs head of programs for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
The event is an open house for the West Virginia DNR. Biologists and law enforcement personnel from throughout the state will be there to answer questions and demonstrate the work they do aimed at conservation and protection of the state’s wildlife and fisheries.
The event has a heavy focus on children. The Youth Outdoors Challenge goes on throughout the day. Children will be able to go to various activities in the park, participate, then at the end of the day qualify for some great prizes.
“I consider that the crown jewel of National Hunting and Fishing Day. It’s always there and gives kids a chance to experience things they may never have the opportunity to do,” said Scraggs.
There will be equipment demonstrations and displays and various seminars during the day. A number of vendors are set up on the park grounds to display and sell their wares. There will also be another Taste of the State Parks event Saturday afternoon at the Roanoke Building. Chefs from various State Park restaurants will prepare a specialty item or two and serve it up to those who purchase tickets to participate.
National Hunting and Fishing Day is actually a national organization. It’s now overseen by the National Shooting Sports Foundation which is the trade organization of the firearms industry. The day began in 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation and declared the first National Hunting and Fishing Day.
“I urge all citizens to join with outdoor sportsmen in the wise use of our natural resources and in insuring their proper management for the benefit of future generations.” read Nixon’s proclamation.
Over time, many other Presidents issued their own proclamations in celebration of the great accomplishments and contributions hunters and anglers have made to the conservation of wildlife in the United States.
The celebration in West Virginia started in the 1980’s at the West Virginia Wildlife Center at French Creek. After a few years, the show outgrew the venue and was moved to Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park. There NHFD was a two-day event and flourished through the 1990’s and 2000’s. At one time, with more than 10,000 in attendance, it was the second larges celebration of its kind in the United States. It moved for a few years to the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Fayette County, but returned to Stonewall Resort last year and drew more than 1500 people in a one-day event.
“It was a big homecoming and in one day we saw over 1,500 attend. We’re planning to more than double that this year,” Scraggs said.
Nationally the day is always the 4th Saturday in September, but that had to be modified in West Virginia because of changes in the opening day for archery hunting season and squirrel season. There was a concern the day could conflict with the opening day of some the popular fall hunting seasons.
The hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.wvdnr.gov and cost $10. They will also be available at the gate, for cash only. Those under the age of 14 get in free.