National Hunting and Fishing Day is Saturday, Sept. 24. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reminds Californians of the plentiful opportunities to enjoy hunting and fishing in the state and commends them for their commitment to conservation.

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. thanked California’s hunters and anglers for their conservation legacy and encouraged their continued support and dedication to conserving the state’s natural resources in a commemorative letter.

In 2015, over 2 million licensed hunters and anglers contributed approximately $90 million toward fish and wildlife management and conservation activities in the state. Fish and wildlife management and conservation activities have resulted in numerous success stories over the years in California. For example:

Tule Elk
1874: Thirty were remaining in California in one herd in the southern San Joaquin Valley.
2015: 4,200 animals distributed in 22 herds across California.

Desert Bighorn Sheep (Nelson)
1915: They were nearly extirpated in the state.
2014: There are approximately 2,000 in California.

Wild Trout Fisheries
1970: No designated wild trout sport fisheries.
2015: 51 designated wild trout waters, encompassing 1,400 miles of streams and 14 lakes.

Landlocked Sal 654 mon
1993: No landlocked salmon sport fisheries.
2015: Twenty-one reservoirs support sport fishing for Kokanee salmon and 12 reservoirs support sport fishing for landlocked Chinook salmon.

For more information on hunting and fishing opportunities in the Golden State, please visit wildlife.ca.gov. For information on how to purchase a hunting or fishing license, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/online-sales. For more information on National Hunting and Fishing Day, please visit hfday.org/.