HARRISBURG –- The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) are pleased to join with other fish and wildlife conservation agencies across the country to recognize National Hunting and Fishing Day this Saturday, September 27, 2025!
“National Hunting and Fishing Day is really an opportunity to celebrate conservation across the country, but especially here in Pennsylvania,” said Steve Smith, PGC Executive Director. “We are blessed to have such a rich and deep history of dedicated hunters and trappers that have made conservation possible for all Pennsylvanians to enjoy wildlife for generations to come.”
PFBC Executive Director Tim Schaeffer echoed Smith’s comments and pointed to the Commonwealth’s plentiful lakes, rivers, and streams as destinations for outdoor adventure.
"On National Hunting and Fishing Day and every other day of the year in Pennsylvania, there are limitless opportunities to get outside, cast a line with family and friends, and enjoy some of the 86,000 miles of water and more than 2,000 lakes that make our state so special," said Schaeffer. "We encourage seasoned anglers and boaters to recognize that conservation as a whole depends on getting young people involved, becoming good stewards of our aquatic resources, and preserving recreational opportunities for the future.”
To commemorate National Hunting and Fishing Day, Smith and Schaeffer invited the public to participate in several upcoming, free events. Please note that some of these events require pre-registration with a limited number of participants:
- 9/27, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. -- McConnells Mill State Park, Lawrence County: During the McConnells Mill Heritage Festival, PFBC education staff will host a fishing rod casting demonstration and learning station. Registration is not required.
- 9/28, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. -- Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitors Center, Lancaster and Lebanon counties: This free, family-friendly event will feature hands-on demonstrations and dozens of vendors with hunting, fishing, and conservation activities. Registration is not required.
- 9/28, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Bald Eagle State Park, Centre County: Participants can build fish habitat structures for the lake, test their archery skills with an archery course (ages 12+), and build and take home a Blue Bird nesting box. Register for this event in advance HERE
- 9/28, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Marshall Lake at North Park, Allegheny County: This Family Fishing Program is for families with little or no fishing experience to learn basic fishing skills. Register for this event in advance HERE.
To purchase a Pennsylvania hunting or fishing license, customers can visit either the PGC or PFBC websites to connect to the HuntFishPA online portal or visit more than 700 retail license issuing agents.
Hunters and anglers are reminded to keep safety in mind this fall by wearing safety harnesses and life jackets. Each year in Pennsylvania, countless hunters are injured or die as a result of tree stand falls. If every hunter wore a full-body safety harness attached properly to a tree at all times while hunting or climbing, 100% of severe falls to the ground could be eliminated. Anglers, boaters, and hunters are reminded that from November 1 through April 30, when waters are very cold, life jackets are required to be worn by any person aboard most small boats, including all kayaks and canoes. Each year, approximately 80% of victims involved in fatal boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket.
National Hunting and Fishing Day was established by Congress in 1971. For more information, visit NHFD.org.
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Media Contacts:
Travis Lau
Pennsylvania Game Commission
(717) 705-6541
trlau@pa.gov
Mike Parker
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
(717) 585-3076
michparker@pa.gov