National Hunting and Fishing Day

This coming Saturday, September 22, 2012 is the annual “National Hunting and Fishing Day”, http://www.nhfday.org/ .  We do a lot of promotional events designed to introduce and recruit folks to various outdoor recreation activities, especially hunting and fishing, but it seems like many of those events occur in the spring and summer.  We have some fall events like the Missouri River Expo held at Ponca State Park each fall, http://www.missouririverexpo.com/ , but I do not know of many events that specifically promote National Hunting and Fishing Day in Nebraska.  Maybe we need some?

Anyway, even if there is not an organized event, we can each celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day with our own private observances!  And, fall is the perfect time to “combo up” some hunting and fishing.

As soon as school activities kick off for the fall, actually anymore that starts in August, I notice less fishing activity on our waters and I begin to hear less fishing reports.  I fully realize that many outdoors folks shift their focus from fishing to hunting in the fall, I love to hunt too.  But, I would like to point out that Nebraska has a great diversity of hunting and fishing opportunities and relatively long, extended seasons that offer some unique opportunities to combine hunting and fishing in the fall.

For example, a number of folks will plan a big game hunting trip in northern and western parts of Nebraska, and if you are planning that, I would remind you that there are some fine trout streams in those parts of the state.

Earlier in the fall, how about a morning dove shoot followed by some panfishing?

Or some sandhills grouse or waterfowl along with some reservoir walleyes?

Maybe fall turkeys and big pike?

In recent autumns, late into the fall even, we have combo-ed up some pheasant hunting in one of the best pheasant areas in the state right now, southwest Nebraska, with some Lake Ogallala rainbow trout.

And this last one is one from way back, the photo quality ain’t great, but it is a picture of a true hunt/fish combo, my Dad with an opening day rooster pheasant and then an evening interstate lake largemouth bass.

Anyway, there are some ideas for you to commemorate National Hunting & Fishing Day, and I would recommend that you observe that “holiday” as many times as possible this fall in as many ways as possible.  The hunting and fishing opportunities are out there someplace in Nebraska and this is the perfect time of year to do ‘em all!  Try it, it’s COMBODACIOUS.