National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrates the rich tradition of hunting and fishing with events around the country on the fourth Saturday in September. The day was set aside by Congress in 1971 to recognize the importance of hunters and anglers as conservationists and preservationists of our lands, waterways, and wildlife.
You can observe National Hunting and Fishing Day by attending an organized function near you, or by simply heading out to hunt or fish. To get you started, we have some tips to make the most of your adventure and highlight some great hunting and fishing spots. If you have the time for making it a multi-day expedition, book a nearby campsite to complete the adventure!
Recommended: How to Find a Campground Near You
1. Go with a Buddy
One of the purposes of National Hunting and Fishing Day is to keep traditions alive. There’s no better way to do this than to go with a friend or two and swap hunting and fishing stories and learn new skills. Besides the camaraderie, there is a safety element to going with a friend instead of solo.
Pro Tip: If you haven’t gone hunting or fishing in a while, remember there can be considerable downtime, and plenty of moments to simply enjoy the quiet of your natural surroundings. So choose the right folks to share in the silence and semi-solitude. Not everyone is – ahem – ideal for this task.
2. Know What You’re Hunting and Fishing Before You Head Out
There are a lot of restrictions and regulations for fishing and especially hunting. The red tape can frustrate anyone who just wants to get on the road and get their adventure on. The rules, however difficult to navigate, are there for a reason: to protect people, the natural environment, and wildlife.
Regulations primarily concern which animals you can hunt or fish, how many you can take, and when you can do so. All of this means that you should decide what you are hunting or fishing before you leave for your trip. There are huge gear considerations relating to which animals you’re hunting and which fish you are trying to reel in, too. Also, you’ll likely need to secure licenses or permits in advance specific to your game.
Pro Tip: ReserveAmerica makes it easy to purchase hunting and fishing licenses for several states.
Recommended: How to Get a Hunting License
3. Secure Your Licenses and Camping Spots
Once you know what you are hunting or fishing you can secure your permit, and, if needed, camping sites. The hassle-free way to get both is online. For your license, you’ll need identification information and payment method. A hunting license may also require having previously taken an education course. (Remember, you’ll need a license for the state in which you are hunting or fishing, not where you reside.)
Your camping options are pretty wide open with fishing, but with hunting, it will depend on the land you are hunting, which may include wildlife preserves, BLM-managed public lands, state parks, wetland management districts, private lands, and more. The three main factors that will influence your camping type while hunting are:
- the type of terrain
- the weather at that time of year
- the animal you are hunting
Where to Hunt and Go Camping
Check out these four stellar campgrounds within hunting areas, or very close to them, with a variety of camping style options:
1. Elkhead Reservoir State Park, Colorado
Nestled in the high plains of northwest Colorado, Elkhead Reservoir and the surrounding area are characterized by gently rolling hills of rangeland. The reservoir waters are a favorite in the region for warm water species of fish such as Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Crappie.
After Labor Day, hunting is permitted in the park during established seasons. Big Game hunting is allowed on the northern portion of the park, which as you might guess, includes some distinctively good elk hunting. Waterfowl hunters also flock to the park for a wide array of birds that migrate to the reservoir.
Elkhead Reservoir is a great place for the whole family, even the non-hunters. With boating, picnicking, and swimming beach in the park, there is plenty to keep the clan happy. Elkhead has 44 camping sites, including 30 with electric hook-ups and 14 basic sites.
State Hunting License Information
Recommended: Great Kansas Cabin Getaways for Hunting and Fishing
2. Cedar Bluff State Park, Kansas
Cedar Bluff Wildlife Area in western Kansas allows for year-round hunting, making it a standout for its hunting accessibility. Depending on the time of year, you can hunt big game, turkey, migratory birds, pheasants, and waterfowl. The reserve is also a fantastic fishing hole. Fish from the boat, shore, or covered handicap-accessible fishing dock. There is also a fishing pond for the kiddos.
The scenic park, with its prairie grass and cedar bluffs that lend it its name, has plenty of campsite types to meet a range of camping style preferences. There are 197 campsites total, including six cabins, 44 primitive and 23 standard full hookups, and standard and electric hookups.
Book a Site or a Cabin at Cedar Bluff State Park
3. City of Two Harbors Burlington Bay Campground, Minnesota
Within an hour’s drive or less of the City of Two Harbors Burlington Bay Campground are several hunting spots. Very nearby are lands encompassing the Minnesota Forest Legacy Program (with public hunting rights) as well as state lands, including Cloquet Valley State Forest, arguably the most popular in the area.
Of course, it probably doesn’t need to be mentioned that there is fishing galore within the park and all around it. The park is located on Lake Superior and the state’s nickname is “Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Minnesota is a hunter’s paradise with just about every type of game available for the taking – from bear and elk to badger and raccoon, and prairie chicken and wild turkey to goose and dove. Much of the game has application or lottery deadlines weeks, if not months, before hunting season. Hunting applications for certain game – especially small game like rabbits, or birds like geese – can be done near or at the time of hunting, so be sure to check the state’s requirements.
State Hunting License Information
Recommended: Florida Forest Service Hunting & Fishing Spots with Great Campsites
4. Leroy Percy State Park, Mississippi
Leroy Percy State Park is the oldest state park and earned its early park designation for a reason: its natural beauty is a treasure. The park is replete with artesian springs, cypress trees, and ancient oaks cloaked in Spanish moss.
Hunters can seasonally pursue deer, squirrel, turkey, duck, and dove within the park. It is an unspoiled hunting area far from the crowds, a distinction it gets in part for being the only state park with a wildlife preserve.
The park also features a disc golf course, a playground, hiking trails, and volleyball courts. There are 27 campsites total, including three cabins, three primitive, and 16 standard sites.
State Hunting and Fishing License Information
Are you ready for your adventure? Plan your camping trip!