Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander. She is a lawyer, an educator, former prosecutor, State Representative and Senator. She was the first woman to lead a Senate caucus. But the most important title she boasts is MOM. Inspired by her family, she’s devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone.
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September 28, 2024
WHEREAS, Michigan has a rich and storied history of hunting and fishing dating back before Michigan’s statehood that carries forward to this day; and,
WHEREAS, hunting and fishing continue to be an integral component of the cultural fabric of communities throughout the state, and over recent years have offered a growing number of participants access and opportunity to connect with nature on a personal level while simultaneously providing food security, a sense of self-sufficiency, and both mental and physical health benefits; and,
WHEREAS, Michigan’s sportsmen and women were among the first conservationists to support the establishment of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to conserve fish, wildlife, and their habitat, and through their license fees helped fund state efforts to provide for healthy and sustainable natural resources; and,
WHEREAS, upon realizing that license fees alone were insufficient to restore and sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations, hunters and anglers self-imposed a system of excise taxes on firearms and ammunition, fishing tackle, and motorboat fuels to raise additional conservation funds; and,
WHEREAS, last year alone, over 1.4 million Michigan’s hunters and anglers generated over $65 million through this system to support the conservation efforts of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and contributed to the $12.3 million spent on outdoor activities; and,
WHEREAS, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, nationally sportsmen and women spent more than $38 billion on hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting, which does not include spending on items such as trips and travel, or license fees that were necessary for their participation, helping to fuel the outdoor economy which comprised 2% of Michigan’s GDP that same year; and,
WHEREAS, National Hunting and Fishing Day was established in 1972 to celebrate and recognize hunters and anglers for their immense contributions to fish and wildlife conservation, and to our society;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 28, 2024, as Hunting and Fishing Day in Michigan.