Refuge Supervisor Aaron Archibeque welcomes visitors to National Hunting and Fishing Day.

Future Olympian Jon Michael McGrath signing autographs for a local Girl Scout group at the shotgun skills course.

A young shooter learns how to use a compound bow at the 3-D archery course.

Oklahoma Game Warden Curtis Latham providing insight into shooting techniques at the shotgun skills course.

The crowd watches a Labrador retriever with Deep Fork Retrivers following hand signals.

A youngster dreams.

  Tishomingo Refuge and Hatchery Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day

Assistant Director of Fish and Habitat Conservation Dr. Mamie Parker, with the rippling waters of Pennington Creek as the backdrop, opened National Hunting and Fishing Day at Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery. Dr. Parker eloquently spoke to the heart of the Service, our partners, who day in and day out carry on for our betterment.  

The co-event was attended by approximately 700 nature enthusiasts who were not disappointed about short lines to learn more about the sport at hand. The “star” of the morning session, at the fish hatchery, was without a doubt the speed fishing contest. The prospects of three female anglers honing out the top spots was also quite the revelation. The “star” of the refuge afternoon session was a tie between the shotgun skills course with future Olympian Jon Michael McGrath and the 3-D archery course.

The event was one that the Service could be very proud of based simply on one reason alone: bringing smiles to the faces of numerous children. The price of a smile can never be actuated to the tangible accounting of mere dollars making this event a priceless moment in the history of the Service.