Genoa's display booth at Wern Valley Sports Club

Wern Valley Sports Club offered fishing and hunting seminars to beginning outdoorsmen.

 Genoa National Fish Hatchery participated in two National Hunting and Fishing Day events September 27-28, 2008. Tony Brady attended Cabela’s National Hunting and Fishing Day weekend event in Prairie du Chien, Wis., and introduced more than 500 attendees to some of the hatchery’s 2008 fish produced for sport and recreational fishing, threatened species restoration efforts, and endangered species recovery programs. Jenny Walker Bailey attended the Sportsman Channel’s National Hunting and Fishing Day event at Wern Valley Sports Club near Waukesha, Wis., introducing more than 700 participants to native sport and recreational fishing species, as well as lake sturgeon from Genoa’s aquatic species restoration program, and channel catfish used as hosts in endangered winged mapleleaf recovery. Several native mussel species were included to help increase public awareness of the value of preserving freshwater mussel populations in North America.

National Hunting and Fishing Day was created in 1972 to encourage all U.S. citizens to join together with outdoor sportsmen in using natural resources wisely and increasing public awareness of the value of resource management for future generations. Today it remains one of the most effective tools at promoting wildlife conservation and outdoor sports activities. One of the major goals of the National Hunting and Fishing Day events sponsored by businesses and sports clubs around the country is to introduce newcomers to outdoor sports such as hunting and fishing in a fun and recreational way. The events are popular with kids and adults of all ages, and it is estimated that these events create interest in conservation and the activities that help support resource management programs. Exposure to these activities is important, especially to people who may not otherwise have to opportunity to try a new outdoor sport. Attendance this year at both Cabela’s and Wern Valley increased from last year’s events, and it is expected to continue to rise each year, according to sponsors.