Some of my best memories were spent in Tennessee's great outdoors. As a child, I spent most of my summers running trotlines with my grandfather on the Tennessee River. It sparked an early appreciation of hunting and fishing that has lasted throughout the years. As soon as my children were old enough, I took them hunting and fishing. These were very special times that I will always cherish.
Today is National Hunting and Fishing Day. I particularly look forward to celebrating it this year as I was recently able to pay back my grandfather's investment in this time-honored tradition on an outing with my own grandchildren. There are strong, lifelong bonds created while hunting and fishing. This is increasingly needed in an era when children are too often attracted to electronic activities that keep them indoors.
The appreciation of hunting and fishing started long before Tennessee gained statehood. On National Hunting and Fishing Day, we are proud to recognize the historical and ongoing contributions of our state's original conservationists - sportsmen and women. Tennessee hunters and anglers are the primary source of conservation funding for the Volunteer State. Through the purchase of licenses, tags and stamps, and by paying self-imposed excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing tackle, motorboat fuel and other equipment, hunters and anglers drive conservation funding to preserve our unparalleled natural spaces for future generations to enjoy.
Last year alone, hunters and fisherman contributed nearly $63 million to fund state conservation efforts through the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). All Tennesseans benefit from these funds through improved access to public lands, public shooting ranges, improved soil and water quality, habitat restoration, fish and wildlife research, private and public habitat management, hunter education, boat access area construction and many other TWRA projects funded through this system.
However, the benefits extend beyond this. Hunting and angling are a significant economic driver for our state. Tennessee sportsmen and women spend nearly $2 billion per year on their outdoor pursuits, supporting more than 26,000 jobs in the state and contributing more than $167 million in state and local taxes.
These are some of the reasons it is so important that Tennessee sportsmen and women invest time and effort to encourage future participation in these outdoor activities. I encourage you to join our efforts to increase participation through the Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3) Program. This nationwide effort needs your support, and it's going to take the involvement of every Tennessee hunter, regardless of age, to ensure the future of the outdoor pursuits we celebrate on National Hunting and Fishing Day.
Our hunting and angling heritage should not be taken for granted, and getting the next generation of Tennessee's sportsmen and women involved will help ensure the conservation of our abundant natural resources for the future. I hope that you will share these activities with your children and grandchildren and join us in our efforts to preserve this tradition for many, many generations of Tennesseans.
Learn more about National Hunting and Fishing Day at www.NHFDay.org.
State Rep. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, is co-chairman of the Tennessee General Assembly Sportsmen's Caucus. Contact him at sen.mike.bell@capitol.tn.gov.