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National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) recognizes sportsmen and women for their contributions to our nation’s natural resources and sporting heritage. While NHFD is officially celebrated by the public on the fourth Saturday every September, the staff, partners, and volunteers of the Lenape National Wildlife Refuge Complex (LNWRC) work hard to celebrate the storied tradition of hunting and fishing throughout the year. LNWRC Project Leader Michael Horne and his team kicked off planning efforts for 2025 hunting and fishing programs in January and the events began a few months later.
Refuge staff partnered with the Double V Rod and Gun Club to host the annual Veterans’ Fishing Derby at the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Sussex, New Jersey on June 7, 2025. Over 40 veterans from several local Veterans Affairs’ facilities came out for the festivities, having the opportunity to fish off the refuge’s floating dock with the assistance of experienced anglers. Participants also had the opportunity to explore the refuge grounds and try their hand with a bow and arrow on the refuge archery range. The day wrapped up with a lunch generously donated by members of the community and the Friends groups of the LNWRC.
The next fishing program came just a few weeks later with the annual Cops N’ Bobbers Fishing Day for youth campers at Warinanco Park in Elizabeth, New Jersey on July 16, 2025. Held in partnership with the members of the City of Elizabeth’s Police and Recreation Departments, refuge staff brought their mobile fishing and archery trailers to give the children hands-on experience with wildlife-dependent recreational activities. Many of the over 60 youth campers were trying fishing and archery for the first time, but judging from the smiles on the campers’ faces, this won’t have been the last time they participate in fishing and archery.
Hunting programming kicked off on August 23, 2025, with the annual Waterfowl Hunting Workshop at the Wallkill River NWR. Partners from Ducks Unlimited Wallkill River Chapter – North New Jersey and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife joined refuge staff to educate prospective hunters on waterfowl hunting. Participants received instruction on waterfowl biology, hunting ethics, and hunting safety.
The Cherry Valley NWR, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, served as the host site for the annual Pennsylvania Hunter – Trapper Education Class on September 13, 2025. Over 30 new hunters were trained in hunting and trapping safety and ethics from certified and seasoned hunter education instructors and conservation law enforcement officials. Participants, including youth hunters, also had the opportunity to learn about the refuge’s mentored deer and turkey hunting programs.
The annual orientation session for the mentored deer hunting program was held at the Cherry Valley NWR on September 20, 2025. Once again held in partnership with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, nearly 30 youth and adult novice hunters received a full day’s worth of classroom instruction and hands-on, in-the-field activities. Participants were taught field-dressing of harvested game, tree stand safety, and archery and firearm safety and shot placement. The day wrapped up with pizza and a sampling of venison treats.
The continued recruitment of the next generation of hunters continues at the Cherry Valley NWR with the archery mentored deer hunt scheduled for November of 2025 and the rifle mentored deer hunt scheduled for December of 2025. The year’s hunter programming will wrap up with planning efforts for a mentored turkey hunt at the Cherry Valley NWR in spring of 2026.
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