National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebration to be held at Stonewall Resort State Park, Sept. 17–18, 2016

Staff from the DNR Wildlife Resources, Law Enforcement and State Parks sections will be available throughout the weekend to assist visitors in learning skills and to answer any questions visitors may have.

"This weekend is the best time to get hands-on experience in outdoor recreation skills," said Bob Fala, director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR).

Byron Ferguson, longbow exhibition shooter, will perform hour-long shows at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. both days. Attending for the first time this year is Neal James of Animal Planet’s “Call of the Wildman” show, who will be on site to meet visitors and play his banjo.

The Outdoor Youth Challenge will take place both Saturday and Sunday. Youth ages 6-18 may participate and will be eligible to win prizes such as a lifetime hunting and fishing license, Conservation Camp scholarships and other hunting- and fishing-related items.

Seminars on the future of elk in West Virginia, snakes, coyote calling and hunting, waterfowl hunting with dogs and recording your own hunts will be presented each day.

The event is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.

Admission is $6 for adults and free to children 15 and younger. Complete schedules are available at www.wvdnr.gov under the Special Opportunities page. The event is cosponsored by the DNR and the West Virginia Wildlife Federation.