Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day at the Cowlitz Public Shooting Range

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is partnering with the Cowlitz Public Shooting Range to sponsor a free shooting event for youth in celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

The event is Saturday, Sept. 26, and will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cowlitz Public Shooting Range, located at 1000 Toutle Park Rd. in Castle Rock (three quarters of a mile east of I-5, exit 52).

Youth 17 and under can shoot for free with an accompanying adult. Master hunters and hunter education instructors will be on hand to answer questions and provide guidance.

The event also features:

· Lunch provided for free by the non-profit Hunter Education Resource Organization for the first 100 attendees and their accompanying adult.

· A free raffle for gift cards from Bob’s Sporting Goods and Sportsman’s Warehouse.

· WDFW’s hunter education booth and the WDFW Law Enforcement Program TIP (Turn in a Poacher) Trailer.

Youth participants can bring their rifle and ammunition to shoot on the rifle range.

WDFW will also bring rifles, shotguns, ammunition, and National Archery in the Schools Program archery equipment for youth to try out at the facility. Eye and ear protection will be provided during the event.

“This family oriented event is a great way to introduce youth and newcomers to target shooting, or to practice for upcoming hunting seasons,” said George Dennis, master hunter and event organizer.

The WDFW Master Hunter permit program emphasizes safe, lawful and ethical hunting. For more information on the program, visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/masterhunter/.

David Whipple, WDFW Hunter Education division manager said the event is also an opportunity to increase public awareness of the important role that hunters and anglers play in conservation of natural resources.

National Hunting and Fishing Day, formalized by Congress in 1971, was created by the National Shooting Sports Foundation to celebrate the conservation successes of hunters and anglers.

National Hunting and Fishing Day is observed on the fourth Saturday of September each year.