Commentary: If You Enjoy Virginia’s Wildlife, Thank a Hunter or Angler

If you enjoy seeing a bald eagle soaring over the James River, hearing a turkey gobble in the spring woods, watching whitetail deer cross a field at dusk, catching a bass on a summer morning or simply knowing that wild places still exist in Virginia, there is someone you should thank:

A hunter or angler.

Cyrus Baird, seen here, is a lifelong Virginia hunter and conservationist who serves as a member of the Board of Wildlife Resources. He is a graduate of Clemson University, the Sorensen Institute for Civic Leadership, the National Conservation Leadership Institute, and is the Vice President of Government Affairs for Delta Waterfowl. (Photo courtesy Cyrus Baird)

That may sound surprising to some people. But for more than a century, sportsmen and women have played an outsized role in advancing wildlife conservation, not only here in the Commonwealth, but across America.

On September 26th, we will celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day across the country, and I think Virginians should take a moment to recognize that contribution and consider making one themselves.

I was born and raised in Virginia. I grew up hunting and fishing here, learning from people like my father, who understood that enjoying the outdoors comes with a responsibility to take care of it.

I’m a wildlife biologist by education, and today I work at the intersection of wildlife and conservation policy. I also have the privilege of serving on Virginia’s Board of Wildlife Resources.

That combination has given me an even greater appreciation for the work of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR).

DWR is responsible for managing Virginia’s wildlife and fisheries, conserving habitat, managing public lands, providing public access, conducting research, operating hatcheries, educating hunters and boaters, enforcing wildlife laws, and helping all Virginians safely enjoy the outdoors.

And it does all of that without relying on funding from the General Assembly.

A hunting or fishing license isn’t simply permission to go into the woods. It is part of Virginia’s wildlife conservation funding system.

DWR is almost entirely funded by the people who use and enjoy our natural resources through hunting and fishing licenses, stamps, tags, permits, boat registrations, and more.

In 2025, 37% of DWR’s operating budget came directly from the sale of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses, stamps and permits. Federal excise tax funds derived from sportsmen and women account for another 23% annually.

That connection is important.

The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and The Dingell‑Johnson Act uses federal excise taxes paid on firearms, ammunition, archery and sport-fishing equipment to return money to state fish and wildlife agencies for conservation. The amount states receive is based in part on the number of paid hunting and fishing licenses they sell annually.

That means the Virginia hunter or angler sitting in a duck blind or fishing on a boat is helping support conservation that reaches far beyond that duck or fish species.

Our hunters and anglers’ contribution helps fund wildlife habitat and supports research. It helps provide public access. It undergirds wildlife management. It supports outdoor and hunter education. It contributes to the overall conservation of all wildlife and their habitats.

And those benefits belong to all Virginians.

That is why my message this National Hunting and Fishing Day isn’t directed only at sportsmen and women.

If you enjoy Virginia’s wildlife, thank a hunter or angler — and consider becoming part of the system that supports it.

If you hunt or fish, buy your license. If you haven’t hunted or fished in years but still care deeply about Virginia’s wildlife, consider purchasing a license.

There are Virginians who are exempt from license requirements because of their age, where they live, or other circumstances. For those individuals, voluntarily purchasing a license or conservation stamp is a simple way to contribute to the system that has helped make Virginia one of the best places in America to experience wildlife.

I understand that asking people to spend more money isn’t always easy. The Board recently approved increases to many hunting, fishing, trapping, and boating fees, effective Oct. 1st. Those increases followed years without adjustments to many of these fees, while DWR has faced increasing costs and more responsibilities.

As a sportsman myself, I know nobody likes paying more, but I also know what those dollars make possible for our natural resources.

That’s the remarkable thing about our conservation system: the people who hunt and fish help pay for a resource that millions of people enjoy.

If you hike, birdwatch, photograph wildlife, paddle a river, visit a wildlife management area, or simply enjoy knowing that Virginia has healthy populations of fish and wildlife, you benefit from the good work DWR does every day.

Our conservation system was built by generations of hunters and anglers who understood that taking from the outdoors comes with an obligation to give something back. That tradition has helped create the Virginia we enjoy today

So this National Hunting and Fishing Day, I’m asking you to do something simple.

Thank a hunter or angler.

By Cyrus Baird, Virginia Mercury

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