In 1972, Congress and President Richard Nixon made a decision to set aside the fourth Saturday in September to recognize hunters and fishermen for the important role they had played in wildlife conservation. Thus was the birth of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

On Sept. 28, National Hunting and Fishing Day will celebrate its 25th anniversary. To date, these individuals have contributed over $19 billion through the purchasing of licenses and taxes paid on their equipment.

Some of you may wonder what that $19 billion has gone towards. For starters it has aided in research and wildlife management programs, as well as habitat acquisition and restoration. This in turn has benefited hundreds of species, from those that are not hunted, such as songbirds and eagles to those species that are hunted such as whitetail deer and waterfowl.

The objectives of National Hunting and Fishing Day are numerous.

First of all, it provides those who may not be familiar with conservation and outdoor sports the opportunity to see what the sports of hunting and fishing have to offer. Secondly, National Hunting and Fishing Day aims to increase the public's knowledge of the part sportsmen play in conservation. Finally, this special day gives outdoor organizations and groups an opportunity to get the word out about their organization and what it has to offer.

In celebration of these 25 years of contributions to wildlife and fisheries management, the Missouri Department of Conservation will host an open house Sept. 28 at its Regional Service Center in the North County Park between Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

Open house hours will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Plenty of activities and exhibits will be available for the whole family to enjoy. At this time, two local bass organizations will have exhibits set up and a local chapter of Ducks Unlimited will be on hand to answer questions about their organization. A local resident will demonstrate the art of waterfowl carving and will exhibit a collection of birds that he has carved.

The Department of Conservation will have live mammals, fish and reptiles on hand for educational purposes and will also have fishing poles and bait available for those who want to try their hand at fishing in one of the County Park's ponds.

The Long Term Resource Monitoring Team from Jackson will have equipment and boats on display and personnel to answer questions about their research on the Mississippi River. Several displays will be set up for the kids including furs and animal tracks as well as balloons and door prizes that will be given away. Department representatives will also be on hand to answer questions concerning fish and wildlife rules and regulations.

Another special event is taking place throughout the month of September and that is "Quality Water Month." There will be items of interest concerning Quality Water Month and how you can be a Quality Water Volunteer at the Department's Open House on Sept. 28.

This month was set aside to stress the importance of clean, non-polluted water. At any short stretch of a Missouri stream there are many different species that call the water their home. There are about 2,800 different species of insects found in Missouri stream and their survival depends on clean water.

Here are some things you and your family can do around the house to prevent water pollution and thus ensure those 2,800 different kinds of insects continue to thrive. The first and most important prevention of water pollution is to not litter. Trash that is found along roads and streets eventually ends up in creeks, storm drains and rivers. A second method for preventing water pollution is to recycle items such as used motor oil, antifreeze and batteries.

There are drop-off points located in the area at certain times of the year where you can drop off these pollution-causing items. The best way to prevent water pollution is to use items that are "water friendly."

These include items such as baking soda and water which can be combined to make an all-purpose household scrubber. Baking soda and white vinegar which can be poured down the drain along with boiling water to freshen the drain and olive oil and lemon juice that can be substituted for the commercial furniture polishes that are commonly used.

For more detailed information on these items and their uses, contact me at the Regional Service Center at (573)290-5730.

So make plans now to bring the whole family out for a day of fun and education when the Missouri Department of Conservation celebrates National Hunting and Fishing Day and Quality Water Month.

Gaye Puchbauer is a public service clerk with the Missouri Department of Conservation.