Saturday morning, the Linn County Izaak Walton League Chapter sponsored a special event to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day in Cedar Rapids.

It will be a family -oriented day, with fun and educational activities designed to introduce people, young and old, to the outdoor sports while teaching them about the important role that hunting and fishing play in Iowa’s wildlife conservation programs.", said Bill Grams, spokesperson for the Linn County Chapter in Saturday's Press Release. "It’s a perfect opportunity to create a better public understanding of hunting and fishing and to create a better public awareness of the important role that outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen have played in conservation and improving our natural resources.

Featured attractions included:

• Archery.
• Air gun shooting.
• Fishing rod casting lessons.
• Presentations on Monarch Butterfly
  
• Honeybee hive demo
  
• Izaak Walton's Save Our Streams.
  
• Service and Precision rifle competition displays.
• Open House tours of the grounds
  

More than a dozen or more conservation groups were present including:

• Iowa DNR.
  
• Trees Forever.
  
• Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association.
  
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
  
• Wild Turkey Federation.
  
• Whitetails Unlimited.
  
• Waltonian Archers.
  
• Venture Crew 2000.

Several local businesses were also onsite:

• Cedar Valley Outfitters.
  
• Fleet Farm.
  
• Palo Outdoors.
• SW Marine.

National Hunting and Fishing Day was established by Congress in 1972, to recognize the vital role that hunters and anglers play in wildlife conservation.

Through special license fees and excise taxes on their equipment, sportsmen and sportswomen contribute over three million dollars each day to pay for land acquisition, habitat improvement and other wildlife programs.

Iowa's News Now spoke with Dale Brawn, Co Chair of the Izaak Walton League in Linn County, to talk more about the event.

The public, as they learn about us and as we promote this kind of activity, gets the kids out here.", said Brawn. "Which is what we're really looking forward to is having the youth come out, and take advantage of what we have to offer and the door prizes we have as giveaways as well.

The league is in the process of planning next year's event.

For more information about the event, please click here.

Information about National Hunting and Fishing Day can be found here.