Salato Wildlife Education Center celebrates National Hunting and Fishing Day on Sept. 27

​FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 18, 2025) — To celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day, the Salato Wildlife Education Center will offer free admission on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

In addition to the center’s native wildlife animal exhibits, visitors will experience a variety of hunting and fishing presentations and hands-on activities for the whole family and have the opportunity to enjoy the grounds of the headquarters campus for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

“Salato is committed to helping people learn about Kentucky’s native wildlife and the many ways they can connect with nature,” said Jules Foster, program coordinator at the Salato Center. “National Hunting and Fishing Day gives us a chance to highlight the vital role hunters and anglers play in conservation, while also inspiring more people to enjoy the outdoors.”

The first 50 children (ages 5-17) will receive a free fishing pole courtesy of Sheet Metal Workers #110. Guests can enjoy a variety of engaging demonstrations, including hunting dog and wildlife calling presentations by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff, as well as a squirrel processing demonstration highlighting one of Kentucky’s oldest small game traditions. Other activities will include basic and Laporte archery, pellet rifle shooting, and kids crafts, activity sheets and casting games.

Salato and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff will host a variety of educational “talks” and live-animal presentations about wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, fishing and hunting for kids throughout the day. Highlights include a “Reel Talk” at 10 a.m., “Elk Feeding” at 2:15 p.m. and a “Hawk Talk” at 2:30 p.m. Biologists and Kentucky game wardens will also be on hand to answer questions about hunting and fishing opportunities, and licenses will be available for purchase.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will sell official merchandise, and organizations such as Derby City Fly Fishers, Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry, the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Kentucky Falconers Association will also have booths.

A full schedule of activities is available on the Salato Center’s webpage. The facility, located on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife headquarters campus in Frankfort, features native wildlife in naturalized enclosures, conservation exhibits and paved walking trails through a variety of habitats. Four miles of unpaved trails are also available to hikers and trail runners.

Not to be missed is “Healthy Hunting Grounds,” a new exhibit which opened on National Hunting and Fishing Day last year. It highlights the crucial role of hunting in the health of Kentucky's ecosystems and the well-being of its people and aims to inform and inspire support for hunting as a key component of conservation and wildlife management.

Archers attending National Hunting and Fishing Day will have the opportunity to use the archery range on the department’s campus. Located across from the Administration Building, the range features an elevated shooting deck to mimic shot angles from a tree stand. The range also features wheelchair-accessible lanes with a concrete path to the targets. Those needing to complete their hunter education with a range day may pre-register online for available times at fw.ky.gov/Upcoming Education Events.

In addition, the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife grounds are home to two public fishing lakes, stocked annually by the department’s Fisheries Division. Loaner fishing poles are available to check out at the Salato Center on a first-come, first-served basis. A fishing license is required to fish the lakes, unless exempt, and is available in one-day, seven-day, or annual formats at fw.ky.gov/Licenses.

The Salato Center is open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Eastern) Tuesday to Saturday and is located at 1 Sportsman’s Lane, just off U.S. 60, approximately 1½ miles west of the intersection with U.S. 127. While the center maintains seasonal hours, the remainder of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife headquarters campus is open daily from sunrise to sunset.

For more information about the Salato Wildlife Education Center, visit fw.ky.gov or call 502-564-7863. To learn more about National Hunting and Fishing Day, visit nhfday.org.​