| FEBRUARY 2009 NEWS
RELEASES
|
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 26, 2009
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 19, 2009
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 13, 2009
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 4, 2009
Archery in the Schools workshops scheduled for Oklahoma educators
Schools across the state have a chance to get involved in the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Oklahoma Archery in the
Schools program by attending an upcoming workshop.
“Schools who have not jumped at the opportunity to join the OAIS
program are really missing out, but there is still plenty of room for them
in the program,” said Lance Meek, OAIS coordinator for the Wildlife
Department. “We'd love to have them participate with us, and I'm certain
this is a program their students can really get involved in and enjoy.
Archery is a sport that just about any student can excel at and enjoy for a
lifetime if you put the right tools in their hands. This program does just
that.”
The free workshops are held for teachers interested in bringing
the program to their schools. Schools who send a teacher to attend the
eight-hour workshop become eligible for a grant that covers approximately
half of the cost of a complete OAIS program kit. The kit includes everything
a school needs to start the program, including bows, arrows, targets, safety
nets, curriculum and training for a fraction of the full cost.
Coordinated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation,
Oklahoma Archery in the Schools is part of a national program that partners
state wildlife agencies, schools and the nation's archery industry to
introduce students to the sport of archery. The program began in the fall of
2004 with eight Oklahoma schools taking part in the pilot program. Since
then it has grown considerably, with more than 150 Oklahoma schools now
involved. About 10,000 students participated in the program last school
year, and it's continually growing.
The Archery in the Schools curriculum is designed for
4th-12th-graders and covers archery history, safety, techniques, equipment,
mental concentration and self-improvement. Students who go
through OAIS training are given an opportunity to participate in a sport
that allows them to compete with other students their age while also
developing and succeeding at their own pace. The program caters to students
by helping them work toward improving their own skills and competing with
their own best efforts. Additionally, students who do not excel at other
sports can still be among the best archers.
This year about 1,200 students are expected to compete at the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Oklahoma Archery in the
Schools State Shoot April 1 at the Cox Convention Center. Nearly 800
students competed last year at the fourth annual Oklahoma Archery in the
Schools State Shoot at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, nearly
doubling the previous year's attendance. By the end of the shoot, more than
15,000 arrows had sailed across three UCO gyms and into targets. Almost one
hundred Wildlife Department employees, a crew of volunteers and the support
and help of UCO made last year's shoot the biggest and best yet.
“Last year our state shoot outgrew the facilities at UCO, so
this year we will be holding the shoot at the Cox Convention Center in
downtown Oklahoma City,” Meek said. “The success of this program shows in
the fact that we keep having to move to bigger locations for the state
shoot, but that also shows that kids are enjoying it and schools support
it.”
In order to be eligible for a grant, a school must send a
teacher to an eight-hour workshop where they will learn how to conduct the
program at their school and instruct students in archery.
Two upcoming workshops are scheduled for Feb. 11 in Owasso and
in Stratford.
Teachers interested in learning more about the OAIS program or
in starting the program at their school should contact Meek between the
hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Additional information on the Oklahoma Archery in the Schools
program can be found online at wildlifedepartment.com.
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H&H Gun Range to host free hunter education instructor workshops
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has announced
the dates for its 2009 hunter education workshops to be held free of charge
at H&H Gun Range Shooting Sports Outlet in Oklahoma City.
“Volunteer instructors are crucial to the success of our hunter
education classes statewide,” said Lance Meek, hunter education coordinator
for the Wildlife Department. “We also rely heavily on our partners like H&H.
We couldn't get hunter education done without the involvement of our
community.”
Miles Hall, founder of H&H Gun Range Shooting Sports Outlet,
looks forward to hosting the workshops and adding to the number of Oklahoma
hunters.
“Having helped teach thousands of hunters in the past, we're
looking to build our base of instructors in anticipation of teaching
thousands more,” Hall said.
Volunteer instructors teach and assist in numerous classes
throughout the state each year, making hunter education more readily
available for more Oklahomans. Volunteers help set up and teach classes,
assist other instructors and represent the Wildlife Department and sportsmen
of the state.
Annually, the Wildlife Department certifies approximately 15,000
new sportsmen and women to enjoy Oklahoma's great hunting opportunities.
According to Meek, the most important quality for a volunteer
instructor is to be a safe and ethical hunter, but there are also a few
steps to becoming certified, such as attending a workshop and receiving a
background check.
“Now is a good time of the year to start the process of becoming
a hunter education instructor,” Meek said. “There is plenty of time to work
through the process of becoming an instructor before our busiest time of
year in the Fall, and there is time to gain confidence and learn everything
you need to know to teach hunter education.”
Workshops are scheduled for Feb. 7, June 13, Aug. 8, and Dec.
12, 2009, at H&H Gun Range, located at the I-40 and Meridian area in
Oklahoma City (400 S. Vermont, Suite 110).
For more information about hunter education in Oklahoma, log on
to www.wildlifedepartment.com
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More than 14,000 extra rainbow trout stocked in Lower Mountain Fork River this
spring
Each year, the Lower Mountain Fork River (LMFR) is stocked bi-weekly
with rainbow trout, but the southeast Oklahoma fishery will receive six “bonus”
stockings this spring that will provide more than 14,000 additional fish.
The first two supplemental trout stockings took place Feb. 5 and
Feb. 12, and the remaining four are scheduled for Feb 26, March 12 & 26 and
April 9. Each stocking includes over 2,400 fish that are nearly a foot in
length.
“These trout are going to be placed in remote areas of the stream
that aren't usually stocked,” said Jay Barfield, streams management technician
for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “And at 11 inches they
will be a bit larger than usual and ready to put up a fun challenge. Angling
should be great in these areas during the coming weeks.”
The additional rainbow trout are being provided to the Wildlife
Department by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help offset the impacts
caused by Broken Bow Dam on the LMFR. The trout will be obtained from the Greers
Ferry National Fish Hatchery in Arkansas and then released into the LMFR trout
fishery between the State Park Dam and the US Route 70 bridge.
Oklahomans, who may be more accustomed to catching bass, catfish and
crappie, have taken well to rainbow trout angling, and rainbow trout have taken
well to Oklahoma waters since they were first introduced to provide a new sport
fishing opportunity. The LMFR is one of eight Oklahoma trout fisheries and one
of two year-round trout fishing hotspots in the state. Additionally, trout have
done so well in the LMFR that both rainbow and brown trout occasionally
reproduce naturally in its waters.
Among the popular fishing destinations at the LMFR are Lost Creek
and Evening Hole, both renovated during the summer of 2006 as part of an
extensive trout habitat project. Lost Creek is a 1,200 ft. long stream that
branches off from the river and flows through a wooded area before emptying into
the Evening Hole trout fishing area. The Evening Hole is a 1/3 mile stretch of
the LMFR that was once less hospitable to trout because of warm, slow-moving
water and a silty bottom. However, streams biologists saw the potential in the
area and felt if they could narrow the channel and provide more habitat, the
trout — as well as trout anglers — would quickly begin using the area.
Biologists used 600 dump truck loads of soil to narrow the river channel,
causing the water to remain cooler and move through the Evening Hole faster.
With the addition of large rocks, logs and islands, fisheries personnel
transformed once sub-par trout habitat into a first class fishing area.
To view the regular, bi-weekly trout stocking schedule and specific
regulations for all the state's trout waters, including the LMFR, log on to
wildlifedepartment.com. The Web site also includes tips on how to catch trout as
well as a wealth of information about the state's streams management program,
which works to provide healthy streams and better stream fishing in Oklahoma.
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NatureWorks art show slated
Every year wildlife and nature artists from across the United States
and abroad convene on the Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center to bring visitors
the annual NatureWorks Art Show and Sale. This year more than 50 artists are
expected to display their work Feb. 28 and March 1.
Art featured at the show includes everything from paintings and
photography to sculptures and more. The 2009 feature artist is John Phelps, a
painter and sculptor from Dubois, Wyo. A lifelong cowboy, Phelps is known for
using his extensive experience in horse packing, hunting and fishing to bring
his subject matter to life.
The annual art show is sponsored by NatureWorks, Inc., a Tulsa-based
nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting in wildlife conservation efforts
and wildlife education opportunities. The NatureWorks Wildlife Art Show and Sale
has generated matching grants to assist a variety of state wildlife conservation
projects.
“Hundreds of unique pieces will be on display and up for sale;
including paintings, carvings, sculptures and more,” said Vic Bailey, current
president of NatureWorks. “Twenty-five percent of the artist's proceeds will be
donated to NatureWorks to support conservation efforts. Because NatureWorks is a
non-profit organization, this portion of the sale is tax-deductible for all
buyers. In the past, donated funds have helped purchase land, construct hiking
trails, and improve wildlife habitats throughout the state, as well as provide
scholarships for student wildlife artists.”
Projects such as the Department's paddlefish management program,
duck stamp print program and centennial duck stamp print have benefited from
NatureWorks' support along with habitat work at the Harold Stuart Waterfowl
Refuge Unit within the Deep Fork Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the Grassy
Slough WMA. NatureWorks also has been an important supporter of the Wildlife
Department's Hunters Against Hunger program, in which hunters can donate their
legally harvested deer to feed hungry Oklahomans.
Hours for the NatureWorks Wildlife Art Show and Sale will be 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 1. Tickets are
$5. The Tulsa Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center is located at 6808 South
107th East Avenue (71st and US-169) in Tulsa. For more information about
NatureWorks or the art show, log on to natureworks.org.
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Outdoor TV legend honored in Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame
Oklahoma's own Don Wallace, former angling television show host
known for producing The Wallace Wildlife Show in the 1960s-80s, was recently
inducted into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame for the year 2009.
At one time the Oklahoma-based show had grown so popular that its
host syndicated it for broadcast in the Dallas and Ft. Worth, Texas areas as
well as parts of Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. The Wallace Wildlife Show rose
in 1974 as America's top-rated fishing show.
“We're very proud of Don Wallace and his accomplishments that played
a role in his induction into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame,” said Greg
Duffy, director of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “His impact
on the sport of fishing and the legacy he created as an outdoor television host
really does make him a legendary outdoor communicator. Our congratulations go
out to Don.”
Over the years, The Wallace Wildlife Show had an immeasurable impact
on the state of Oklahoma, its hoards of anglers and the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation. It taught thousands of people how and where to catch
fish, and by airing in out-of-state markets, the show also directed millions of
tourism dollars to Oklahoma by luring anglers to its waters.
Though the show was a success, Wallace still faced many challenges
along the way. After stints at several radio stations, Wallace joined Oklahoma
City's WKY in Oklahoma City in 1958. After a few years of unsuccessful attempts
to convince station managers to produce a sportfishing television show, his
persistence finally paid off when, in 1965, he was given the go-ahead to host a
15-minute angling show. By 1971, the show was so popular that managers allowed
him to expand the show to a full 30 minutes. The show also moved to a primetime
slot that aired head-to-head with perhaps the most popular TV show of the
era—Marcus Welby, MD.
After 23 years and some 920 shows, Wallace made his last cast on The
Wallace Wildlife Show in Jan. 1989, when he decided to retire. During his
career, he shot more than 800,000 feet of film.
Wallace's name will be added to a prestigious group of 43 others
recognized as “Legendary Communicators” in the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame.
The honor recognizes his contribution, dedication and service to the fresh water
sportfishing industry.
Wallace wasn't expecting the induction but is grateful to have been
selected.
“It was quite a surprise,” Wallace said. “I am thrilled to death
about the whole thing.”
Wallace said he worked many long hours during his filming days, but
said promoting the sport of fishing through television at a time when there
weren't many outdoor television shows airing across the country was a “labor of
love.”
Artifacts from The Wallace Wildlife Show can be viewed on display at
the Oklahoma History Center's Field, Forest and Stream exhibit. The Oklahoma
History Center, near the state capitol, has been featuring the exhibit since
April and includes historic artifacts, images and photography, audio-visual
elements and hands-on interaction relating to the outdoors in Oklahoma. The
exhibit will remain open until Feb. 28.
To learn more about the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, log on to
freshwater-fishing.org.
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Selman Bat Cave Wildlife Management Area receives new bridge — and increased
access for bat watchers
On Jan. 23, a 98-year-old piece of history was moved to Selman Bat
Cave Wildlife Management Area in northwest Woodward Co. when a bridge built in
1911 was donated, transported and put in the place of a bridge that was washed
away during a flood in 2007.
The bridge, which used to be employed
at a location about two and a quarter miles east and three miles south of
Burlington over Driftwood Creek, was donated by Alfalfa County District One
Commissioner Doug Murrow. With help from Woodward County District 1 Commissioner
Ralph Triplett and District Two Commissioner Ted Craighead, the bridge was
placed over Trader's Creek on the Selman WMA. Also helping with the placement of
the bridge were Billy Bailey, David Devoark, Gary Carpenter, John Cutright,
Steve Thompson and Bob Kimminau.
“One of the Selman Bat Watch
volunteers saw the bridge and took it upon himself to contact the county
commissioner, asking him about the donation,” said Melynda Hickman, wildlife
diversity biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “The
commissioners did not hesitate to help, with both the transport and placement of
the bridge. This is a perfect example of how two different counties came
together in order to benefit wildlife conservation.”
Since 2007, a large portion of the WMA was not accessible because there was no
crossing point along the creek, but with the donated bridge, the public now has
increased access to portions of the WMA.
“Having support like that shown by
the commissioners in Woodward and Alfalfa counties is the key ingredient to
keeping wildlife populations healthy in our state,” said Hickman. “The
Department does not receive any tax money and relies solely upon the sale of
hunting and fishing licenses as well as the generosity of everyone in the state.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation would like to express their sincere
appreciation to Commissioners Murrow, Triplett and Craighead.”
Along with a new bridge comes a continued partnership between the Wildlife
Department and Alabaster State Park. Staff and volunteers at Alabaster have been
an essential part of the Selman Bat Watch that takes place on the WMA each
summer.
Selman Bat Cave WMA is a tract of 340
acres that contains one of only five maternity colonies of Mexican free-tailed
bats in Oklahoma. Mexican free-tailed bats migrate to Oklahoma each summer in
order to raise their young. While in the state, the bats provide a financial
benefit by consuming an estimated 22,000 pounds of mosquitoes, moths and beetles
each night. This year marks the 12th year for bat watches to take place at
Selman Bat Cave WMA. Sign-up for this year's bat watches will begin in June. For
more information about area or the bat watches, please visit
wildlifedepartment.com or watchbats.com.
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Last chance to experience Oklahoma History Center’s Field, Forest & Stream
exhibit
Throughout the last year, the Oklahoma History Center has been
celebrating Oklahoma’s outdoors by showcasing an entire exhibit dedicated to the
history and traditions enjoyed by Oklahoma’s sportsmen and other outdoor
enthusiasts. As the exhibit comes to a close Feb. 28, Oklahomans who have not
made their way to see it are encouraged to visit the Oklahoma History Center,
located near the state capitol in Oklahoma City.
In April 2008, the Oklahoma Historical Society converted over 2,000
square feet of the History Center into the interactive experience called “Field,
Forest & Stream: The History of Oklahomans and the Outdoors.” The exhibit
includes historic artifacts, images and photography, audio-visual elements and
hands-on interaction relating to the outdoors in Oklahoma.
“In the Field, Forest & Stream Exhibit there are many fascinating
stories that illustrate how Oklahoma has become the outdoor success story it is
today,” said David Davis, curator of special exhibits for the Oklahoma History
Center. “Come to the Oklahoma History Center and help us celebrate our outdoor
heritage before the exhibit closes!"
Visitors can walk down the exhibit’s “Forest Trail” and view
taxidermy dioramas and take part in an interactive hunting blind. The “Water
Trail” lets guests experience the sensation of the exciting sport of noodling,
or fishing with nothing but one’s bare hands, and an inviting, lifelike campfire
in the “Camp Trail” area offers guests a place to sit and listen to camp stories
told by historic Oklahoma figures.
“Field, Forest, & Stream: The History of Oklahomans and the
Outdoors” has been possible through the support and participation of
individuals, groups, and businesses such as the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation, outdoor television producer Don Wallace and the producers of the
On the Water In the Woods television show, and so far visitors have made the
exhibit a popular one.
Visitors have until Feb. 28 to see the exhibit, and those who show
their current Oklahoma hunting or fishing license will receive $1 off admission
through the end of the exhibit.
The Oklahoma History Center is an 18-acre, 215,000 square-foot
learning center exploring Oklahoma’s unique history through Smithsonian quality
museum exhibits and a state-of-the-art research library. The new home of the
Oklahoma Historical Society, the Oklahoma History Center is located just east of
the State Capitol in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Historical Society was
originally organized in 1893 and continues today as a statewide center for
learning, preserving, and promoting the history and heritage of the diverse
people of Oklahoma through its museum, research, outreach, and historic
preservation divisions. The Oklahoma Historical Society serves people of all
generations by promoting appreciation and understanding of Oklahoma’s rich
history and the impact of that history on the present. For more information call
(405) 522-0765 or visit okhistorycenter.org.
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Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International offers sportsmens’ auction
and banquet
Safari Club International is characterized by its support of
conservation and sportsmen, and their active Oklahoma Station Chapter is
offering sportsmen the chance to contribute as well by attending their 24th
Annual Awards Banquet and Charity Fundraiser Saturday, March 7 in Oklahoma City.
The banquet will be held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage
Museum in Oklahoma City and will feature a live auction where bidders will have
a chance to buy guided hunts around the globe, ranging from feral hog hunts at
Oklahoma’s Chain Ranch to big game hunts in Africa. Other auction items include
selections of outdoor clothing and decor, firearms, hunting knives camping
equipment, fishing trips and much more. A continually updated list of auction
items can be viewed on the Oklahoma Station Chapter’s Web site at
oklahomastationsci.org.
“Starting as a young boy over 50 years ago, the opportunity to learn
about the outdoors and to hunt has added greatly to my appreciation and
enjoyment of life,” said Mike Mistelske, current vice president and nominee for
president of the Oklahoma Station Chapter. “It’s a privilege now to be able to
give something back through SCI here in Oklahoma. I invite our fellow Oklahomans
and their friends to enjoy this special banquet and to add their own support of
our great hunting tradition and the conservation of our wildlife. Each hunter’s
support is more important now than ever.”
The Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International offers
support and funding to local conservation efforts that benefit the sportsmen and
wildlife of Oklahoma. The chapter is a supporter of projects conducted by the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, such as the Hunters Against Hunger
program that coordinates the annual distribution of over 30,000 of pounds of
venison to needy families. The Chapter is also a sponsor of the Wildlife
Department’s Oklahoma Wildlife Expo, which educates tens of thousands of
Oklahomans each year on the value of wildlife and the outdoors to quality of
life in Oklahoma.
The organization also has helped fund the purchase of an airboat
used by the Wildlife Department on waterfowl surveys and other wetland
management tasks, and a 24-foot trailer for use in the Department's Shotgun
Training Education Program (STEP). The STEP program introduces both youth and
adults to shotgun shooting techniques and the proper handling of firearms. The
Oklahoma Station Chapter also partners with the Wildlife Department each year to
hold an annual youth essay contest that provides youth a chance to share their
feelings about Oklahoma’s outdoors and to win great prizes, including a guided
pronghorn antelope hunt in New Mexico. Additionally, the chapter purchased eight
elk for introduction into an existing herd in southeast Oklahoma.
The banquet begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, but registration
begins at 4:30 p.m. Craig Boddington and various outfitters and wildlife artists
will be available starting at 5:30 p.m. The National Cowboy and Western Heritage
Museum is located at 1700 N.E. 63rd St. in Oklahoma City 73111.
SCI membership is not required to participate in the banquet and
raffles, or to be eligible for door prizes. Tickets may be purchased in advance
for $75 or at the door for $100. To purchase tickets or for further information,
contact Verilea Faust at (405) 721-7229 or e-mail faust4v@pldi.net. Ticket forms
may also be printed and either mailed, faxed or e-mailed through the Chapter’s
Web site at oklahomastationsci.org. Bid cards for the auction are available to
members at no cost. For non-members, bid cards ($50) or memberships ($85) may be
purchased at the door if desired. For questions relating to the banquet and
auction, contact Oklahoma Station Chapter of SCI vice president Mike Mistelske
at mjmistelske@yahoo.com.
For more information on the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club
International, log on to oklahomastationsci.org.
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Trout Unlimited banquet
to kick off March
Trout angling hasn’t always been a part of Oklahoma’s outdoor
recreation landscape, but since their introduction to the state’s waters, trout
have not only thrived, but they also have provided an exciting sport fishing
opportunity. Anglers can celebrate the success of trout angling and fisheries
conservation this year by attending the 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s 14th
annual banquet and auction Saturday, March 7.
All anglers and their friends are welcome to attend the banquet, to
be held at the Sportsman’s Country Club in Oklahoma City. Tickets are $30, and
activities include dinner, raffles and silent and live auctions. Items can be
previewed starting at 5:30 p.m. and the live auction begins at 7 p.m.
To purchase tickets, or for other information about the 89er Chapter
of Trout Unlimited, contact Don Longcrier at (405) 613-5535 or dglsll@swbell.net, Tom Adams at (405) 751-7376 or Jerry Walker at
(405) 760-6245. The Sportsman’s Country Club is located at 4001 Northwest 39th
St. in Oklahoma City.
For more information about trout angling in Oklahoma, log on to the
Wildlife Department’s Web site at wildlifedepartment.com
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Trout
Unlimited banquet to celebrate Oklahoma trout fishing
The first trout were stocked in Oklahoma in 1958 in the Illinois
River below Tenkiller Lake. Many things have changed in the last 50-plus years,
but one thing is certain — the quality and quantity of trout fishing
opportunities has been getting better ever since.
Anglers can celebrate the success of trout angling and fisheries
conservation this year by attending the 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited's 14th
annual banquet and auction Saturday, March 7.
“We have a great time at our annual banquet and I hope that every
trout angler in the state can come join us,” said Brian Ellis, immediate past
president of the 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited. “Come early and stay late, and
don't worry, this is not a formal affair. Just come in your fishing shirt and
blue jeans and you'll fit in fine.”
According to Ellis, spouses and kids also are encouraged to attend
the banquet, to be held at the Sportsman's Country Club in Oklahoma City.
Tickets are $30, and activities include dinner, raffles and silent and live
auctions. Items can be previewed starting at 5:30 p.m., and the live auction
begins at 7 p.m.
“We have a bunch of great fishing tackle and equipment to auction
off this year, and the best thing is Trout Unlimited puts the money right back
into trout fisheries,” Ellis said.
Since 2001, the 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited has provided the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation with $18,483.50 for a wide range of
conservation projects. This money has been matched by 3-1 with federal Sport
Fish Restoration program funds, providing over $73,934 for conservation work,
primarily on the Lower Mountain Fork River and the Lower Illinois River.
Since 1950, the Sport Fish Restoration program has contributed about
$3 billion to improving sport fishing and boating opportunities in the United
States. Funding for the program is derived from special federal excise taxes on
certain fishing gear, boats and motor fuel that are then distributed by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service to state wildlife agencies such as the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation for fisheries improvements.
“The Wildlife Department is grateful for the support of groups like
the 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and we hope anglers who enjoy trout fishing
in our state will take every opportunity to support this organization by
attending the banquet on March 7,” said Barry Bolton, fisheries chief for the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
One of the crown jewels of this partnership in action is the habitat
management work at the Lower Mountain Fork River's Evening Hole and Lost Creek,
both renovated during the summer of 2006 as part of an extensive trout habitat
project.
The Evening Hole is a 1/3-mile stretch of the Lower Mountain Fork
River that was once less hospitable to trout because of warm, slow-moving water
and a silty bottom.
However, streams biologists saw the potential in the area and felt
if they could narrow the channel and provide more habitat, the trout — as well
as trout anglers — would quickly begin using the area. Biologists used 600 dump
truck loads of soil to narrow the river channel, causing the water to remain
cooler and move through the Evening Hole faster. With the addition of large
rocks, logs and islands, fisheries personnel transformed once sub-par trout
habitat into a first class fishing area. Lost Creek is a 1,200 ft. long stream
that branches off from the river and flows through a wooded area before emptying
into the Evening Hole trout fishing area.
The projects would not have been possible without the support of
many partners like the 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Visitors to the 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited banquet are likely
to see several of the state's newest wildlife conservation license plates. The
artwork for the striking plate, which features a leaping rainbow trout, was
provided by the 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
The license plates can be ordered by picking up a form at your local
tag office and following the instructions or visiting the Oklahoma Tax
Commission in Oklahoma City. At no additional cost, anyone can have their
license plate personalized.
This year Trout Unlimited is celebrating it's 50th year in
conservation in 2009. The organization was started in 1959 by 16 fishermen in
Michigan who wanted to protect their local river, and since then TU has grown to
140,000 members in 400 local chapters throughout the country.
TU has been instrumental in restoring more than 10,000 miles of
rivers and streams around the country and has been a force in protecting habitat
for trout and salmon from Alaska to Maine. Since its founding, TU and its local
chapters and volunteers have made numerous tangible contributions to
conservation in the United States
“As TU celebrates its 50 years of conservation, we must bear in
mind that it is TU volunteers who have made the organization what it is today,”
said Bryan Moore, vice president for Volunteer Operations and Watersheds. “TU
members are the backbone that keeps the organization growing and moving forward
in everything from on-the-ground restoration of rivers and streams to involving
young people in conservation. The 50th anniversary celebration is really a
celebration of our 140,000 members around the country.”
To purchase tickets, or for other information about the 89er Chapter
of Trout Unlimited, contact Don Longcrier at (405) 613-5535, Tom Adams at (405)
751-7376 or Jerry Walker at (405) 760-6245. The Sportsman's Country Club is
located at 4001 Northwest 39th St. in Oklahoma City.
For more information about trout angling in Oklahoma, log on to the
Wildlife Department's Web site at wildlifedepartment.com.
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Groundbreaking ceremony held for new facility at Arcadia Conservation Education
Area
Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and
guests gathered recently at the Arcadia Conservation Education Area, where they
broke ground on a 7,000 square-foot education facility that will provide outdoor
experiences to youth.
“We've had a vision for this property for many years,” said Wildlife
Department Director Greg Duffy. “And I am very happy with our dream becoming a
reality thanks to our many partners in this endeavor.”
The teaching facility will be the centerpiece of the Arcadia
Conservation Education Area and will be used for a number of purposes, including
hosting hunter education and aquatic education courses and training teachers
involved in the Oklahoma Archery in the Schools program. Construction of the
building is targeted for completion by December 2009.
“It is critically important to provide opportunities for youth to
learn about the invaluable natural resources that Oklahoma has to offer,
especially in this day and age when our population is becoming increasingly
urban and it is more challenging to get children outdoors,” said Oklahoma
Secretary of Environment J.D. Strong. “I want to thank the Wildlife Department
and its partners for making the Education Center a reality, and I look forward
to future generations of environmental stewards who will benefit from this
facility.”
Secretary Strong joined Edmond Mayor Dan O'Neil, University of
Central Oklahoma Vice President of Sport and Wellness Mark Herrin, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers Commander Col. Anthony C. Funkhouser and Wildlife Department
Director Duffy in breaking ground for the education facility.
“We are excited for all the advantages this area will bring to the
community,” Funkhouser said. “The ODWC is helping kids appreciate the
environment.”
The Wildlife Department has managed 720 acres of property on the
south side of Lake Arcadia for 13 years as part of a 50-year lease from the US
Corps of Engineers. Known as the Arcadia Conservation Education Area, it has a
4,000 square-foot research facility that was constructed on the area three years
ago. It also hosts hundreds of students each year who attend education events
held underneath covered pavilion areas on the property.
In the last year, Wildlife Department personnel have held at least
20 fishing clinics on the area as part of the Department's aquatic resource
education program. Through the program, the Wildlife Department trains volunteer
instructors to teach youth the basics of fishing and to instill appreciation for
the state's natural resources. Everything from fish identification to
knot-tying, fish cleaning, fish cooking techniques, fishing tackle selection,
water safety and more is covered in the classes.
“We are confident this is going to be the premier outdoor education
facility in the region, and it will have a significant impact on youth and
conservation in Oklahoma,” said Nels Rodefeld, information and education chief
for the Wildlife Department.
Officials are currently working on a number of projects including
improving walk-in fishing access, cedar removal and nature trails. Wildlife
experts are conducting bird, butterfly and small mammal inventories on the site.
The education area is located near an urban setting, but it supports populations
of deer, turkey, bobcats and other wildlife.
“We all know that youth are our future, and we want to create a
first-class area where we can educate our youth and give them a positive
experience in the outdoors,” said Damon Springer, aquatic education coordinator
for the Wildlife Department.
All hunting seasons are closed on the Arcadia Conservation Education
Area except controlled archery deer hunts, which are offered through the City of
Edmond. More information is available at edmondok.com. Walk-in fishing is
permitted year-round in Arcadia Lake, including the lake's shoreline in the
conservation education area, but not in any ponds. While camping facilities are
not available on the education area, campsites are available on other portions
of the lake. The Arcadia Conservation Education Area is closed to all
non-hunting and non-fishing activities from Oct. 1 through Jan. 15. For
additional information, contact Damon Springer at (405) 521-4603.
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NatureWorks art show approaching
Every year wildlife and nature artists from across the United States
and abroad convene on the Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center to bring visitors
the annual NatureWorks Art Show and Sale. This year more than 50 artists are
expected to display their work Feb. 28 and March 1.
Art featured at the show includes everything from paintings and
photography to sculptures and more. The 2009 feature artist is John Phelps, a
painter and sculptor from Dubois, Wyo. A lifelong cowboy, Phelps is known for
using his extensive experience in horse packing, hunting and fishing to bring
his subject matter to life.
The annual art show is sponsored by NatureWorks, Inc., a Tulsa-based
nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting in wildlife conservation efforts
and wildlife education opportunities. The NatureWorks Wildlife Art Show and Sale
has generated matching grants to assist a variety of state wildlife conservation
projects.
“Hundreds of unique pieces will be on display and up for sale;
including paintings, carvings, sculptures and more,” said Vic Bailey, current
president of NatureWorks. “Twenty-five percent of the artist's proceeds will be
donated to NatureWorks to support conservation efforts. Because NatureWorks is a
non-profit organization, this portion of the sale is tax-deductible for all
buyers. In the past, donated funds have helped purchase land, construct hiking
trails, and improve wildlife habitats throughout the state, as well as provide
scholarships for student wildlife artists.”
Projects such as the Department's paddlefish management program,
duck stamp print program and centennial duck stamp print have benefited from
NatureWorks' support along with habitat work at the Harold Stuart Waterfowl
Refuge Unit within the Deep Fork Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the Grassy
Slough WMA. NatureWorks also has been an important supporter of the Wildlife
Department's Hunters Against Hunger program, in which hunters can donate their
legally harvested deer to feed hungry Oklahomans.
Hours for the NatureWorks Wildlife Art Show and Sale will be 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 1. Tickets are
$5. The Tulsa Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center is located at 6808 South
107th East Avenue (71st and US-169) in Tulsa. For more information about
NatureWorks or the art show, log on to natureworks.org.
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Wildlife Department
employment exam scheduled
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will be holding an
open employment exam Friday, March 27, at Rose State College.
“Working for the Department is an extremely rewarding experience,”
said Mikki Gutierrez, human resources administrator for the Wildlife Department.
Taking the test is the first step in the hiring process for
individuals seeking positions as game wardens, biologists, fish hatchery
assistant managers or technicians with the Department.
The standardized employment exam is set for 10 a.m. in the
auditorium of the Tom Steed building. The exam is free, and participants must
have photo identification upon check-in. Late arrivals will not be permitted to
enter the examination room after 10 a.m.
“The Department looks for the best wildlife conservation employees
available, and we want those who are interested to begin getting involved,”
Gutierrez said. “This test is the first step for most positions at the Wildlife
Department.”
Specific job and education requirements for Department positions as
well as suggested study material for the exams are listed on the Department's
official Web site at
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/.
Individuals may take the exam once in a 12-month period. Test scores
are valid for 12 months from the test date, and top scorers will be invited to
submit an employment application. When a job opening becomes available, selected
applicants from the test register will be scheduled for an interview. For more
information, contact the Wildlife Department's Human Resources office at (405)
521-4640.
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