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FEBRUARY 2011 NEWS
RELEASES
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WEEK OF
FEBRUARY 24, 2011
WEEK OF
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
WEEK OF
FEBRUARY 10, 2011
WEEK OF
FEBRUARY 3, 2011
Oklahoma wildlife well adapted to survive extreme winter weather
Oklahomans residents are no strangers to weather extremes, and
that includes the state’s wildlife residents as well. Despite some of the
coldest temperatures on record in the state over the last week on top of
blizzard-like wind and snow, biologists with the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation say wildlife should weather the current conditions
fairly well.
Jerry Shaw, big game biologist for the Wildlife Department, said
deer are not only physically equipped to withstand the current conditions,
but they can also find the food they need to stay healthy.
“Deer are strong enough that they can get through this snow,”
Shaw said, noting that deer will still have their winter coat, which
includes hollow individual hairs that help them stay insulated from the
cold.
They also are able to find thermal cover that protects them from
wind and the elements. Additionally, deer are able to dig down into the snow
to find food as well as find browse above the snow.
According to Shaw, deer struggle less with snow than when
freezing rains coat the ground and food sources with a layer of impenetrable
ice.
Upland birds such as quail can find food as well, said Doug
Schoeling, upland game biologist for the Wildlife Department.
“The good part about this snowstorm is that it was windy,”
Schoeling said.
With the majority of snow piled in drifts as a result of the
wind, quail have the ability to find food on relatively bare patches of
ground that did not get covered in snowdrifts.
Rod Smith, southwest region wildlife supervisor for the Wildlife
Department, said that although birds have to expend more energy searching
out bare patches where food can be found, they are still “remarkably adapted
to survive short periods of extreme cold.” Smith said birds such as wild
turkeys and others have circulatory systems that are effective at keeping
their bodies warm, as well as down feathers that protect them from the
elements. Smith said that humans may think of birds in cold weather as
essentially sleeping in bags of down feathers.
Raptors, such as red-tailed hawks, winter in Oklahoma in part
because of the limited snow cover throughout the state, which makes it
easier to hunt for rodents and other prey. Melynda Hickman, wildlife
diversity biologist for the Wildlife Department, said periods of several
days of dense snow cover are not a cause of concern for raptors, but that
extended periods would likely force such birds to migrate further south.
However, other species such as smaller birds may become more susceptible
prey to raptors because of stress put on their bodies to survive the cold.
In turn, rodents that may otherwise be preyed upon by raptors may take
advantage of cover provided by the snow.
Reptiles, amphibians, and wintering bats have long since
burrowed into mud, dens, leaf litter or other protective cover and entered
into states of hibernation or “torpor,” which is a slowing of the metabolism
and circulatory system functions to survive cold weather. Some amphibians
found in Oklahoma even have highly specialized blood to help the animal
weather the elements. Tree frogs, for example, have a component in their
blood similar to anti-freeze used to protect vehicles in cold conditions.
This keeps their blood from freezing and allows them to survive the winter
buried deep in leaf litter.
Though weather can and sometimes does have negative effects on
nature, wildlife found in Oklahoma is remarkably resilient to harsh
conditions.
The Wildlife Department is the state agency charged with
conserving the state’s wildlife and closely monitors conditions that affect
habitat and wildlife populations. The agency continuously works to restore,
enhance, maintain and create ideal habitat for native wildlife. The Wildlife
Department receives no general state tax appropriations and is supported
primarily by sportsmen through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and
federal excise taxes on sporting goods.
To learn more about the Wildlife Department, log on to
wildlifedepartment.com.
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New full-featured wildlife management area atlas available now
With spring turkey season only a few months away, the prime time
for scouting locations for turkey hunting is fast approaching, and the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s recently released Wildlife
Management Area Atlas is available to help.
Back by popular demand, this page-by-page guide to Oklahoma’s
public hunting land features topographical maps of almost every wildlife
management area in the state.
At almost 100 pages, the atlas depicts special features on each
WMA, providing details such as roads, parking areas, designated campsites,
food plots, ponds, wetland development units, non-ambulatory zones and more.
Sportsmen can find acreage and contact information for each area as well as
driving directions.
Most Oklahoma hunters remember the old version of the public
lands atlas, and some may even still have their original copy, but land
ownership changes, updated details, new properties and special features are
included in the newest version.
“The old atlases were always popular, and these books are even
bigger and better,” said Nels Rodefeld, information and education chief for
the Wildlife Department. “We have already sold about 2,000 copies, and this
is one of our most popular products ever.“
The “Oklahoma Wildlife Management Area Atlas” can be purchased
for $25, which includes a free one-year subscription to Outdoor Oklahoma
magazine, the official magazine of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation. Outdoor Oklahoma features everything related to hunting,
fishing, wildlife watching and conservation in Oklahoma. Readers can catch
the first glimpse of the Wildlife Department’s annual “Big Game Report, get
insider tips on fishing from the magazine’s annual “Anglers’ Guide,” and
read a range of articles and news about the outdoors in Oklahoma. Game meat
recipes, how-to articles, stunning photography and more are all included.
The new atlases are available at the Wildlife Department
headquarters in Oklahoma City (1801 N. Lincoln Blvd) and the Department’s
Jenks office (300 S. Aquarium Dr). Copies can also be ordered by phone at
(405) 521-3856, and order forms can be downloaded from
wildlifedepartment.com and mailed in with a check. To order by mail, send a
check or money order for $25 along with an Outdoor Store order form from
wildlifedepartment.com to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation,
P.O. Box 53465 Oklahoma City, OK (specify address to which atlas should be
mailed and, if different, the address to which the subscription to Outdoor
Oklahoma magazine should be credited).
For more information about hunting in Oklahoma, log on to the
Wildlife Department’s website at wildlifedepartment.com.
Photo Caption: Back by popular demand, the “Oklahoma Wildlife Management
Area Atlas” features topographical maps of almost every wildlife management
area in the state. At almost 100 pages, the atlas depicts special features
on each WMA such as roads, parking areas, designated campsites, food plots,
ponds, wetland development units, non-ambulatory zones and more.
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Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International to host sportsmen’s
banquet and fundraiser
The Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International hosts a
banquet and fundraiser each year, and those planning to attend this year can
purchase their general admission ticket to the March 5 event for $70, and
tickets purchased at the door will cost $95.
Safari Club International is known for supporting conservation and
sportsmen, and the active Oklahoma Station Chapter’s 26th Annual Awards Banquet
and Charity Fundraiser is just one way supporters can help with the group’s
cause to protect the freedom to hunt, educate others on the value of hunting for
wildlife management, conserve wildlife and provide humanitarian services.
The banquet, to be held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage
Museum in Oklahoma City, 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 and a variety of whitetail deer hunts in several states
to big game hunts in Africa and fishing trips in Alaska and Patagonia. Other
auction items include selections of firearms, outdoor art, hunting gear and much
more. A continually updated list of auction items can be viewed on the Oklahoma
Station Chapter’s website at oklahomastationsci.org.
“This is a particularly special celebration of our hunting
heritage,” said Mike Mistelske, current president of the Oklahoma Station
Chapter. “In 2010, our Chapter’s banquet program won best-in-class among all of
SCI’s largest chapters worldwide.”
Mistelske said this year’s event will include over $500,000 worth of
auction items, including many North American big-game hunts, a cape buffalo hunt
in Mozambique, a number of bird hunts, fishing trips, and many other hunts trips
around the world
“We’ll also have several incredible bronze sculptures,” Mistelske
said. “Banquet tickets remain at last year’s reduced prices. There will be many
activities, and there will be great value and fun for everyone — all for the
benefit of Oklahoma hunters and non-hunters.”
The banquet begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, but registration
begins at 4:30 p.m., along with the silent auction and various games.
Opportunity to visit with outfitters and vendors begins at 2:30 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 and a limited number of sponsor tables are now available. To purchase
tickets or for further information, contact Judy Rork by e-mail at
oscsci@yahoo.com or by phone at (405)
703-3381. Ticket forms also may be printed from the chapter’s website at
www.oklahomastationsci.org and
either mailed, faxed or e-mailed according to instructions on the form.
Bid cards for the auction are available to members at no cost. For
non-members, bid cards ($50) or memberships ($95) may be purchased at the door
if desired. For questions relating to the banquet and auction, contact Mike
Mistelske, current Oklahoma Station Chapter of SCI president, at
sciokpres@yahoo.com or (918) 695-8556.
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 venison to needy families.
Last year hunters donated over 42,000 pounds of venison, which provided 168,000
meals to hungry Oklahomans. 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 several trailers 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.
For more information on the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club
International, log on to
www.oklahomastationsci.org.
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Southeast
Oklahoma turkey season changed for 2012
Stabilizing populations of Eastern wild turkeys in southeast
Oklahoma is at the heart of a new state turkey hunting rule change that will
go into effect in the spring of 2012.
The rule change, approved for 2012 along with several others by
the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission at its February meeting, will
shorten turkey season in the southeast turkey zone and on wildlife
management areas in that zone. The season will begin the Monday following
the third Saturday in April and will run through May 6. Additionally, season
bag limits in those southeast counties will be reduced to one tom total. The
southeast turkey zone consists of Atoka, Choctaw, Coal, Latimer, LeFlore,
McCurtain, Pittsburg and Pushmataha counties.
Biologists say the timing of detrimental weather conditions and
the resulting effects on habitat in recent years are to blame for turkey
population declines in southeast Oklahoma and neighboring states to the
east. Extreme drought in 2005 and 2006 reduced insect populations and
vegetation, both of which adversely affected the wild turkey diet in
southeast Oklahoma. But extremely wet springs in the years that followed had
negative impacts on nesting success.
Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
say the measure will not only help reduce the overall harvest at a critical
time for wild turkey populations in southeast Oklahoma, but the rescheduling
of the hunting dates for a later and shorter season will also reduce
disturbance of nesting hens and could lead to better breeding success.
“We are confident that this is a good step,” said Alan Peoples,
chief of wildlife for the Wildlife Department. “If the weather and the
habitat improve, southeast Oklahoma’s turkey populations will respond and
rebound. We are confident the Eastern wild turkey will recover. They have in
the past.”
The Commission also approved a number of proposed
fishing-related rule changes designed to create more fishing opportunities
and simplify regulations. However, two proposals were adjusted as a result
of public comments collected by the Wildlife Department. One would have
required boaters to remove all aquatic nuisance species from boats, trailers
or other gear immediately after leaving a body of water, but the language
was clarified to state that boats must be free of aquatic nuisance species
before entering a body of water. Additionally, a proposal to prohibit the
transport of shad out of the state was withdrawn for further review.
“We feel strongly that our constituents should have the chance
to comment on matters that could affect the hunting and fishing laws in the
state,” said Gene Gilliland, assistant chief of fisheries for the Wildlife
Department. “And this is a perfect example of how constituents can use their
opportunity to offer public comment to impact the regulations that will in
turn affect them.”
Look for complete details of all hunting and fishing rules in
the next Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing Guides.
In other business, the Commission accepted a donation of $20,000
from the Oklahoma Zoological Park and Botanical Gardens for the conservation
of native flora and fauna species. The donation is possible through funds
provided by the Oklahoma Zoological Society and will be used to meet certain
expenses associated with conservation projects in which the zoo offers
volunteer assistance.
The Commission also removed Raymond Gary from the list of
Wildlife Department properties that require a Wildlife Conservation Passport
to access and added the newly acquired Grady County Wildlife Management Area
to the list of properties that require the Passport. Oklahoma hunting and
fishing license holders are exempt from Conservation Passport requirement on
all Department properties.
Richard Hatcher, the director of the Wildlife Department,
recognized Bob Mullinax, game warden stationed in Love Co., for 35 years of
service to the Wildlife Department. Throughout his career, Mullinax has been
an active law enforcement instructor for the Wildlife Department, other
state agencies, county sheriff’s offices and police departments and
academies. He has instructed courses in firearms, defensive tactics and law
enforcement defensive driving, among others.
Additionally, the Commission approved minor housekeeping changes
to the Wildlife Department employee handbook.
The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member
governing board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The
Wildlife Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets
policy for the Wildlife Department and indirectly oversees all state fish
and wildlife conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by
the governor and confirmed by the Senate.
The next scheduled Commission meeting is set for 9 a.m., March
7, at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters
(auditorium), located at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln,
Oklahoma City.
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Oklahoma angler pulls in 192-pound fish from the Red River
James Tucker of Ardmore pulled in a 192-pound, 1-ounce
alligator gar Jan. 27 from the Red River in Love County, establishing a new
state record. The record-breaking fish measured seven feet, seven and a half
inches long and was an impressive three feet, three inches in girth. Tucker
snagged the monstrous fish about 10 a.m. using a 65-pound test line.
Tucker's fish broke the previous alligator gar record by more
than six pounds. Sean Chatham, also from Ardmore, held the former record for
a 184-pound, 3-ounce fish caught from the Red River in 2006. Alligator gar
are truly unique fish and can be found in warm, sluggish rivers in the
southeast quarter of the state. Alligator gar feed primarily on fish, but
are known to eat ducks and other water birds.
The second largest freshwater fish in North America, the
alligator gar is second in size only to the white sturgeon. Reaching weights
of up to 300 pounds, the alligator gar can stretch to lengths over nine
feet.
Historically, the alligator gar’s home range included the
Mississippi River and its tributaries from the lower reaches of the Ohio and
the Missouri rivers southward to the Gulf of Mexico. Today the range is
significantly smaller. The fish are primarily restricted to coastal rivers,
with inland populations persisting not only in Oklahoma, but also in
Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas.
Female alligator gars don’t reach sexual maturity until 11 years of
age, whereas males take about six years. Gar have a unique ability to use
their gills or a lung-like gas bladder that enables them to come to the
surface and gulp for air. Studies indicate that gizzard shad are the top
food of choice when populations are present in lakes. Alligator gar also are
known to eat certain sport fish as well as other gars, including their own
kind. One study in Texas found they even eat coots.
Anglers once believed that the alligator gar was a significant threat
to sport fish species and often were viewed as a nuisance, but today, with
better knowledge of the species’ habits and behaviors, the fish is
recognized as an important part of Oklahoma’s waters.
For a complete list of record fish and the procedures regarding
certifying state record fish, consult the current “Oklahoma Fishing Guide”
or log on to wildlifedepartment.com. Anglers who believe they may have
hooked a record fish must weigh the fish on an Oklahoma State Department of
Agriculture certified scale, and a Wildlife Department employee must verify
the weight.
Photo
Caption: James Tucker of Ardmore pulled landed a new state record alligator gar
Jan. 27 when he landed this 192-pound, 1-ounce fish from the Red River in Love
County.
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Conservation
Order Light Goose Season approaching
Goose hunters don’t have to put their waterfowling gear away yet.
There is still an opportunity to extend the season and help the arctic ecosystem
at the same time. The Conservation Order Light Goose Season (COLGS), designed to
reduce the mid-continent light goose population, opens Feb. 14 and runs through
March 30.
According to Josh Richardson, migratory game bird biologist for the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, hunters looking to take advantage
of the COLGS hunting opportunity should take a close look at securing hunting
spots at Webbers Falls and Ft. Gibson.
“These two areas are usually where the largest concentrations of
light geese are found on public lands as they finish winter and begin migration
back north,” Richardson said.
Populations of light geese, which include snow, blue and Ross’
geese, have become so high that they are causing severe habitat destruction to
their Arctic breeding grounds. Since 1999, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation has cooperated with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to
establish the COLGS.
More agricultural crops in the south-central United States means
snow geese are living longer and reproducing more, and their overpopulation
continues to degrade Arctic habitat. Because snow geese feed by grubbing and
pulling out plants by the roots, large numbers can literally destroy extensive
areas of tundra.
The season offers no daily limit on light geese, and shooting hours
are extended for the season to one half hour after sunset. Waterfowlers also can
use electronic calls and unplugged shotguns to increase their chances.
Hunters who participate in the COLGS must use only
federally-approved, nontoxic shot as well as have all necessary licenses,
waterfowl stamps and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) Permit in their
possession while hunting. For complete license information, see the “2010-11
Oklahoma Waterfowl Guide” or log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
Federal law requires that the Wildlife Department estimate the
harvest of light geese during the Conservation Order Light Goose Season. Hunters
who plan to pursue snow, blue and Ross' geese during COLGS are asked to register
for the hunt with the Department by providing their name, address and telephone
number so a harvest survey can be administered. Hunters can register for the
season by logging on to wildlifedepartment.com, or they can mail a letter or
postcard with their name, address and telephone number included to: Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation; Attn: COLGS; P.O. Box 53465; Oklahoma City,
OK 73152.
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Lake Texoma fishery status update and management plan meeting to offer insight
to anglers
Lake Texoma has for decades been both a recreational and economical
staple for Oklahoma’s southern border and its residents, with sport fishing
being one of the lake’s most popular draws. So it makes sense that the health of
the fishery is a top subject of interest for outdoor enthusiasts who use the
lake. To keep anglers in the know and to seek feedback on upcoming management
plans for the Lake Texoma fishery, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation is providing an opportunity March 3 for the public to learn about a
range of Texoma-related fishing information.
A public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3 at the
Clay Jones Community Center in Durant. Guests will receive informative updates
from Department fisheries biologists on the status of the fishery and related
issues. Biologists will address the biological and social aspects of fisheries
management and regulations at Texoma, and they will present the new Lake Texoma
Management Plan developed by the Wildlife Department. Visitors will have a
chance to provide feedback on the plan as well as visit with biologists about
fishing at the lake.
“Angler opinions are important when developing management plans,”
said Matt Mauck, south central region fisheries supervisor for the Wildlife
Department. “We encourage the angling public to join us for an evening of
informative discussions and input opportunities.”
Lake Texoma was formed in 1944 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
with the impoundment of the Red River on the Oklahoma/Texas border. At close to
90,000 acres, the lake is widely known for its history of good striper, black
bass, crappie and catfish angling and boasts numerous current or former state
records including blue catfish, smallmouth bass and alligator gar.
Anglers can learn more about fishing at Lake Texoma by attending the
public meeting and can find regulations and harvest limits in the current
“Oklahoma Fishing Guide,” available online at wildlifedepartment.com or anywhere
fishing licenses are sold.
The Clay Jones Community Center is located at 1901 S. 9th St. in
Durant. For more information, contact Mauck at (580) 924-4087.
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Wildlife Department names longtime employee as new assistant director of
operations
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation recently
announced the agency has selected a new assistant director of operations.
Though he is new to the position, Wade Free is not new to the
Wildlife Department, nor is he a new face to the sportsmen of Oklahoma. As
northwest region wildlife supervisor since 1996 and a Wildlife Department
employee since 1983, Free has had the opportunity to work in a number of
positions for the agency and has had a hand in numerous projects over the
years that have been beneficial to both wildlife and sportsmen.
Free began his career at the Wildlife Department as a fisheries
assistant at the Byron Fish Hatchery after growing up in Newkirk. In 1986,
he transferred to the Department’s wildlife division as a wildlife
management area manager working on Beaver, Optima and Ft. Supply WMAs. He
was promoted to a wildlife biologist position in 1988 and then to the
assistant chief of wildlife position in 1994. He transferred back into the
field in 1996, where he remained the northwest regional wildlife supervisor
until recently promoting to assistant director of operations.
One of Free’s most enjoyable projects during his career was his
work on Beaver WMA.
“I enjoyed working on the new Beaver WMA,” Free said. “I enjoyed
taking an area that was basically a private cattle ranch and planning and
developing it into a wildlife management area.”
Free said the project was rewarding not only because it showed
him what can be accomplished in wildlife conservation and habitat
management, but also because he was “able to see how the hunters and users
appreciated the work that we did as an agency to provide them with
additional outdoor opportunities.”
As northwest regional wildlife supervisor for the Department,
Free also enjoyed working on a broader scale on all of the WMAs throughout
the Panhandle and northwest Oklahoma.
In more recent years, Free has enjoyed increasing his work in
private lands management. Since about 97 percent of Oklahoma’s land is
privately owned, the Department recognizes that relationships with
landowners and efforts on private lands are key to conserving wildlife
habitat in the state.
Additionally, Free has found great pleasure over the years in
introducing youth to hunting and fishing through youth hunts, the
Department’s Shotgun Training and Education Program and other efforts to
share the outdoors.
Though Free has spent most of his career working in the wildlife
division, Free has had a chance to participate in numerous areas of Wildlife
Department business and now looks forward to the challenges of his new
position, such as creating hunting and fishing access and focusing on all
wildlife resources across the state.
“If it’s about wildlife and fisheries management or outdoor
recreation, I want to be a part of that,” Free said. “And I look forward to
being able to contribute in my new position by working with all divisions in
this agency. Managing wildlife resources and providing public access for
hunters and fishermen is very rewarding.”
Free said that wildlife diversity comes to mind when he thinks
of Oklahoma, which is both promising for sportsmen but also challenging for
managers and conservationists.
“For hunters, fisherman and outdoor users, Oklahoma is one of
the most diverse states in the country,” Free said. “I’m excited to be part
of that. I’m also excited to be part of an agency that is user-minded and
user-friendly. We work with anyone from trout fisherman to private
landowners wanting to improve habitat for lesser prairie chickens. We have a
lot of challenges on the horizon — things like lesser prairie chicken
management, an increased emphasis on bobwhite quail, and continuing to focus
on species like deer and turkey that are doing quite well. And while
Oklahoma offers some of the best fishing in the country, we still have to
address challenges along the way such as continually providing fishing
access and opportunities, managing our aging lakes, streams management,
preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species and more.”
Free said he is also glad to be part of an agency that has the
support of sportsmen and license buyers, and he looks forward to helping
enthusiasts who want to participate in the outdoors.
Free is married to Cindy, and they have three children — a
daughter, Kenlee, who will graduate in May from the OU School of Dentistry
as a dental hygienist; a son, Weston, a junior at Sharon-Mutual High School;
and another son, Cooper, a freshman at Sharon-Mutual High School.
Free is an avid outdoorsman whose hobbies include hunting,
fishing, taxidermy, camping and more. He is an avid bird dog trainer and
bird hunter, and many Oklahomans are familiar with him from his entertaining
and informative bird dog training seminars held each year at the Oklahoma
Wildlife Expo.
To learn more about the Wildlife Department, the state agency
charged with conserving the state’s wildlife, log on to
wildlifedepartment.com.
Photo
Caption: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation recently announced
that longtime Wildlife Department employee Wade Free has been selected as
the new assistant director of operations for the agency. Free has been the
northwest region wildlife supervisor for the Wildlife Department since 1996
and an employee of the Department since 1983.
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Kiamichi Mountains to host 55th Youth Forestry and Wildlife Camp; applications
now accepted
One of Oklahoma’s longest running summer camps is now accepting
applications from youth interested in learning more about forestry, wildlife and
conservation in an outdoor setting.
The 55th Annual Oklahoma Youth Forestry & Wildlife Camp is accepting
online applications for campers aged 13 to 15 years old. The week-long camp will
be held June 6-11 in beautiful Beavers Bend State Park near Broken Bow,
Oklahoma, and is open to boys and girls from across the state.
“Only 50 spots are available, so we urge interested campers to sign
up now,” said Oklahoma Forestry Services’ District Forester and camp director
Caleb Fields. “While learning about forestry and wildlife, campers will enjoy
fly fishing, archery, skeet shooting and fun field trips.”
Adult leaders and camp counselors are also urged to apply. Camp
counselors, age 18 to 22, should be mature, responsible young adults with an
interest in education or outdoor careers such as forestry or wildlife. In
addition to working with the younger campers and gaining valuable experience in
their field, camp counselors will receive a stipend of $200 for the week.
Volunteer adult leaders are also eligible to bring one camper for no charge.
The fee for campers is $175 and covers all costs including lodging,
meals, transportation at camp, field trips, and workshops. A limited number of
partial scholarships are available. Applications will be accepted until April
29, 2011 and are available at www.forestry.ok.gov or by calling (405) 522-6158. The website also has additional camp information
as well as photos from past camps.
By experiencing nature in a fun atmosphere, students will gain a
life-long awareness and respect for the world in which they live while learning
from some of the top natural resource professionals in the state.
-30-
Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International to host sportsmen’s
banquet and fundraiser
The Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International hosts a
banquet and fundraiser each year, and those planning to attend this year can
purchase their general admission ticket to the March 5 event for $70, and
tickets purchased at the door will cost $95.
Safari Club International is known for supporting conservation and
sportsmen, and the active Oklahoma Station Chapter’s 26th Annual Awards Banquet
and Charity Fundraiser is just one way supporters can help with the group’s
cause to protect the freedom to hunt, educate others on the value of hunting for
wildlife management, conserve wildlife and provide humanitarian services.
The banquet, to be held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage
Museum in Oklahoma City, 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 and a variety of whitetail deer hunts in several states
to big game hunts in Africa and fishing trips in Alaska and Patagonia. Other
auction items include selections of firearms, outdoor art, hunting gear and much
more. A continually updated list of auction items can be viewed on the Oklahoma
Station Chapter’s website at oklahomastationsci.org.
“This is a particularly special celebration of our hunting
heritage,” said Mike Mistelske, current president of the Oklahoma Station
Chapter. “In 2010, our Chapter’s banquet program won best-in-class among all of
SCI’s largest chapters worldwide.”
Mistelske said this year’s event will include over $500,000 worth of
auction items, including many North American big-game hunts, a cape buffalo hunt
in Mozambique, a number of bird hunts, fishing trips, and many other hunts trips
around the world
“We’ll also have several incredible bronze sculptures,” Mistelske
said. “Banquet tickets remain at last year’s reduced prices. There will be many
activities, and there will be great value and fun for everyone — all for the
benefit of Oklahoma hunters and non-hunters.”
The banquet begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, but registration
begins at 4:30 p.m., along with the silent auction and various games.
Opportunity to visit with outfitters and vendors begins at 2:30 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 and a limited number of sponsor tables are now available. To purchase
tickets or for further information, contact Judy Rork by e-mail at
oscsci@yahoo.com or by phone at (405) 703-3381. Ticket forms also may be printed from the
chapter’s website at oklahomastationsci.org and either mailed, faxed or e-mailed
according to instructions on the form.
Bid cards for the auction are available to members at no cost. For
non-members, bid cards ($50) or memberships ($95) may be purchased at the door
if desired. For questions relating to the banquet and auction, contact Mike
Mistelske, current Oklahoma Station Chapter of SCI president, at
sciokpres@yahoo.com or (918) 695-8556.
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 venison to needy families.
Last year hunters donated over 42,000 pounds of venison, which provided 168,000
meals to hungry Oklahomans. 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 several trailers 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.
For more information on the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club
International, log on to oklahomastationsci.org.
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Creativity
to benefit wildlife at NatureWorks art show
Wildlife enthusiasts agree that an artist has no better subject than
nature. The annual NatureWorks Wildlife Art Show and Sale, to be held March 5-6
at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center, will have something for
everyone — sculptures, carvings, landscape painting, outdoor photography,
western art and much more.
Annually NatureWorks, a Tulsa-based conservation group, brings
together outstanding wildlife and nature artists from across the United States
and abroad for the show. Each year 60-plus artists display their work, one of
which is the featured artist for the year. The 2011 featured artist is Diane
Mason, a sculptor from Berthoud, Colo. She calls her work an interpretation of
the behaviors of animals “with a generous dose of whimsy.” Mason is the
president of the prestigious Society of Animal Artists and is the recipient of
many art awards and honors.
The NatureWorks Wildlife Art Show & Sale is one of the best wildlife
art shows in the country. It is widely recognized for its outstanding art plus
the opportunity it provides for visitors to meet directly with artists. All
artwork at the show is for sale. Sales will help generate matching grants to
assist a variety of state wildlife conservation projects.
NatureWorks, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife
conservation and education. Projects such as the Department's paddlefish
management program, duck stamp print program and centennial duck stamp print
have benefited from NatureWorks' support as well as habitat work at the Harold
Stuart Waterfowl Refuge Unit within the Deep Fork Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
and the Grassy Slough WMA. NatureWorks is also 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. In addition,
they have funded a project that puts Outdoor Oklahoma magazine in every school
and library in the state.
The NatureWorks Wildlife Art Show and Sale will be held at the Tulsa
Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, located at 6808 South 107th East Avenue
(71st and US-169). Times are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 5 and 11 a.m. to
5 p.m. Sunday, March 6. Tickets are $5, and one ticket is good for both days.
For more information about NatureWorks or the art show, log on to
www.natureworks.org.
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Oklahoma hosts scientific study group to share insight on deer biology and
management
Wildlife professionals from across the southeastern United
States convened on Oklahoma City recently for a meeting of the minds on all
things deer during the 34th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Deer Study
Group.
The study group was hosted by the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation, the state agency charged with conserving Oklahoma’s
wildlife.
As the most popular big-game animal in North America, deer — and
specifically whitetail deer — are thriving in Oklahoma and across the
country as wildlife managers and sportsmen work together to conserve
wildlife and habitat as well as preserve the deer hunting heritage.
The study group, consisting of whitetail deer managers,
researchers, and trade professionals, met to review cutting edge research
projects, management efforts, successes, upcoming projects, current and
future concerns and more. By studying and sharing information on everything
from the science of deer mortality, fawn survival, deer disease, deer food,
habitat issues, weather and other natural and manmade influences to the
cultural aspects of hunting regulations, hunter education, and everything in
between, managers are able to establish goals, identify challenges, and
prepare for a bright future of wildlife conservation and hunting success.
“The whitetail deer is a true Oklahoma conservation success
story, and participating in the Southeast Deer Study Group is just one way
the Wildlife Department continues to work to understand the scientific and
cultural aspects of deer and deer hunting and the issues that surround the
future of wildlife and the sport that so many enjoy,” said Jerry Shaw, big
game biologist for the Wildlife Department.
Deer hunters are credited in large part for the success of the
whitetail deer across the country through their funding of wildlife agencies
and conservation organizations. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation, for example, receives no general state tax appropriations and
is funded primarily by sportsmen through their purchase of hunting and
fishing licenses and federal excise taxes on certain sporting goods.
In the early 1900s, subsistence hunting and unregulated harvest
eliminated nearly all of the deer in Oklahoma, so much that by 1917, the
total statewide deer population is estimated to have been around 500
animals. The state Legislature banned deer hunting at that time, but through
conservation efforts on the part of wildlife managers in partnership with
sportsmen, the state’s deer populations experienced massive comebacks.
Today, it is normal for sportsmen to harvest at or over 100,000
deer annually. Throughout the season, Oklahoma’s deer hunting opportunities
include youth-only seasons, holiday antlerless deer seasons and controlled
hunting opportunities in addition to regular archery, muzzleloader and rifle
seasons. By purchasing required hunting licenses and participating in
hunting, sportsmen fund the conservation of deer as well as help ensure deer
are abundant for future generations of Oklahomans to enjoy.
To learn more about the Wildlife Department or deer hunting in
Oklahoma, log on to
www.wildlifedepartment.com
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Outdoor Oklahoma readers’ photos wanted for “Readers Photography Showcase” issue
This summer Outdoor Oklahoma magazine will release it’s annual
“Readers’ Photography Showcase” issue that will feature digital photography by
readers from all over Oklahoma. Submissions from both amateur and professional
photographers are being accepted now, and the deadline for entries is March 31.
“We are starting to see a lot of entries come in for the contest,”
said Michael Bergin, associate editor. “The judges always seek to select a range
of outstanding photography to be showcased, and we look forward to sharing the
issue as a way to recognize and thank our readers as well as display our state’s
great outdoors.”
Each participant may submit up to five digital images.
“Submissions should be photographs taken in Oklahoma, and they can
be of anything related to wildlife and the outdoors,” Bergin said. “Everything
from birds and deer to trees, insects, landscapes, and people hunting and
fishing are good subjects.”
Each submission must include a description of the photo, including
the location taken, name and hometown of photographer, names and hometowns of
subjects and what it took to get just the right shot. Photos should be in sharp
focus, and images should be at least 300 dpi (dots per inch). The canvas size
should be about 8 inches by 11 inches. All submissions must be digital. Slides
and print images will not be accepted. Though images will remain the property of
the photographer, actual submissions that are e-mailed or mailed on CD or other
storage device will not be returned.
Individuals can subscribe to Outdoor Oklahoma by calling
1-800-777-0019. Outdoor Oklahoma is known for providing decades of outdoor
entertainment to both youth and adults. Subscriptions are just $10 for one year,
$18 for two years, or $25 for three years. You can also subscribe over the
Internet by logging on to the Department's website at www.wildlifedepartment.com.
Hunters who purchase a new Oklahoma Wildlife Management Area Atlas, available
from the Wildlife Department for $25, also get a one-year subscription to
Outdoor Oklahoma magazine.
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Early
spring marks beginning of prime time for angling action
It might seem just a little too early to head to a favorite fishing
honey hole for some angling action, but this year two anglers have already
caught lake record fish, and a look back over the years tells us that now
through the next several months is a prime time to catch large fish.
Bodee Halton of Broken Bow caught a 2.6-pound spotted bass Feb. 17
from Broken Bow Lake that became a lake record, and last month the same lake
produced a 6.2-pound lake record walleye for Broken Bow angler Frank Parker. As
part of the Wildlife Department’s lake record fish program, anglers who catch a
fish that might be a record for the lake in which it was caught can have the
fish officially weighed and, if they’ve in fact landed a record, the angler can
get their fish recognized and their names in the books for all to see.
In addition to fish already caught this year, a lake record and
Oklahoma “Top 20” largemouth bass was caught March 14, 2010, when David Kinard
caught a 13 lb., 4 oz. bass from Longmire Lake. The fish took the No. 17 spot on
the list of bass, of which 13 were caught in March and several others in late
February or early April.
Lake record fish of several species are caught regularly now
throughout the spring each year, and biologists encourage anglers to get an
early start. Everyone from teenage girls to pro anglers to country music stars
have landed lake records at lakes across the state.
The lake record fish program was initiated in 2008 to recognize big
fish and the anglers who catch them, and it has grown from about a dozen lakes
at its inception to more than 40 lakes today. So anglers all over the state can
go fishing just for leisure, but they can also go with a sense of competitive
drive in hopes of putting their name in a record book.
Species eligible for spots in the lake records book include blue,
channel and flathead catfish and largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass in
addition to crappie, paddlefish, striped bass, striped bass hybrids, sunfish
(combined) walleye/saugeye and white bass. Minimum weights and participating
lakes are set for each species and are detailed on the Wildlife Department’s
website at
www.wildlifedepartment.com
Anglers who catch a potential record from a participating lake should
contact designated business locations around the lake that are enrolled as lake
record keepers. A listing of official lake record keepers is available on
www.wildlifedepartment.com
Once it has been determined that an angler has landed a record fish,
the media is notified and the public will be able to view information about the
catch on the Wildlife Department’s website at
www.wildlifedepartment.com
An easily-operated search feature is available on the website that
allows those interested to view a wealth of lake record fish information,
ranging from the size of record fish caught to what kind of bait or rod and reel
was used to catch them.
All past and current state record fish are registered in the lake
record fish program as records for their respective lakes.
For more information about the lake record fish program or fishing
in Oklahoma, log on to
www.wildlifedepartment.com
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