JUNE 2011
NEWS
RELEASES
WEEK OF JUNE 30, 2011
WEEK OF JUNE 23, 2011
WEEK OF JUNE 16, 2011
WEEK OF JUNE 9, 2011
WEEK OF JUNE 2, 2011
Seventh annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo to offer outdoor learning
opportunities
Oklahomans interested in the outdoors should mark
their calendars now for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation’s seventh annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo slated for
Sept. 24-25 at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City.
The Wildlife Department is working with a range of
organizations, individuals and outdoor-related companies to host
the Expo — a free event intended to promote and develop
appreciation for Oklahoma’s wildlife and natural resources by
providing hands-on learning opportunities for all types of
outdoor enthusiasts.
“The Expo is a one-of-a-kind outdoor recreation
event,” said Rhonda Hurst, Expo coordinator for the Wildlife
Department. “This is a place where literally thousands of
outdoor-minded people of all ages and skill levels gather for a
weekend of activities and learning opportunities that are
entirely focused on Oklahoma’s outdoors.”
Organizations interested in helping promote the
outdoors through an educational booth or activity should contact
Hurst at (405) 522-6279.
Among many other activities, Expo visitors will be
able to try firsthand activities such as fishing, shotgun and
archery shooting sports, kayaking, mountain biking and more.
They can attend seminars on hunting dog training, outdoor
cooking, camping, hunting, fishing, birdwatching, and other
activities in the great outdoors. Visitors to the event also can
win a variety of free prizes thanks to the Expo’s generous
sponsors. Additionally, guests can shop at the Outdoor
Marketplace, a large area at the Expo designated for shopping
for the latest in outdoor gear and merchandise.
Expo hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days,
Log on to wildlifedepartment.com as the event draws near to stay
up to date on the upcoming Oklahoma Wildlife Expo.
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Outdoor Marketplace returning to 2011 Oklahoma Wildlife Expo
Visitors to this year’s Oklahoma Wildlife Expo Sept.
24-25 will have no shortage of outdoor-related educational
opportunities, but they will also have the chance to shop for a
range of outdoor goods and services at the Outdoor Marketplace.
The Outdoor Marketplace is a large area at the
Wildlife Expo where commercial vendors will be selling their
hunting and fishing-related merchandise, meaning visitors who
break away from all of the free shotgun shooting, archery,
kayaking, mountain biking and fishing could find a bargain on
their next outdoor purchase.
Last year’s Wildlife Expo drew an estimated 51,000
visitors to the Lazy E Arena over the course of three days,
making it the most popular outdoor recreation event in the
state.
“The Outdoor Marketplace is a fun destination for
Expo visitors and a great opportunity for vendors to showcase
their outdoor-related products,” said Ben Davis, Outdoor
Marketplace coordinator. “Visitors can shop through a large
range of goods and services that cater to their outdoor
lifestyles, while vendors can display their outdoor goods and
services to tens of thousands of outdoor-minded visitors.”
The Marketplace features vendors under a large tent,
but outdoor open-air spaces also are available for displaying
larger items such as ATVs and hunting blinds. A 10’ x 10’ booth
space under the tent or a 20’ x 20’ outside space costs $300.
Both include electricity. Nonprofit conservation organizations
also will be able to sign up for free booth spaces to promote
membership and educate sportsmen about their organizations.
Along with shopping at the Outdoor Marketplace, Expo
visitors will be able to fish, shoot shotguns, kayak, ride
mountain bikes, see and touch wildlife, attend dog training
seminars and learn about recreation in the great outdoors all
for free. They will also be able to win a variety of prizes
thanks to generous sponsors of the event.
“Any vendor who wants to reach people interested in
the outdoors needs to be a part of the Outdoor Marketplace at
this year’s Wildlife Expo,” Davis said.
For more information about obtaining a booth in the
Outdoor Marketplace or to obtain an application for a booth,
contact Ben Davis, Outdoor Marketplace coordinator, at (405)
521-4632.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s
seventh annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo is slated for September
24-25 at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City. The
Wildlife Department will be working with a range of
organizations, individuals and outdoor-related companies to host
the event — intended to promote and develop appreciation for
Oklahoma’s wildlife and natural resources.
Log on to wildlifedepartment.com regularly to stay
up to date on the upcoming Oklahoma Wildlife Expo.
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Awareness is key to curbing spread of aquatic nuisance species
Good fishing is being reported at almost every lake
across the state according to this week’s fishing report from
the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and anglers in
the know will be taking advantage of this good fishing for the
next several weeks.
Since sportsmen can find a popular fish biting at
almost any destination they choose, biologists with the Wildlife
Department are reminding anglers to take precautions against the
spread of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) when traveling from
lake to lake.
ANS in Oklahoma include zebra mussels, didymo, white
perch, golden alga, and hydrilla, among others. Whether a
mussel, fish, microscopic organism or vegetation, ANS are a
threat because of their potential to disrupt the balance of
state fisheries. Since they are invasive and often non-native,
they may have few natural predators, reproduce and spread
rapidly, and may compete with native species for available
forage and habitat.
“An ANS can be any organism that threatens our
native waters, not just fish or plants,” said Curtis Tackett,
aquatic nuisance species biologist for the Wildlife Department.
“They are often unknowingly transported by man — usually boaters
and anglers — to a new location, where they thrive and cause
problems for native habitat or native aquatic species.”
Oklahoma’s most widespread ANS is the zebra mussel.
Though not much bigger than a thumbnail, these striped aquatic
invaders can live for several days out of water and can be
dispersed overland by boats pulled on trailers, though their
main method of spread is by free-floating larvae. Zebra mussels
can multiply rapidly to the point of clogging water treatment
plant intake pipes, fouling boat bottoms and possibly depleting
food sources relied on by fish and other aquatic species.
Another ANS recently documented in Oklahoma where it
was not formerly known is Didymosphenia geminata, or “didymo.”
Discovered in Lower Mountain Fork River below Broken Bow Lake,
the invasive algae thrives in low-nutrient, cold flowing streams
that are rich in oxygen. Though it starts out as small tufted
colonies, it can grow into dense, thick mats that cover large
portions of a streambed, outcompeting native algae relied upon
by native insects.
“That may not sound like a problem, except that
those insects provide an important source of food for trout in
the Lower Mountain Fork River,” Tackett said.
Tackett said that in some cases, the reduction of
available food sources for trout because of competition from
invasive species like didymo can result in smaller fish.
Additionally, didymo can clog water pipes and other flow
structures as well as become a nuisance to anglers because of
how easily it can be snagged by a fishhook.
To stop the spread of aquatic nuisance species and
their possible economic and environmental consequences, the
Wildlife Department depends on anglers’ support and help.
According to Tackett, anglers can help prevent
further spread of ANS, and it just takes a little bit of effort.
“But that effort can go a long way,” Tackett said.
Tackett offers the following measures to prevent the
spread of aquatic nuisance species:
* Drain the bilge water, live wells and bait buckets before
leaving.
* Inspect the boat and trailer immediately upon leaving the
water.
* Scrape off any zebra mussels or aquatic vegetation found. Do
not return them to the water.
* Wash boat parts and accessories that contact the water using
hot water (at least 140 degrees F.), or spray with high-pressure
water.
* If possible, dry the boat and trailer for at least a week
before entering another waterway.
* Before leaving a river or stream, remove all clumps of algae
and look for hidden fragments.
* Soak and scrub all gear for at least one minute in a two
percent bleach solution, or five percent salt solution, or
simply use hot water and dishwashing soap.
* If cleaning is not practical, then wait at least 48 hours
before contact with another water body after equipment has
dried.
* Consider keeping two sets of wading boots, and alternate their
use between cleaning and drying.
* Avoid using felt-soled waders.
* Avoid wading through colonies of the algae. Breaking up the
material could cause future colonies and blooms to occur further
downstream.
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Wildlife Department partners with timber companies to secure
Honobia Creek WMA
Hunters will continue enjoying public access to more
than 80,000 acres of privately owned timberland known as Honobia
Creek Wildlife Management Area thanks to a recent agreement
between the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the
three timber companies that own the land.
At its June meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife
Conservation Commission renewed it’s agreements with Hancock
Forest Management, Rayonier Forest Resources and Molpus
Timberlands Management to secure the collective 80,316 acres in
Pushmataha and LeFlore counties for the next three years. The
agreements follow last month’s renewal of a contract with
Weyerhaeuser Company to maintain public hunting and fishing
access to more than 200,000 acres on the Three Rivers WMA in
southeast Oklahoma.
The Honobia Creek and Three Rivers WMAs are a result
of cooperative agreements between the Wildlife Department and
four of the largest timber companies in Oklahoma, and the areas
have proven popular among sportsmen.
“Hunters and anglers from 53 of the 77 counties in
Oklahoma use either the Three Rivers or Honobia Creek Wildlife
Management Area,” said Alan Peoples, chief of wildlife for the
Wildlife Department.
According to Peoples, the new agreements will
maintain Honobia Creek WMA as one contiguous acreage rather than
breaking it into smaller tracts. Additionally, the agreement
will continue providing access to 21 miles of hunting and
fishing opportunity on the Little River and will maintain 16
miles of shared boundary between Honobia Creek WMA and Three
Rivers WMA.
Located north of Hwy 3/7 and east of Hwy 271,
Honobia Creek WMA is a mixture of pine and hardwood forests
interspersed with rivers and streams, serving as ideal habitat
for a range of wildlife. A $40 land access permit is required of
all residents who hunt or fish on Honobia Creek or Three Rivers
WMAs. Nonresidents are required to purchase an $85 annual
permit. Oklahoma residents who are under 18 years of age on the
first day of the current calendar year or 64 years of age or
older are exempt from permit requirements. More information
about Honobia Creek and Three Rivers WMAs is available online at
wildlifedepartment.com.
In other business, the Commission approved the
Wildlife Department’s fiscal year 2012 annual budget. The
approved budget falls about $5 million below the FY2011 budget
due to a decrease in capital expenditures. Significant additions
to the budget include $1 million for fish hatchery renovations
and $800,000 for repairs to the dam at American Horse Lake. The
budget also includes approximately $1 million for quail
research, specifically two important research initiatives
intended to halt the long-term downward trends in quail
populations across the state and the bird’s native range.
Oklahoma has long been known as home to some of the
best quail habitat and quail hunting in the nation. But since
the species is currently in a state of unexplained gradual
decline, the research initiatives will seek to study all angles
of quail mortality and develop management strategies that help
halt decline.
As part of the effort, the Department will work with
Oklahoma State University to initiate its own research program
and intensive quail management efforts on two northwest Oklahoma
WMAs. Areas of focus will include weather studies, implications
of cattle grazing and prescribed fire, requirements for optimum
reproductive success and rates and causes of quail mortality.
“We’re moving forward,” Peoples said. “We continue
to refine our research principles and concepts with Oklahoma
State University, and I think we’re getting real close to what
we foresee as long-term quail research needs.”
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
(ODWC) will be working with the Rolling Plains Quail Research
Ranch as well as Texas A&M and Texas Tech universities on a
project called Operation Idiopathic Decline. The role of ODWC
biologists will include trapping quail and sending them to Texas
Tech, where extensive research will commence in the areas of
disease, parasitism, herbicides, insecticides and other issues.
“The August, September, October timeframe is where
we’re focusing because that seems to be the window of
disappearance — the Bermuda triangle, if you will,” Peoples
said.
Peoples said the Department will send four employees
to Texas in July for training in the collection of quail data
samples for research purposes.
The Commission learned of the research initiatives
at its March meeting, and since then the Department has started
preparing for the projects.
The Commission also voted for a modification to the
Wildlife Department retirement plan that changes the investment
return assumption from 7.5 percent to 7 percent, and it elected
new officers to serve the Commission.
Serving as the new chairman will be District 3
Commissioner Mike Bloodworth; serving as vice-chairman will be
District 1 Commissioner M. David Riggs; and serving as secretary
will be District 6 Commissioner John Zelbst.
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., July 5, 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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Wildlife Conservation Commission establishes new officers
At its June meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife
Conservation Commission established new officers to begin
serving next month.
The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the
eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation and is responsible for establishing state
hunting and fishing regulations, setting policy for the Wildlife
Department and indirectly overseeing all state fish and wildlife
conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by the
governor and confirmed by the Senate.
Commissioner Mike Bloodworth will serve as the new
Commission chairman. Bloodworth represents District 3, including
LeFlore, Latimer, Pittsburg, Atoka, Pushmataha, McCurtain,
Choctaw, Bryan, Marshall, Carter and Love counties. Bloodworth
was named by Gov. Brad Henry in 2007 to serve on the Commission,
and his term will run through 2015.
A lifelong resident of Hugo, Bloodworth founded an
independent insurance agency in that Choctaw County community
after serving as a sixth-grade teacher and elementary school
principal for 10 years. He earned both bachelor's and master's
degrees in education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University
in Durant. He is also an active duck and goose hunter. In
addition to his outdoor pursuits, he serves as a board member of
the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma, the local school board and
the Oklahoma State School Board Association.
Bloodworth and wife Martha had two children, a son,
Chad, who is deceased, and a daughter, Misty, who lives in
Paris, Texas. The Bloodworth's have two grandchildren — grandson
Ryan and granddaughter Laci.
Serving as Commission vice-chairman will be District
1 Commissioner M. David Riggs. District 1 consists of Ottawa,
Delaware, Craig, Mayes, Nowata, Rogers, Washington, Tulsa,
Pawnee and Osage counties. Riggs was appointed to the Commission
by Gov. Brad Henry, and his term will expire in 2013.
A lifelong resident of Sand Springs, Riggs is a
partner in one of the state's largest law firms — Riggs, Abney,
Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis. Riggs also served as a member of
the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1971 to 1987 and in
the Oklahoma Senate from 1987 to 1988.
Riggs is active in a number of local conservation
organizations, including serving on the board of trustees of The
Nature Conservancy and as the chairman of the board of directors
for the Sutton Avian Research Center.
He graduated from Phillips University in Enid in
1959, received a Masters of Arts from the University of Oklahoma
in 1962 and graduated first in his class at the University of
Tulsa College of Law in 1968.
Serving as Commission secretary will be District 6
Commissioner John P. Zelbst. District 6 includes Blaine,
Kingfisher, Canadian, Caddo, Grady, Comanche, Stephens,
Jefferson and Cotton counties. Gov. Brad Henry appointed Zelbst
to the Commission in 2010, and his term runs until 2018.
Zelbst has 30 years experience as a trial lawyer and
is the managing partner at Zelbst, Holmes & Butler law firm. The
firm serves Oklahoma City, Lawton, Edmond, Norman and with the
assistance of local counsel, all of the United States. His legal
career has focused solely on representing people who have been
injured, wronged, falsely accused and mistreated.
A member of the Oklahoma Association for Justice
(formerly the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association), he served as
the Association’s President in 2000. He also holds the
distinction of having secured $24 million in the largest known
personal injury verdict in state history. Along with other
professional memberships, recognition and awards, he was awarded
the title of Oklahoma Super Lawyer for the years 2006-2010,
Superlawyers.com; and is a member of the Bar Register of
Preeminent Lawyers, 92nd Edition, Martindale Hubbell and is also
Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Zelbst received a Bachelor of Science Degree from
Cameron University in Lawton in 1976 and earned his Juris
Doctorate from the University of Tulsa, College of Law, in 1980.
He is a graduate of and a board and faculty member of the Gerry
Spence Trial Lawyers College, DuBois, Wyo.
Zelbst and his wife, Cindy, own and reside on the U2
Ranch in Meers. They have a son, Clay, and are actively involved
in cattle operations on the ranch. He also supports numerous
civic and community development programs, and currently chairs
both the Comanche County Board of Trustees and the Comanche
County Memorial Hospital Trust.
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Fishing with Wings: Wildlife Department teaches fishing to a
special needs community
Communities are casting into summer by participating
in the Wildlife Department’s free fishing clinics. Saturday,
June 4, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation taught
members of Wings, a special needs community, basic fishing
skills at Dolese Youth Park in Oklahoma City.
“These kids know they’re different and deal with it
day to day, so Wings partners with different organizations to
organize fun activities,” said Kathe Russ, Wing’s parent. “We
weren’t going to stay, but we came and it’s so addicting, you
don’t want to leave.”
Wings partnered with Whistling Wind to host the
Department’s Aquatic Resource Education Program (AREP).
Whistling Wind is a 501(c)3 non-profit, whose mission is to
promote accessible recreation and sport to individuals and
families living with disabilities.
“We strive to help parents find healing therapy
outdoors and make it readily available with handicap
accessibility,” said Shari Zimmerman, co-founder of Whistling
Wind. “It is difficult to find a body of water that is easily
accessible.”
Wildlife Department employees taught Wings members,
parents, and volunteers fishing safety, how to tie an improved
cinch knot, casting technique, and outdoor ethics. It was the
first time for many of these young adults to fish, but many
experienced a catch and release.
All AREP clinics consist of an educational component
that teaches basic fishing techniques and are typically followed
by an opportunity to fish at a nearby pond or lake. Certified
volunteer instructors or Wildlife Department employees conduct
the clinics.
The Wildlife Department promotes the sport of
fishing and aquatic resource awareness and gives various ages an
opportunity to learn about Oklahoma’s aquatic environments and
how to fish because the agency knows fishing improves peoples’
quality of life.
For more information or to schedule an Aquatic
Resource Education clinic visit wildlifedepartment.com or
contact Damon Springer, Aquatic Resources Education coordinator,
at (405) 521-4603.
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Altus sportsman, farmer and rancher named to Wildlife Commission
Altus sportsman Robert Dan Robbins will serve as the
District 7 representative on the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation
Commission through 2019, after having recently been appointed by
Gov. Mary Fallin and confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate.
Born and raised in Altus, Robbins is a fourth
generation farmer and rancher whose great-grandfather arrived to
the area in 1901. He graduated from Altus High School in 1982
and attended Oklahoma State University. Together with his wife
of 22 years, Zina, Robbins farms cotton and wheat on 2,600 acres
as well as helps manage several thousand acres of cotton and
wheat on family farmland. They also raise Angus cross cattle
along the north fork of the Red River. Robbins has two children
— Rachael and Daniel — and a grandson named Axel.
Robbins is an avid sportsman.
“Some of my fondest memories growing up include
hunting rabbits with my dad with a .410 shotgun that my
grandmother gave to me when I was a little guy,” Robbins said.
“I grew up fishing farm ponds and running trotlines on the north
fork of the Red.”
In the late 1980s, Robbins was introduced to deer
hunting by his father-in-law and has enjoyed the sport ever
since. After years of deer management efforts on his own land,
Robbins was able to harvest a Cy-Curtis-Award-qualifying buck in
2009.
Robbins also enjoys hunting turkeys and doves as
well as fishing. He once caught a hybrid striped bass that
weighed over 20 lbs.
“I look forward to serving on the Wildlife
Commission, and I hope to help secure the future of the great
outdoors in Oklahoma for the next generation to enjoy,” Robbins
said.
Robbins is a member of Ducks Unlimited, National
Wild Turkey Federation, North American Hunting Club, North
American Fishing Club and the National Rifle Association. He is
also a board member of the Oklahoma Wildlife Management
Association and currently serves as chairman of the Oklahoma
Cotton Council and Oklahoma Delegate of the National Cotton
Council, chairman of American Cotton Producers for Oklahoma,
board member of the Producer Cooperative Oil Mill and alternate
board member for Oklahoma for Cotton Incorporated. Additionally,
Robbins was appointed to the Advisory Committee for Universal
Cotton Standards by Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture Ed Schafer and has served as chairman of the Altus
Chamber of Commerce.
The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the
eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). The Wildlife Commission
establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy
for the ODWC, and indirectly oversees all state fish and
wildlife conservation activities. Commission members are
appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
District 7 consists of Ellis, Dewey, Roger Mills,
Custer, Beckham, Washita, Kiowa, Greer, Jackson, Harmon and
Tillman counties.
Caption: Altus sportsman Robert Dan Robbins will serve as the
District 7 representative on the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation
Commission through 2019, after having recently been appointed by
Gov. Mary Fallin and confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate.
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Volunteers needed to help make fishing memories for children
with illnesses
Seventy-five boat-owning volunteers are needed July
16 to help take a group of children with life-threatening and
chronic illnesses fishing on Lake Texoma.
The of children are campers at Camp Cavett, a
weeklong camp that offers outdoor experiences to children who
are undergoing treatments for illnesses such as heart disease,
cancer, sickle cell anemia and other childhood illnesses. Each
year, part of the week’s festivities includes a fishing trip in
which anglers and boaters from across Oklahoma, Texas and even
Louisiana volunteer their time and their boats to spend time
fishing with the campers.
“Some of these kids have had a tough time over the
last few years, but they’re just like any other kids — they love
to go fishing and take a boat ride,” said Gene Gilliland,
assistant chief of fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation.
Gilliland volunteers each year and said some of the
campers do not get to fish at home, either because their
conditions will not allow them to fish easily or because they
are in the hospital too much to find time. Getting the
opportunity to go through Camp Cavett gets them involved in the
outdoors, giving them something to look forward to and
broadening their appreciation for the natural world.
“Both the volunteers and kids have a great time. It
is something we all look forward to," Gilliland said.
The July 16 fishing event is a “fish-for-anything”
derby, with prizes for campers who catch the largest black bass,
panfish, catfish, striped bass or rough fish. A free cookout is
provided for all participants and volunteers following the day’s
outing on the lake.
Boaters and anglers interested in participating can
register as volunteers online at cavettkidsfoundation.org/node/52.
Volunteers must arrive at Lake Texoma’s Catfish Bay by 6 a.m.
and sign in with camp staff. Each boat will be assigned up to
three campers and a counselor, depending on boat capacity.
Tackle, bait and life jackets for campers are provided, though
boaters are encouraged to bring additional life jackets if they
have them in sizes adult small or adult medium.
Photo Caption: A youth camper is spotted fishing at Lake Texoma
during last year’s Camp Cavett with volunteer Glenn Cunningham
of Piedmont. Camp Cavett offers outdoor experiences to children
who are undergoing treatments for illnesses such as heart
disease, cancer, sickle cell anemia and other childhood
illnesses, and each year anglers and boaters come together as
volunteers to take the campers fishing on Lake Texoma. To
volunteer, log on to cavettkidsfoundation.org/node/52.
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Researchers track black bears in northeast Oklahoma
While black bears in southeast Oklahoma have been
studied extensively by biologists and are even pursued by
hunters each fall, less is known about bears inhabiting the
northeast portion of the state. But a research project by the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in partnership with
the Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the
Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management at
Oklahoma State University is helping to change that.
“The goal of the project is to establish the status
and distribution of black bears in the northeast region of the
state,” said Craig Endicott, northeast region wildlife
supervisor for the Wildlife Department and the project leader.
Still in its first year, the three-year research
effort involves trapping bears for tagging and collection of
biological data such as measurements, age estimates and DNA
samples.
With more than two years of studying still ahead,
researchers have already trapped and examined six bears,
primarily in and around Sequoyah, Cherokee and Adair counties on
both public and private lands.
Some bears have been fitted with satellite-based GPS
tracking collars that researchers use to monitor range and
breeding success. Collared female bears will be tracked to den
sites where they give birth to cubs in winter. The adult female
can be temporarily sedated to collect data on her overall
condition and to mark and gather information on cubs. The
high-tech collars do not inhibit the bears’ normal activities,
and they provide researchers with location readings at four key
times each day, providing details about individual ranges and
habits. Trends and other important information can be revealed
in their findings.
“The GPS collars give us a fantastic look at the
daily travels of the collared bears,” said Sara Lyda, an OSU
research associate working with the Wildlife Department to study
bears in the region. “We have already recorded that these
females often travel seven to 10 miles per day within their home
ranges.”
In addition to trapping and tracking, hair samples
are being collected with wire devices designed to pluck strands
of fur from bears’ hides as they travel to and from bait sites.
Collecting DNA from hair samples helps researchers identify
individual bears and understand the genetic diversity of bear
populations in an area.
OSU also is working with Wildlife Department
biologists, technicians and game wardens to monitor bait
stations placed throughout counties in northeast Oklahoma. This
effort will indicate the geographic range of black bears in the
northeast region.
By studying range distributions, breeding success,
body conditions, genetic diversity, feeding habits and other
data collected during the project, biologists will learn
important information about the health and stability of black
bear populations in the northeast region.
The Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research
Unit is a program of the U.S. Geological Survey. Since 1948, it
has been an integral part of OSU and wildlife and fish research
in Oklahoma, helping cooperators like the Wildlife Department
collect useful information on a variety of resource issues.
Oklahoma black bears were put in the spotlight in
2009, when the first official hunting season took place in a
four-county region of southeast Oklahoma. The season came after
years of research and nuisance bear control, but prior to that,
many Oklahomans may not have even been aware of the existence of
bears in the state.
Black bears once ranged over the entire area of what
is now Oklahoma, but by the early 1900s, sightings had become
rare. Factors like land use changes, unregulated hunting and
habitat fragmentation caused black bear numbers to eventually
decline drastically. In the late 1900s, however, black bears
began making a comeback in Oklahoma after their successful
reintroduction in the Ozark and Ouachita mountains of Arkansas.
That initial relocation of about 250 bears from northern
Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada, turned into thousands of bears
in the mountains of Arkansas, which then expanded into
southwestern Missouri and eastern Oklahoma.
This successful reestablishment of black bears led
to a renewed bear hunting season in Arkansas in 1980 and in
Oklahoma in 2009.
Today, the species represents an important part of
the state’s wildlife diversity. The presence of black bears in
an area can indicate good wildlife habitat, because the habitat
requirements for black bears are often more demanding than for
other species.
The Oklahoma
Station of the Safari Club International continued their
commitment to conservation by providing important funding for
this bear research project. The Oklahoma Station Chapter Safari
Club International has partnered with the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation on a number of important research projects
including, Hunters Against Hunger, Operation Game Thief, hunter
education and other wildlife conservation efforts. The mission
of the Oklahoma Station Chapter Safari Club International is to
protect the freedom to hunt and promote wildlife conservation in
the state of Oklahoma and worldwide. To learn more about this
unique organization log on to oklahomastationsci.org.
To learn more
about the Wildlife Department, the state agency charged with
conserving the state’s wildlife, log on to
wildlifedepartment.com
Caption: Wildlife Department personnel and Researchers examine a
northeast Oklahoma black bear as part of an effort to establish
the status and distribution of the species in that region of the
state. The project is being conducted by the Oklahoma Department
of Wildlife Conservation in partnership with the Oklahoma
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the Department
of Natural Resource Ecology and Management at Oklahoma State
University. Pictured clockwise from left: Curt Allen, northeast
region wildlife biologist for the Wildlife Department; Sara Lyda,
OSU research associate; Colby Farquhar, wildlife technician for
the Wildlife Department; and Craig Endicott, northeast region
wildlife supervisor for the Wildlife Department.
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Cy Curtis book free online at the all new wildlifedepartment.com
For the first time, trophy whitetail hunters hoping
to find their name in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation’s Cy Curtis Awards book can view the publication
free online at the all new wildlifedepartment.com.
“We’ve revamped wildlifedepartment.com to make it
more visually appealing and user-friendly,” said Nels Rodefeld,
information and education chief for the Wildlife Department.
“Along with the Cy Curtis book, the new wildlifedepartment.com
has all kinds of great features and resources to provide more
and better information to our state’s hunters and anglers.”
While every deer harvested is a trophy in some way
to the sportsman that brings it home, there are those bucks
whose sheer antler size is notable among others. In Oklahoma,
those deer may be eligible for recognition in the Cy Curtis
Awards Program, which recognizes whitetail deer with a minimum
typical score of 135, or a non-typical minimum of 150 using the
Boone & Crockett antler scoring system.
The Cy Curtis Awards program — named in honor of the
Wildlife Department biologist largely responsible for the
restoration of whitetail deer in the state — was initiated in
1975 when only seven deer were inducted. Last deer season,
nearly 300 deer were added to the Cy Curtis book.
Now posted free on wildlifedepartment.com, the Cy
Curtis book is more accessible than ever. In fact,
wildlifedepartment.com makes a range of outdoor-related
information available to visitors with a new look and feel to
help sportsmen get the most from the outdoors. Hunting season
dates, fishing reports, regulations, event calendars, news
articles, interactive maps of public hunting locations and more
are all available at the click of a mouse.
“Wildlifedepartment.com is really a great tool for
Oklahoma sportsmen,” Rodefeld said. “It’s our most comprehensive
source of information and resources for hunters, anglers and
wildlife enthusiasts, whether your goal is to read up on hunting
regulations, complete an online hunter education home study,
learn where to fish for trout or read an article about a certain
species of wildlife.”
To learn more about the Wildlife Department, log on
to the new wildlifedepartment.com.
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Something to whistle about: black-bellied whistling ducks
spotted in McAlester
Recently, a pair of the most “un-duck-like” ducks
has been spotted in McAlester. Residents have spotted and
photographed two black-bellied whistling ducks perched on what
was left of an ice storm-damaged maple tree in their urban
backyard.
“I like all critters, I’m a wildlife guy that has
been duck hunting all my life, but I’ve never seen something
like this,” said Danny Giacomo, McAlester resident whose yard
the ducks have been visiting. “I look forward to seeing them
every evening about 8 o’clock with the sun highlighting their
beautiful colors.”
Black-bellied whistling ducks are widespread in the
tropics of central to south-central South America and in Texas,
Arizona and coastal Louisiana.
According to Mark Howery, Wildlife Diversity
biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation,
sightings have increased in Oklahoma over the last decade.
Within the past 10-12 years, the black-bellied whistling duck
has become a regular breeding species in McCurtain County with
nests documented so far this year in Broken Bow and at Red
Slough WMA. Over the past decade, they have been recorded in at
least seven counties including Tulsa, Kingfisher, and Osage.
“It is difficult to pinpoint the origin of these
ducks, because they are part of the exotic waterfowl trade,”
Howery said. “These ducks are primarily a combination of
wild-born ducks moving up from Texas, or escaped captive birds.”
Howery thinks their northern movements are due to
their adaptation to human environments.
“These are wetland birds, and like many wetland
birds, they are mobile and can move around from season to season
following rainfall patterns as wetlands dry up in some areas and
fill up in others,” he said. “Outside nesting season, they will
wander for feeding areas.”
This duck species has some goose-like behaviors, but
a diet and bill shape that is more like that of a dabbling duck.
“Black-bellied whistling ducks are their own tribe
of ducks,” Howery said.
Black-bellied whistling ducks eat a variety of
insects and seeds. They can be spotted perching on trees or
nesting in tree cavities.
The sighting of these unique ducks portrays
Oklahoma’s ecologic diversity. Oklahoma ranks as one of the top
ecologically diverse states in the nation, home to everything
from antelope to alligators.
For a full selection of “species spotlight” articles
featuring Oklahoma’s wildlife, log on to the all new
wildlifedepartment.com.
Caption: This pair of black-bellied whistling ducks — a species
that is uncommon in Oklahoma — has recently been spotted
spending time in an urban McAlester backyard. The species is
primarily found in the tropics of South America and southernmost
points of Texas, Arizona and coastal Louisiana.
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Artists wanted: Oklahoma waterfowl stamp design contest now
accepting entries
Artists’ entries are now being accepted for the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Waterfowl Stamp
Design Contest, featuring the white fronted goose. Submissions
will be accepted through Aug. 31, and the winning artwork will
be featured on the 2012-13 Oklahoma waterfowl stamp.
The Wildlife Department’s waterfowl stamp design
contest draws artists from across the United States hoping to
see their rendition of a pre-selected waterfowl species on the
state’s next stamp, which also serves as a state waterfowl
license. The Oklahoma waterfowl stamp is required of hunters who
pursue waterfowl in Oklahoma and is an important source of
funding for on-the-ground habitat work that benefits waterfowl
and other wetland wildlife. The Wildlife Department receives no
general state tax appropriations and is supported primarily
through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, among them the
Oklahoma waterfowl license. Duck stamp sales help finance many
projects that benefit ducks and geese. Since the duck stamp
program began in 1980, thousands of acres of waterfowl habitat
have been created through duck stamp revenues.
“This is really much more than an art contest,” said
Micah Holmes, information supervisor for the Wildlife
Department. “When waterfowl hunters purchase that stamp, they
are doing their part in conserving wildlife and preserving the
sport of hunting. Stamp collectors can support the cause as
well, since the stamps always feature stunning and unique
artwork that’s worth adding to a collection.”
Artwork may be of acrylic, oil, watercolor,
scratchboard, pencil, pen and ink, tempera or any other
two-dimensional media. Photographs are not eligible. The
illustration must be horizontal, six and a half inches high and
nine inches wide. It must be matted with white mat board nine
inches high by 12 inches wide with the opening cut precisely six
and a half inches by nine inches. Artwork may not be framed or
under glass, but acetate covering should be used to protect the
art. All artists must depict the white fronted goose, and any
habitat appearing in the design must be typical of Oklahoma.
Artists also can include a retriever dog in their entry, as long
as the white fronted goose is the featured element of the
artwork.
Complete entry guidelines can be found online at the
all new wildlifedepartment.com.
Entries should be sent to the Duck Stamp Competition
Coordinator, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, P.O.
Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. Fed Ex, UPS and other ground
deliveries should be sent to 1801 N. Lincoln, Oklahoma City, OK
73105.
Entries will be judged on anatomical accuracy,
artistic composition and suitability for printing. The winner
and honorable mentions will appear in a future issue of Outdoor
Oklahoma magazine.
A non-refundable entry fee of $20 (cash, money order
or cashier’s check) must accompany each entry. No entries will
be accepted after 4:30 p.m. Aug. 31.
The winning artist will receive a purchase award of
$1,200, courtesy of Tulsa-based conservation group NatureWorks,
and the winning entry will become the sole and exclusive
property of the Wildlife Department.
A selection of waterfowl stamp art from previous
years is currently on display in the lobby of the Wildlife
Department headquarters located at 1801 N. Lincoln, in Oklahoma
City.
Prints of the winning art are no longer made, but a
small number of limited edition prints from previous years are
available for $135. To order, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
For more information about the contest call (405)
521-3856. For a complete list of contest rules, log on to
wildlifedepartment.com.
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Head northwest now for excellent channel catfish angling
Leading anglers to excellent fishing is at the heart
of recent encouragements from fisheries biologists to head to
Great Salt Plains Lake in northwest Oklahoma.
According to John Stahl, northwest region fisheries
supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation,
channel catfish angling is excellent at the lake right now.
“The weather is hot, and the fishing is smoking
hot,” Stahl said.
Over the last 10 days, Stahl has himself put away
almost 200 lbs. of catfish fillets thanks to his trotlines, and
there is plenty more available for anglers to catch. But
trotlining isn’t the only way to get in on the action.
Water levels at the lake are currently low, and
Stahl said bank access is excellent for rod-and-reel anglers who
come prepared with crawdads, grasshoppers or cut shad. Anglers
also could try Stahl’s concoction he calls “garlic
hotdogs”—inexpensive franks saturated with garlic powder, then
heated, chilled, covered with garlic salt and heated and chilled
once more before heading to the freezer to await the perfect day
on the water.
“Fish the wind,” Stahl said, referring to areas
where wind is hitting the bank.
Additionally, Stahl encourages anglers hoping to get
in on the catfish angling to be mindful of the summer climate by
fishing mornings and evenings.
“Be easy on yourself because of the heat,” Stahl
said, adding that nighttime fishing appears to be best at this
time.
Stahl said the high salt content of Great Salt
Plains Lake may play a role in the excellent flavor of the
catfish meat from the lake.
If northwest Oklahoma is too far of a drive, anglers
can use the Wildlife Department’s free weekly fishing report to
view the status of lakes in their region. The reports are
compiled by Wildlife Department employees and volunteers and
cover lakes and other waters throughout every region in the
state. Information such as lake levels, water temperatures,
species being caught, locations with best fishing action and
successful baits is included in the reports. Anglers can receive
the fishing report free by subscribing to the Department’s
weekly news release at
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com
.
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$100,000 in NSSF grants for local Boy Scouts Councils
Boy Scouts and their troop leaders, who are known
for being resourceful, will easily recognize the great
opportunity provided by the National Shooting Sports Foundation
and its new $100,000 challenge grant that encourages shooting
sports programs at local Boy Scouts of America Councils.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade
association for the firearms industry, and its challenge grants
are available to qualifying BSA Councils that plan to strengthen
and increase their activities in the shooting sports. Such
programs teach Scouts marksmanship skills, firearm and range
safety, teamwork and fundraising.
“This is a great opportunity for Boy Scout leaders
in Oklahoma to introduce their Scouts to safe gun handling and
the shooting sports,” said Lance Meek, hunter education
coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation.
Meek encourages Boy Scout leaders to pursue this
grant opportunity with the NSSF and offers the Wildlife
Department’s hunter education program as a compliment to their
efforts to introduce outdoor skills to Scouts. Scout leaders can
join the growing list of hunter education instructors and
receive free materials to use in their Scouting groups by
contacting Meek at (405) 522-4572.
“NSSF is taking its long-standing partnership with
Boy Scouts of America to a new level with this challenge grant,”
said Chris Dolnack, NSSF’s senior vice president and chief
marketing officer. “With the shooting sports among the most
popular Scouting activities, NSSF is proud to assist local
councils in developing new and expanded opportunities for Scouts
to gain knowledge of the shooting sports.”
BSA Councils applying for a grant must specifically
earmark funds for shooting sports programs and provide matching
funds at least equal to the grant request. NSSF will provide
funding to the first 50 qualifying applicants up to a maximum of
$2,000 in matching support.
Councils must use awarded funds toward the purchase
of equipment and supplies for their shooting sports activities
from an NSSF member retailer, a list of which is available at
www.nssf.org/retailers/find . Examples of qualifying
purchases are ammunition, eye and ear protection, firearms,
targets and shooting vests.
Applicants may view NSSF BSA Council Challenge Grant
guidelines and application procedures at
www.nssf.org/bsagrant . For information contact Melissa
Schilling at NSSF at
mschilling@nssf.org .
Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than
6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting
ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers. Its mission is
to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting
sports. NSSF has also supported numerous Wildlife Department
shooting and hunting initiatives, including more than $100,000
for teachers’ stipends for the hunter education program and
wildlife management area atlases for apprentice-designated
hunting license holders to raise awareness of public hunting
opportunities. For more information, log on to
www.nssf.org.
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Volunteers needed to help make fishing
memories for children with illnesses
Seventy-five boat-owning volunteers are needed July
16 to help take a group of children with life-threatening and
chronic illnesses fishing on Lake Texoma.
The of children are campers at Camp Cavett, a
weeklong camp that offers outdoor experiences to children who
are undergoing treatments for illnesses such as heart disease,
cancer, sickle cell anemia and other childhood illnesses. Each
year, part of the week’s festivities includes a fishing trip in
which anglers and boaters from across Oklahoma, Texas and even
Louisiana volunteer their time and their boats to spend time
fishing with the campers.
“Some of these kids have had a tough time over the
last few years, but they’re just like any other kids — they love
to go fishing and take a boat ride,” said Gene Gilliland,
assistant chief of fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation.
Gilliland volunteers each year and said some of the
campers do not get to fish at home, either because their
conditions will not allow them to fish easily or because they
are in the hospital too much to find time. Getting the
opportunity to go through Camp Cavett gets them involved in the
outdoors, giving them something to look forward to and
broadening their appreciation for the natural world.
“Both the volunteers and kids have a great time. It
is something we all look forward to," Gilliland said.
The July 16 fishing event is a “fish-for-anything”
derby, with prizes for campers who catch the largest black bass,
panfish, catfish, striped bass or rough fish. A free cookout is
provided for all participants and volunteers following the day’s
outing on the lake.
Boaters and anglers interested in participating can
register as volunteers online at cavettkidsfoundation.org/node/52.
Volunteers must arrive at Lake Texoma’s Catfish Bay by 6 a.m.
and sign in with camp staff. Each boat will be assigned up to
three campers and a counselor, depending on boat capacity.
Tackle, bait and life jackets for campers are provided, though
boaters are encouraged to bring additional life jackets if they
have them in sizes adult small or adult medium.
Photo Caption: A youth camper is spotted fishing at Lake Texoma
during last year’s Camp Cavett with volunteer Glenn Cunningham
of Piedmont. Camp Cavett offers outdoor experiences to children
who are undergoing treatments for illnesses such as heart
disease, cancer, sickle cell anemia and other childhood
illnesses, and each year anglers and boaters come together as
volunteers to take the campers fishing on Lake Texoma. To
volunteer, log on to cavettkidsfoundation.org/node/52.
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Ladies
conservation event scheduled
The National Wild Turkey Federation’s Camo and
Pearls event will be held Saturday, July 9 at the Riverwind
Casino in Norman.
“This the only NWTF banquet in the state that’s
catered to women, but men are still welcome to attend,” said
Tiffany English, banquet chair.
Women in attendance are encouraged to wear
camouflage and pearls and expect an evening of fun, friendship
and even shopping. Games, prizes and raffles will also be
available, with items such as spa packages, jewelry, hunts,
guns, and more. The guest speaker will be Brenda Valentine, the
“first lady of hunting.” Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner
held at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person or $70 per couple
for dinner and a one-year membership to NWTF. Reservation and
sponsorship inquiries can be made by English at (405) 919-7660
or Becky Evans at (580) 513-3000.
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