DECEMBER 2011 NEWS RELEASES
WEEK OF DECEMBER 29, 2011
WEEK OF DECEMBER 21, 2011
WEEK OF DECEMBER 15, 2011
WEEK OF DECEMBER 8, 2011
WEEK OF DECEMBER 1, 2011
December
brings pheasant season to Oklahoma
December brings holiday cheer, cold weather and the
start of two full months of hunting the colorful ring-necked
pheasant in northern Oklahoma.
According to biologists with the Wildlife
Department, two main factors determine how many pheasants will
be available for hunters to pursue each season. The first is the
number of adult birds that survive the winter and enter the
breeding season.
“The second and most important factor is the number
of young birds that survived the summer,” said Doug Schoeling,
upland game bird biologist for the Wildlife Department. “What
makes or breaks our season on a bird like pheasants — and even
other upland birds like quail — is recruitment, or the number of
young birds that survive into the fall season. This year, while
we have seen a slightly higher survival rate of adult birds, the
number of young pheasants produced is down significantly after a
season of drought and record high temperatures. With this
decrease in production numbers, the 2011 pheasant season harvest
is expected to be lower than last year.”
According to Schoeling, there may be exceptions,
such as areas with good habitat that received some scattered
rainfall. Schoeling said the best way to find those pockets of
birds is to go hunting.
The Wildlife Department keeps tabs on the number of
adult birds that survived the winter and the number of young
pheasants that survived the spring and early summer through two
different surveys. First, biologists conduct the annual crow
count survey, which provides an idea of how many adult males
survived through the winter. In late April and early May,
biologists drive county roads and listen for crowing cock
pheasants in search of mates. These 20-mile surveys are
conducted in Alfalfa, Beaver, Cimarron, Ellis, Garfield, Grant,
Harper, Kay, Major, Noble, Texas, Woods, and Woodward counties.
Crow counts in recent years show good survival rates of adult
birds, with the 2011 counts up five percent from 2010. The
population trend has been going up since 2007. In those counties
traditionally with the highest pheasant densities (Alfalfa,
Beaver, Cimarron, Grant and Texas), and where surveys have been
conducted since 1973, crow counts were up 7 percent from last
year, with an increasing population trend since 1996.
The survival of young birds over the spring and
summer is gauged using annual brood count surveys, which are
conducted in late August to provide a measure of how many young
pheasants were produced during the nesting season relative to
previous years.
“The brood survey is really the primary means we use
to determine the annual population status of pheasants and the
outlook for the pheasant hunting season,” Schoeling said.
The brood survey is conducted in the same counties
as the crow count survey, and observers count the number of
pheasants observed and classify the size of young birds to
provide an index of pheasant abundance (number seen per mile)
and reproductive success. This year, brood survey results were
down 40 percent from 2010 due to the unfavorable weather
conditions this summer with record heat and drought throughout
the pheasant’s range.
Because pheasant hunters only harvest male birds,
biologists say hunting pressure has little effect on overall
populations and that sportsmen should not hesitate to go
hunting.
The ring-necked pheasant was first introduced into
Oklahoma in 1911, and the colorful birds prefer cultivated
farmland habitat mixed with weedy fencerows and overgrown
pastures common across northwestern Oklahoma and the Panhandle.
Pheasant season in Oklahoma runs Dec. 1 through Jan.
31 (only in open areas) and offers hunters a chance at a popular
game bird that, though not native to Oklahoma, thrives in the
northwestern part of the state.
Hunters should consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting
Guide” for open counties and wildlife management areas. The
daily bag limit for pheasants is three cocks, with a possession
limit of six after the first day and nine after the second day.
Evidence of sex (head or one foot) must remain on the bird until
it reaches its final destination.
To hunt pheasants, hunters most possess a valid
state hunting license, available online at
wildlifedepartment.com or at license dealers located across the
state. When the deer gun and the holiday antlerless deer seasons
overlap with pheasant season, all pheasant hunters must wear
either a hunter orange cap or upper garment. For further
regulations, including open areas, consult the current “Oklahoma
Hunting Guide.”
-30-
Trout stockings resume at Lower Illinois River as Wildlife
Department seeks fix for water shortages
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has
resumed trout stockings at the Lower Illinois River due to water
levels improving in Tenkiller Lake, and officials with the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation say they continue
to seek a lasting solution to water shortage issues at the
river.
The stockings resume after a temporary
discontinuation had been in effect because of water shortages
that caused two significant fish kills at the Lower Illinois
this year. Recent rainfalls have improved water levels, but
officials say the biggest water shortage concerns at the fishery
have not been resolved.
At its November meeting, held Nov. 7 in Oklahoma
City, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission heard a
presentation from Fisheries Chief Barry Bolton that addressed
why water shortages pose an ongoing problem to the fishery at
the Lower Illinois River. At the top of the list of concerns is
a need for reallocation of water from Tenkiller Reservoir for
the fishery, since currently all of the water storage in the
lake is allocated to other users. The fishery had for years been
fed by leakage in the dam that provided as much as 75 cubic feet
of water per second. The leak has been repaired, leaving the
Wildlife Department with access to only two hours of water or
less per day for managing 7.75 miles of trout fishery. Any other
water comes from sporadic releases from water storage holders.
“There are anglers who count on the river for good
fishing, and there are businesses in the region that count on
anglers going to the Lower Illinois River to fish,” Bolton said.
“Water shortages combined with insufficient flow reduces oxygen
levels to a point where trout and native species cannot survive,
which means anglers don’t have fish to catch. And that means
fewer customers for local businesses.”
Though water levels at the river are up now, Bolton
said the fishery will likely face similar shortages again if
water is not reallocated to support the fishery. Until then, he
said possible short-term resolutions include more frequent
releases of oxygenated water through hydropower generation, and
taking steps to ensure water releases meet state water quality
standards. Agreements also could be pursued that would create a
temporary seasonal pool plan that provides minimum releases to
maintain the fishery. Additionally, the Wildlife Department can
temporarily “borrow” some water allocated to Sequoyah Fuels, who
holds small percentage of storage in the lake, but that water
will not always be available for fishery use.
Though there are short-term fixes, Bolton said it is
a long-term solution that is needed most, such as congressional
legislation to reallocate water storage for the fishery at no
cost to the state. A similar problem at the Lower Mountain Fork
River trout fishery below Broken Bow Lake was resolved through
federal action that resulted in the allocation of water to the
fishery.
Established in 1965 as mitigation for the
construction of Tenkiller Dam, the Illinois River trout fishery
has become a recreational and economic staple for the region.
While finding a solution to water shortages in the river poses
unique challenges, Bolton said the Wildlife Department is
committed to the survival of the fishery and will continue to
work tirelessly to ensure quality fishing for those who depend
on the fishery for recreation and business.
-30-
Four Oklahoma youth win outdoor getaways through writing contest
Youth from Inola, Broken Arrow, Owasso and
Boone-Apache schools have been awarded outdoor getaways for
winning an outdoor writing contest designed to help youth share
their hunting heritage.
Contestants in the annual youth writing contest —
sponsored by the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club
International and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation — chose between two different topics and submitted
entries to not only share their interest in the outdoors, but
also to compete for a chance at a unique outdoor trip. Topic
choices included “Hunting: Sharing the Heritage” or “What I like
about Archery in the Schools and Bowhunting.”
Winners in the age 15-17 category will receive an
all-expenses-paid antelope hunt in a western state. They were
Dylan Dunn, 17, of Inola School and Kaitlyn McCormick, 16, of
Broken Arrow High School. Winners in the age 11-14 category
receive a scholarship to the YO Ranch Apprentice Hunter Program
in Texas. They were Triston Hasty-Grant, 13, of Owasso Eighth
Grade Center and Brianna Sawyer, 14, of Boone-Apache Middle
School. Safari Club International’s Apprentice Hunter Program is
a unique, hands-on course designed for girls and boys aged
11-14. The program covers such diverse topics as history of
hunting, the ethical basis of modern sport hunting, wildlife
management, field identification, tracking and interpreting
sign, game cooking and the SCI Sportsmen Against Hunger Program.
“This has become a popular contest,” said Colin
Berg, education supervisor for the Wildlife Department. “We
always enjoy the process of going over each essay and trying to
select winners It can be challenging because there are some
talented youth who are passionate about the outdoors who submit
essays to this contest.”
The scholarship to the YO Ranch Apprentice Hunter
Program and expenses for the antelope hunts are covered by the
Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International with funds
raised at the Chapter’s annual banquet.
The youth writing competition is designed to promote
America’s hunting heritage among Oklahoma’s youth. It provides
them an opportunity to express the importance of hunting in
their lives and to affirm their commitment to carrying on the
hunting tradition. Students use the essays or short stories to
relive memorable hunts, to explain why hunting is important to
them and to recognize mentors who have influenced them to grow
as hunters.
The contest winners will be eligible for entry in
the Norm Strung Outdoor Writers Association National Youth Essay
Contest, whose winners are awarded cash prizes and scholarships.
The Wildlife Department and the Oklahoma Station
Chapter of Safari Club International will submit the winning
essays to the National Youth Writing Contest held annually by
the Outdoor Writers Association of America.
Students are not the only winners. Educators Craig
Savage from Inola High School, Beverly Stevens from Greenville
Schools and Sam Moreton from New Life Ranch camp have been
awarded scholarships to attend an eight-day conservation
education school at Safari Club International’s American
Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS) at Granite Ranch near
Jackson, Wyoming. The AWLS program is conducted during the
summer and presents an outdoor program for educators that
concentrates on natural resource management. Participants learn
about stream ecology, map and compass usage, fly tying, shooting
sports, wildlife management, the Yellowstone ecosystem, camping,
white-water rafting, educational resources, how to implement
outdoor education ideas and language arts and creative writing
in an outdoor setting.
-30-
Arbuckle Lake meeting to offer insight to anglers
Lake of the Arbuckles has been making a name for
itself as a premier bass fishery in recent years, producing
three largemouth bass weighing over 12 lbs. each since 2008
alone. One of those tipped the scales at 14-lb. 8-oz. The lake
is also providing anglers with quality crappie and white bass
fishing opportunities. In short, the lake is serving as an
important fishing destination for anglers, and the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation is keeping the public
informed by providing an opportunity Dec. 6 to learn about a
range of Lake Arbuckle fishing information.
A public meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6
at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area’s Travertine Nature
Center Auditorium. 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 the
lake, and they will present the new Lake of the Arbuckle
Five-Year 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 of the Arbuckles was impounded in 1967 as a
Bureau of Reclamation reservoir. At close to 2,350 acres, the
Murray Co. lake offers fishing for all types of anglers and has
been an active lake in the Department’s lake record fish
program. Current lake records include a largemouth bass over 14
lbs., flathead and blue catfish weighing over 50 lbs., channel
catfish weighing nearly 20 lbs. and smallmouth bass tipping the
scales at over 4 lbs.
Anglers can learn more about fishing at Lake of the
Arbuckles by attending the public meeting and can find
regulations and harvest limits in the current “Oklahoma Fishing
Guide,” available online at wildlifedepartment.com. The site
will also offer a draft copy of the lake’s new management plan
prior to the Dec. 6 meeting.
A map to the Travertine Nature Center is available
online at
http://www.nps.gov/chic/planyourvisit/upload/CHICmap1_2010.pdf
-30-
Wildlife Department quail trapping efforts successful as upland bird research
continues
Biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
recently sent bobwhite quail samples to research facilities for extensive
studies and banded an additional 168 quail that hunters may harvest on state
wildlife management areas this year.
The bobwhites were trapped on 10 WMAs in western Oklahoma during
August and October as part of the Wildlife Department’s involvement in a
research project called Operation Idiopathic Decline (OID). The Wildlife
Department is working with the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, Texas A&M,
Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas Tech universities to study the gradual decline of
the bobwhite quail across its range.
At its December meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation
Commission received an update on the Department’s OID activities and other
upland game bird research initiatives. Alan Peoples, chief of Wildlife for the
Wildlife Department, reported that biologists trapped quail during the first OID
trapping phase. There were 168 quail banded and released, and hunters are asked
to report banded quail to the Wildlife Department if they harvest one. Other
samples were sent to universities in Texas, where researchers are investigating
the incidence of disease, parasitism, pesticides, toxins and contaminants in
sampled quail.
“We’re waiting for researchers to give us information on things like
West Nile Virus, avian influenza, aflatoxins — all of the various components
they are looking at,” Peoples said.
Peoples said researchers have observed threats to quail in some
regions that are not prevalent in others, such as the eye worm that has been
affecting birds in Texas but not Oklahoma. Eye worms occur when a small
nematode, or parasitic worm, imbeds in the ocular cavity of quail, impairing
vision and hindering survival.
“We did not observe any of our quail with eye worms,” Peoples said.
“It’s very common in the rolling plains of Texas.”
Of the birds trapped in Oklahoma, over 40 percent were adults.
However, Peoples said in a normal year of hunting, most of the birds seen by
hunters are young of the year birds, or those that were born in the spring.
About 80 percent of the harvested quail in an average year will be young of the
year birds as well, with the remaining 20 percent comprised of adult birds.
Since young birds make up the large majority of the quail seen and
harvested by hunters, reproductive success is critical. According to Peoples,
extended drought conditions and record heat during the summer was detrimental
for both quail nesting success and recruitment. In addition to the impact of
heat on nesting sites, a lack of green vegetation led to reduced numbers of
insects that young quail depend on for food in the first months of their life.
“Fifty-five percent of our samples were young of the year birds, so
that's going to be a lot better than other places in quail country, but still
not as high as we'd like to see,” Peoples said.
In addition to working with trapped birds, Peoples said the Wildlife
Department is involved in a genetic research study through the Caesar Kleburg
Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Department will provide
samples for the study that will aid in research efforts.
The Wildlife Department is also finalizing a contract with Oklahoma
State University to conduct quail research over the next six years on Oklahoma’s
Packsaddle and Beaver River wildlife management areas. Research facilities will
be constructed on the WMAs, and researchers will be collecting extensive
information that could lead to improvements in quail populations and habitat
management.
“We’re going to focus primarily on reproduction and brood survival,”
Peoples said.
The Department also continues to closely monitor the lesser prairie
chicken in northwest Oklahoma and has plans to work with OSU and the Sutton
Avian Research Center on researching reproduction and brood survival. Although
additional surveys have found new prairie chicken leks, or breeding grounds,
some survey routes are still too difficult to study accurately using current
survey methods. Peoples said the Department will be refining its methods to
better saturate survey routes and will intensify survey efforts through
participation in the lesser prairie chicken interstate working group’s
five-state coordinated survey, other aerial surveys, and the use of cutting edge
satellite radio and traditional telemetry tracking.
The Wildlife Department is providing periodic updates on upland game
bird research and conservation through a free e-mail report called Upland
Update, available free by signing up on the Wildlife Department’s website,
wildlifedepartment.com. Currently, more than 500 subscribers are receiving the
updates.
In other business, the Commission heard a presentation on the
Wildlife Department’s hunter education program. Most Oklahomans must complete
the Department’s hunter education class in order to hunt big game without
supervision. Exemptions from hunter education certification include anyone 31
years of age or older, anyone honorably discharged from or currently on active
duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, and members of the National Guard. Additionally,
hunters age eight to 30 are eligible to purchase an apprentice-designated
hunting license that allows them to hunt under the supervision of a qualifying
adult mentor.
The Wildlife Department certified 17,631 hunters last year alone,
making it the eighth highest ranked state in the nation in the percentage of
hunters certified per capita.
“We hold hundreds of hunter education classes across the entire
state every year, and we try to serve our constituents and their busy schedules
by holding as many as 20 of those classes during the weekends just prior to deer
gun season,” said Lance Meek, hunter education coordinator for the Wildlife
Department. “Those last minute classes account for as much as 15 percent of the
total number of hunters certified each year.”
Changes to hunter education requirements in recent years have made
hunting more convenient for sportsmen. In 2008, the class length requirement was
reduced from 10 to eight hours, and Oklahoma residents who are exempt from
hunter education requirements but who want to hunt in another state where
certification is required can take a proficiency exam without taking the
eight-hour class. Additionally, the Department saves money and makes the course
more relevant to students by producing its own state-specific hunter education
manual. The Wildlife Department also offers an apprentice-designated hunting
license to hunters ages 8-30 that allows them to go hunting without first
completing a hunter education course, provided that they are accompanied by a
licensed mentor who is at least 18 years old and hunter education certified (or
exempt from license and hunter education requirements).
Meek said the future of the program includes an online course option
that will allow students to complete their course through the Wildlife
Department’s website and immediately print their certification card. Meek also
is working with other education specialists at the Wildlife Department to
encourage school educators to teach the hunter education course in the classroom
along with other Department programs such as the Oklahoma National Archery in
the Schools and Explore Bowhunting programs.
The Commission also presented its Game Warden of the Year Award to
David Foltz, game warden stationed in Garfield County. The award was presented
along with the Shikar-Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year
Award by club members Bill Brewster and his wife, Suzie Brewster.
Shikar-Safari Club International was started more than 55 years ago
and is limited to 200 members worldwide. While it is a social organization, its
sole purpose is hunting and conservation and issues that affect hunters and
conservation. The club has a foundation that puts almost $1 million into
wildlife and conservation every year, including more than 30 scholarships a year
for children of wildlife professionals majoring in wildlife fields. The
scholarships, each $4,000 a year, are designed to perpetuate an interest in
wildlife careers and conservation.
The Commission also accepted a donation of $20,000 from the Oklahoma
City Zoo for local conservation projects. The donation will be used along with
the assistance of zoo volunteers to assist with lesser prairie chicken surveys
and other projects in northwest Oklahoma. Presenting the donation were zoo
employees Jennifer D’Agostino and Cliff Casey.
Additionally, the Commission recognized Ty Harper, northwest region
fisheries biologist, for 20 years of service to the Wildlife Department, and
Mike Plunkett, northeast region senior wildlife biologist, for 30 years.
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. Jan. 9, at
the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium),
located at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City.
-30-
Game Warden David Foltz honored by Shikar Safari and Wildlife Department
David Foltz, game warden stationed in Garfield Co., is the newest
recipient of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Game Warden of
the Year and Shikar Safari Club International’s Officer of the Year awards.
Foltz, who was presented with the honors at the December meeting of
the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission, works closely with other
Department employees both in the law enforcement division as well as other
divisions and is active in a number of projects and programs of the Wildlife
Department. He was hired as a game warden in September of 1980 and has served in
Garfield County ever since.
Foltz’s father, Delbert Foltz, is a retired game warden for the
Wildlife Department and received the Oklahoma Game Warden of the Year Award in
1978.
“David is an asset to the Department, and he’s made us proud,” said
Robert Fleenor, law enforcement chief for the Wildlife Department. "David has
community spirit and is a great asset to the sportsmen of our state. His
qualities go above and beyond what's required in his normal duties as a game
warden."
Not only does Foltz have a strong working knowledge of his assigned
county and surrounding area, but he knows the sportsmen and landowners in the
region and frequently works with other game wardens in his district.
Foltz attended Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, while working
in construction. In his spare time he enjoys hunting and fishing and working on
old automobiles.
Shikar-Safari Club International was started more than 55 years ago
and is limited to 200 members worldwide. While it is a social organization, its
sole purpose is hunting and conservation and issues that affect hunters and
conservation. The club has a foundation that puts almost $1 million into
wildlife and conservation every year, including more than 30 scholarships a year
for children of wildlife professionals majoring in wildlife fields. The
scholarships, each $4,000 a year, are designed to perpetuate an interest in
wildlife careers and conservation.
For more information about game wardens, or for information on
having a career as a game warden, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
-30-
Deadline
approaching to apply for youth trapper’s camp
The warmth of July and the excitement of summer camp has long since
passed with the coming of cold weather, but youth can still attend a unique camp
this month — trapper’s camp.
Youth ages 12-18 have until Dec. 15 to apply for the Oklahoma
Furbearers Alliance trapper’s camp, to be held Dec. 28-31 near Chickasha. Youth
younger than age 12 may attend but must be accompanied by an adult. The event is
limited to 35 participants.
“This will be an excellent opportunity for youth interested in
trapping to gain hands-on experience from seasoned trappers in Oklahoma,” said
Erik Bartholomew, furbearer biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation.
According to John Weygandt, secretary of the Oklahoma Furbearers
Alliance, the camp will cover all aspects of trapping in Oklahoma from
regulations and types of traps, to proper trap maintenance, placement and
operation. Additionally, species of wildlife that may be trapped will be covered
as well as their characteristics and how to scout for trapping.
The cost of the camp is $25, which covers all meals for the event
and includes a one-year membership in the Oklahoma Furbearers Alliance. It also
includes a one-year subscription to Trapper and Predator Caller Magazine. Adults
can attend with their youngster at a cost of $20 to cover meals. Camping areas
will be available on site.
For application information, call Weygandt at (918) 645-5667.
-30-
A year in wildlife photography to be featured at Hackberry Flat Dec. 10
In 2011, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and
Friends of Hackberry Flat began offering a series of Saturday morning programs
at the Hackberry Flat Center located south of Frederick, and the series will
conclude Saturday, Dec. 10, with an exhibit featuring the awe-inspiring work of
photographer Larry Hancock.
The exhibit, titled “A Year at the Wetlands of Hackberry Flat,” will
debut at 9 a.m. Dec. 10 and will continue through Jan. 14. There is no fee, and
refreshments will be provided.
Hancock has been involved in photography for almost seven years,
focusing mainly on birds.
“I would probably be considered a serious amateur wildlife
photographer since I spend almost all my spare time looking for birds to
photograph,” Hancock said. “I spend most of my time in the Frederick area
because of Hackberry Flat in the summer and in the winters, because of the
wintering hawks that return each year.”
Photographs on exhibit feature some of the bird “legends” of the
wetlands, such as the American avocet and the Black-necked stilt. There are
also photographs of behaviors rarely observed such as the courtship display of
the American bittern. Photographs of rare and elusive bird species include the
common moorhen with a chick, the king rail and the least bittern. The exhibit
includes over 30 photographs.
Hancock will be on hand until noon to share photography techniques
and experiences while out photographing wildlife. The Hackberry Flat Center will
be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. As always, participants at any of the Saturday
morning program series are exempt from a current hunting/fishing license or
Wildlife Conservation Passport requirements while at Hackberry Flat.
The Hackberry Flat Center offers amenities for visitors, a meeting
facility for events, wetland classrooms for school children and programs to help
develop outdoor skills. For more information about the Hackberry Flat Center and
Wildlife Management Area, including scheduled events, log on to
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com
.
To get to the Hackberry Flat Center, drive south of Frederick one
mile on Hwy 183, then turn east on Airport Road and proceed three miles. Follow
the blacktop road south, and continue six miles.
For more information, contact Melynda Hickman, wildlife diversity
biologist for the Wildlife Department, at (405) 990-4977.
-30-
Holiday antlerless deer season brings Christmas cheer to
hunters
Christmas family traditions range from eating
out and attending services on Christmas Eve to giving out
gifts and stockings filled with treats. But in Oklahoma,
families can even go deer hunting over the Christmas
holidays.
This year the holiday antlerless deer gun season
will be open for 10 days starting Dec. 16 and running
through Dec. 25 in open areas.
Most of the state will be open to antlerless
hunting those days, except for the majority of the Panhandle
and portions of southeast Oklahoma. All public hunting areas
and private lands in southeast Oklahoma’s zone 10 are closed
to the holiday antlerless deer gun season. Seasons on public
lands may vary from statewide season dates. For a map of
Oklahoma’s antlerless deer hunt zones and to see which
counties will be open for the holiday antlerless deer gun
season, consult page 25 of the current “Oklahoma Hunting
Guide,” as well as the “Public Hunting Lands” section on
page 48 of the guide for seasons on specific public areas.
Last year almost 40,000 hunters participated in
the holiday antlerless deer season.
“A good number of those hunters were successful
with 4,377 deer being checked during that season,” said
Jerry Shaw, big game biologist for the Oklahoma Department
of Wildlife Conservation.
According to Shaw, high doe harvests help
accomplish several important management benefits such as
preventing localized overpopulations, improving buck:doe
ratios for a more healthy herd, reducing competition for
forage to promote greater antler growth in bucks, reducing
the potential for deer/vehicle collisions, and lessening the
extent of potential crop depredation.
To participate in the holiday antlerless deer
gun season, resident hunters must possess a valid hunting
license and a holiday antlerless deer gun license, unless
exempt. Resident youth hunters 16 or 17 years old must
purchase a hunting license and a $10 youth holiday
antlerless deer gun license, unless exempt. Youth under 16
are not required to purchase a hunting license but they must
possess a $10 youth holiday antlerless deer gun license.
Although nonresident deer hunters are exempt
from a hunting license while hunting deer, they must possess
a nonresident deer gun license.
Hunters age 8-30 who have not completed the
Wildlife Department’s hunter education class may still hunt
during the holiday antlerless deer gun season, but their
licenses will have an apprentice designation, and the hunter
must be accompanied by a qualified adult hunter who remains
within arms reach of the apprentice hunter while hunting.
For details, consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide”
online at wildlifedepartment.com.
In addition, hunters participating in the
holiday antlerless deer season must comply with the hunter
orange requirements for the regular deer gun season. Archery
hunters and those hunting most other species in open holiday
antlerless zones must wear either a hunter orange hat or
upper garment while hunting.
To learn more about this year’s antlerless deer
season, consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log
on to wildlifedepartment.com.
-30-
Wildlife Department opens online public comment period for
regulation changes
Sportsmen have the opportunity to voice their
thoughts online now through Jan. 13, 2012, regarding hunting
and fishing related rule change proposals currently under
consideration.
Proposed rule changes are often considered to
increase opportunity for sportsmen and improve wildlife
conservation measures.
“This is an opportunity to discuss items that
could lead to changes in our hunting and fishing
regulations,” said Nels Rodefeld, information and education
chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
“We feel strongly that our constituents should have every
chance to provide their comments, which is why we are
providing an online comment form for those wanting to be
heard on these specific subjects. We encourage you to
provide your comments through wildlifedepartment.com anytime
before 4:30 p.m., Jan. 13, 2012.”
Additionally, those interested can submit
written comments by mail to the Wildlife Department’s main
office in Oklahoma City (P.O. Box 53465, OKC, OK 73152).
To view a complete listing of proposed rule
changes or to complete an online comment form, log on to
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com
.
Among others, some of the proposed rule changes
this year include the following:
* To make it unlawful to bait wildlife on wildlife
management areas.
* To change the bear archery season to Oct. 1 through the
third Sunday in October and eliminate the quota for bear
archery season.
* To set the statewide daily limit of striped bass at five,
except as designated.
* To eliminate daily harvest limits on furbearers so that
only season limits apply.
* To establish permanent rules for newly purchased wildlife
management areas while altering certain rules on already
established public lands.
The Wildlife Department also will be hosting
public hearings on proposed rule changes at 7 p.m. Jan. 10
at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
headquarters auditorium in Oklahoma City (1801 N. Lincoln
Blvd) and at the Kiamichi Technology Center in Poteau (1509
South McKenna).
-30-
Holidays are for the
birds
As the holiday seasons are fast approaching and
you’re readily preparing with lights, trees, and ornaments,
wildlife enthusiasts can take it a step further and create a
holiday “feeder tree” for birds.
“This is a great family activity that is fairly
simple and cheap while adding holiday cheer to your
backyard,” said Rachel Bradley, wildlife diversity
specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation. “Instead of decorating your backyard trees
with traditional ornaments, decorate with a few food items a
variety of winter birds are sure to love.”
Suggested bird food is black oil sunflower
seeds, suet, and Niger thistle seeds. Bradley suggests
having the kids spread peanut butter on a pinecone and then
roll it in birdseed to create an edible ornament for birds.
Bradley also suggests making a garland string of
popcorn, cranberries, raisins, grapes, or blueberries for a
nontraditional and colorful approach. This can be created
using nylon fishing line wrapped around the designated tree.
“It’s also a good idea to make a few extra
garland strands and refrigerate them for later use as
needed,” she said. “Be sure to remove nylon from the tree
when the food has been eaten.”
Popcorn is more likely to attract sparrows and
black birds, whereas the fruits will attract mockingbirds,
bluebirds, and American robins. According to Bradley,
providing bird seed and other food sources can attract a
range of birds that winter in Oklahoma, many of which can be
viewed online at okwinterbirds.com. Operated by the Wildlife
Department, the site provides species profiles of many birds
that winter in Oklahoma, including sharp photography,
identification, feeding tips, winter ranges and more.
Enjoying the time of year by sharing holiday
cheer with the birds is fun and easy for all ages to get
involved while spending quality time with family and friends
on a cold, winter afternoon. For more information on
attracting wildlife to your yard, subscribe to The WildSide,
a free monthly Wildlife Diversity e-newsletter, by signing
up on wildlifedepartment.com.
-30-
Calling all citizen scientists to help conduct Wildlife
Department’s Winter Bird Feeder Survey
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation’s Winter Bird Feeder Survey starts Jan. 5 and
gives wildlife enthusiasts and their families an exciting
way to kick off the New Year.
Attracting birds and maintaining backyard
feeders for wintering birds is popular in both urban and
rural areas of Oklahoma. People in both places can help the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation by
participating in the survey while also getting close-up
views of a number of unique birds.
Any Oklahoman with a backyard bird feeder can
participate by choosing any two days between Jan. 5-8 to
count birds at their feeders and record their observations.
And according to Rachel Bradley, wildlife diversity
specialist for the Wildlife Department, attracting birds to
backyard feeders is not difficult.
“Just provide food, water and some cover,”
Bradley said.
With participants observing birds across the
state for four days straight, biologists can obtain
important information that can help the Department better
understand bird ranges and populations.
“Citizens scientists’ participation in the
survey helps biologists gather information from a greater
area in a shorter amount of time,” Bradley said.
Currently biologists have documented more than
20 year’s worth of upward and downward trends of birds
visiting winter feeders thanks to the support of avid
birders across the state.
The survey includes counting birds at backyard
feeders at least four times a day for two days during the
survey dates and completing a form provided by the Wildlife
Department. For detailed instructions and to take the
survey, log on to the Wildlife Department’s Winter Bird
Feeder Survey website at okwinterbirds.com. The website is
an extensive bird-watching resource that provides species
identification tips, bird diets, feeding behaviors and
winter ranges as well as links to other birding websites.
The site also details how to draw birds to backyard feeders
using homemade bird attractants that are both healthy and
beneficial to wintering birds.
While anyone who has a bird feeder can
participate in the 2012 Winter Bird Feeder Survey, certain
efforts can be made to attract more birds to feeders.
Black-oil sunflower seed is a good choice for bird feeders
because of its high protein content for birds during the
winter and because virtually all seed-eating Oklahoma
songbirds will eat it. Other seed options are white proso
millet, nyjer (“thistle”) or safflower. Suet cakes — animal
fat that is sometimes mixed with grains or peanut butter,
are good for drawing in species such as woodpeckers and
birds that do not primarily eat seeds. Finally, a source of
water and cover such as brush piles or dense shrubs located
near the feeders helps draw more birds.
Among the top birds seen last year at backyard
feeders during the survey were the American goldfinch,
dark-eyed junco, red-winged blackbird, northern cardinal,
mourning dove, house finch, Carolina chickadee and blue jay,
but participants also documented sightings of wild turkeys,
warblers, kinglets and others.
To learn more about the survey or to
participate, log on to
www.okwinterbirds.com.
-30-
Wildlife Department opens online public comment period for
regulation changes
Sportsmen have the opportunity to voice their
thoughts online now through Jan. 13, 2012, regarding hunting
and fishing related rule change proposals currently under
consideration.
Proposed rule changes are often considered to
increase opportunity for sportsmen and improve wildlife
conservation measures.
“This is an opportunity to discuss items that
could lead to changes in our hunting and fishing
regulations,” said Nels Rodefeld, information and education
chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
“We feel strongly that our constituents should have every
chance to provide their comments, which is why we are
providing an online comment form for those wanting to be
heard on these specific subjects. We encourage you to
provide your comments through wildlifedepartment.com anytime
before 4:30 p.m., Jan. 13, 2012.”
Additionally, those interested can submit
written comments by mail to the Wildlife Department’s main
office in Oklahoma City (P.O. Box 53465, OKC, OK 73152).
To view a complete listing of proposed rule
changes or to complete an online comment form, log on to
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/aboutodwc/public_meeting.htm
Among others, some of the proposed rule changes
this year include the following:
* To make it unlawful to bait wildlife on wildlife
management areas.
* To change the bear archery season to Oct. 1 through the
third Sunday in October and eliminate the quota for bear
archery season.
* To set the statewide daily limit of striped bass at five,
except as designated.
* To eliminate daily harvest limits on furbearers so that
only season limits apply.
* To establish permanent rules for newly purchased wildlife
management areas while altering certain rules on already
established public lands.
The Wildlife Department also will be hosting
public hearings on proposed rule changes at 7 p.m. Jan. 10
at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
headquarters auditorium in Oklahoma City (1801 N. Lincoln
Blvd) and at the Kiamichi Technology Center in Poteau (1509
South McKenna).
-30-
Dolese trout
season kicks off Jan. 1
Northwest Oklahoma City will start off the New Year
by providing metro anglers with an opportunity to catch trout
practically in their own backyards during the Dolese Youth Park
Pond trout season. In addition, the City will partner with the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to host a free
trout fishing clinic to help anglers have the best chance of
catching trout during the season.
On Jan. 1, the metro trout season will open at
Dolese Youth Park Pond, located north of NW 50th and a half
block west of Meridian Ave in Oklahoma City.
The two-month long trout season runs through Feb. 28
and features several stockings of rainbow trout provided through
a generous donation from BancFirst.
"This event is all about outdoor family fun,” said
David Rainbolt, CEO of BancFirst. “BancFirst enjoys being a part
of the tradition."
Wildlife Department fisheries personnel say the
support of BancFirst and its commitment to the Dolese trout
season over the years have been crucial to providing the local
trout fishing program, which has proven to be popular,
affordable and entertaining among anglers. BancFirst ranks 19th
in the nation on the Forbes 2012 list of best banks in America
and is the only Oklahoma bank in the top 25 listing.
The free trout fishing clinic will be held from 7
p.m. – 9 p.m. Jan. 13, at the Putnam City High School gymnasium
(5300 NW 50th). Pre-registration is required by calling the H.B.
Parsons Fish Hatchery at (405) 755-4014. Clinic topics include
bait and tackle, pole rigging, trout biology, fish cleaning and
recipes, knot tying, safe casting and trout season rules and
regulations, followed by a question-and-answers session.
Part of the “Close to Home Fishing” program, the
Dolese trout season is a result of a partnership between the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Oklahoma
City Parks and Recreation Department. The “Close to Home”
fishing program provides fishing areas that are often just a
short drive away from even the most urban locations, saving
families time and gas money. In addition, it allows parents and
children to fish together after school or on a busy weekend. The
Dolese trout season also offers anglers a chance to catch a
unique fish that they don't catch at other times of the year
when water temperatures are warmer.
“The Dolese trout seasons has been a great
opportunity for area anglers to fish for nice sized rainbow
trout in their own community,” said Bob Martin, fisheries
biologist for the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department.
“What makes Dolese trout seasons popular is most people travel a
few blocks or miles to fish instead of hours of expensive
travel.”
According to Martin, successful trout anglers at
Dolese should keep several colors of powerbaits as well as an
assortment of other trout baits in their tackle box, as the best
baits to use often change throughout the day. Anglers should
have success using 4- to 6-pound test line equipped with a slip
sinker and small hook. Along with powerbaits, choice baits
include corn, small worms, small minnows, small spinners, jigs
and spoons.
There is a daily limit of six trout per person
during the Dolese Park Pond trout season. In addition, angling
is permitted from the bank only, and each angler may only use
one rod and reel while fishing for trout. Trout caught and
placed on a stringer or otherwise held in possession cannot be
released. Regulations for other species that may be caught at
Dolese are available in the current “Oklahoma Fishing Guide” or
online at wildlifedepartment.com.
Those fishing for trout at Dolese must purchase an
annual state fishing license, unless exempt. In addition, an
Oklahoma City Fishing Permit is required for anglers ages 16-61
unless exempt.
Dolese Youth Park and the H.B. Parsons Fish Hatchery
are operated by the City of Oklahoma City's Parks and Recreation
Department. For more information about trout fishing at Dolese
and other Close to Home fishing opportunities, contact the
city's H.B. Parsons Fish Hatchery at (405) 755-4014, visit the
Lakes and Fishing page of the city's website at okc.gov, or log
on to the Wildlife Department’s website at
wildlifedepartment.com.
Tulsa area residents also have an opportunity to
fish for trout without venturing far from home. This Tulsa trout
fishing opportunity is made possible by a partnership between
the Trout Unlimited Oklahoma Chapter #420, the Tulsa Fly Fishers
and Tulsa-based conservation group NatureWorks. Trout Unlimited
Oklahoma Chapter #420, Tulsa Fly Fishers and NatureWorks are
non-profit organizations working for statewide conservation
issues. For more information about Trout Unlimited Oklahoma
Chapter #420, log on to tulsaflyfishers.org. For more
information about NatureWorks, log on to natureworks.org.
This year the selected pond is located in LaFortune
Park at the corner of 51st Street and Hudson in Tulsa, and the
season has been open since Dec. 26. The pond is stocked
periodically.
“Children only” days are scheduled for Jan. 16, Feb.
20 and March 19. On these days fishing will be open to children
under the age of 16 only, and children fishing on these days
must be accompanied by an adult. The accompanying adult may fish
on these days. All other days during the season will be open to
all ages. All anglers over the age of 16 must have a valid
Oklahoma fishing license. A bag limit of six trout per day per
angler has been set, and catch and release of trout is
discouraged.
-30-
Now is no time for
cabin fever
With several open hunting seasons and some good
fishing to be had across the state, most outdoorsmen know this
is no time to be suffering from cabin fever.
While several important fall hunting seasons have
come and gone, there are still several hunting opportunities
available right now in Oklahoma, including seasons such as deer
and turkey archery, quail, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel, furbearer
and waterfowl. There also are hunting seasons for some species
that are open year-round. Trout season is well-underway, and
anglers can even pursue wintertime crappie, bass, striped bass
and other sport fish on waters across Oklahoma.
“This is not the time to pack away all your gear
until spring,” said Nels Rodefeld, chief of information and
education for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
“Instead, it’s time to get out and enjoy the outdoors.”
Oklahomans don’t have to look far for a place to
hunt or fish during the late season, either. The Wildlife
Department maintains wildlife management areas in every part of
the state that are open to public hunting, and lakes, ponds and
rivers provide fishing access even during the coldest months.
Seasons on public lands may vary from statewide seasons, and
hunters should consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide”
online at wildlifedepartment.com before going afield.
Open seasons at a glance
Deer archery – either sex through Jan. 15
Turkey fall archery – through Jan. 15
Squirrel – through Jan. 31
Furbearer – through Feb. 29
Pheasant – through Jan. 31
Quail – through Feb. 15
Rabbit – through March 15
Waterfowl
Ducks, mergansers and coots – Panhandle through Jan. 4; Zone 1
through Jan. 22; Zone 2 through Jan. 29
Canada geese – through Feb. 12
White-fronted geese – through Feb. 5
Light geese (snow, blue and Ross’) – through Feb. 12
(Conservation Order Light Goose Season – Feb. 13 - March 30,
2012)
Sandhill crane – through Jan. 22 (west of I-35 only)
-30-
See a
soaring iconic symbol in Oklahoma now
Oklahoma’s mild winters make the state a great fit
for eagles during the coldest months of the year, and a number
of opportunities are available to see one.
Wintering eagles begin arriving in Oklahoma in
November and early December. Their numbers peak in January and
February, and most birds have left for their northern breeding
grounds by the end of March. Additionally, Oklahoma is home to a
resident eagle population that has grown since the late 1980s
from no birds to over 80 pairs. Eagle populations have
fluctuated over time, and were once on the national endangered
species list (from 1972 through 2007).
Today eagles are a common sight during the winter at
lakes and reservoirs. A number of organized and self-guided
eagle viewing opportunities at as many as 15 locations this
winter are outlined on the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation’s website at wildlifedepartment.com.
Lakes and their spillways have historically served
as reliable Oklahoma bald eagle viewing areas. Lakes with the
highest concentration of eagles are Kaw, Keystone, Texoma,
Tenkiller, Ft. Gibson, Grand, Canton, Great Salt Plains,
Tishomingo and Spavinaw.
Specific bald eagle migration patterns vary each
year depending on weather and other factors like severity of
northern winters, and water discharges from individual
reservoirs will often determine how attractive a particular lake
is to bald eagles. These conditions can change overnight;
therefore, a good wildlife viewing rule of thumb is to call
ahead for up-to-date wildlife viewing information.
With a wingspan longer than seven feet, bald eagles
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in Oklahoma are primarily found in
the eastern and central portions of the state, and the peak
viewing time for bald eagles in Oklahoma will extend into
February.
To learn about eagle viewing sites and upcoming
viewing events, tour dates and times, log on to
wildlifedepartment.com and select the “Wildlife & Land
Management” tab, then choose “Birds and Bats.”
-30-