Page 47 - Nov/Dec 2021 Outdoor Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION SPOTLIGHT

• Oklahoma Bar Association.
• Oklahoma County Bar Association. PrOVIDED
“At a very early age, my dad introduced me to hunting
and fishing in the upper Midwest. He was a John Deere deal-
er, so farm hunting access was no problem, contrary to the
case today, which is why the need for more public land.” He
remembers pheasant hunting with his dad and brothers, and
said those times were some of his best while growing up.
After moving to Oklahoma in 1975, he focused on big-game
hunting, mainly bowhunting white-tailed deer. Then he expand-
ed his hunting efforts worldwide, taking a large variety of ani-
mals, including the Super Ten of North American Big Game.
Most of those he took with a recurve bow and wood arrows.
Barwick enjoys everything the outdoors has to offer. He likes
hunting, fishing, hiking, scouting stand sites, shed hunting, touring
state and national parks, landscaping and golf. He said if he had
to choose one that he could not live without, it would be archery.
“Seeing the flight of a true, spinning arrow streaming toward
your mark is one of the most pleasant sights to experience in
the outdoors. Archery soothes the mind and, with practice,
provides an unwavering sense of accomplishment. It is some-
thing that can be enjoyed by the entire family and, with safety in
place, can be performed right in your own backyard.”
Barwick became so enamored with shooting his recurve
bow in his younger days that he participated in archery
tournaments almost every weekend in the 1980s and ‘90s,
achieving six BCO
PrOVIDED state champion-
ships (traditional
class), along with James V. Barwick, seen here with a black bear archery harvest, is
four gold and four passionate about big-game hunting.
silver medals in
the Sooner State always changing each year, illustrates Mother Nature’s commitment
Games. to us and instills a sense of calmness that you surely cannot experi-
Experiencing the ence from a computer screen. It’s a feeling not enjoyed unless in the
outdoors with his outdoors. Who doesn’t feel better after a walk in the woods?”
family and friends Barwick believes that people have a perpetual responsibil-
is very important ity to wildlife that we must fulfill; that ancient man would not
to the well-being have survived without the bounty of nature, most specifically
of Barwick and his animals and fish. “We would not be here without the success-
family. “There is a es of ancient man made possible by wildlife.”
stability in the out- Barwick is passionate about the fact that the Foundation pro-
doors that provides vides people with the vehicle to help achieve wildlife sustainabil-
a sense of belong- ity through the funding of Department programs and projects
ing to nature. The that promote conservation. Not only does conservation help
dependability of the ensure the preservation of wildlife, it also provides people with
sun rising and set- the opportunities to experience the thrill of the hunt and the
Jim Barwick and his wife, Brenda, are seen ting every day, along bending of the rod. These are traditions that embrace history
here hunting on the island of Hawaii. with the seasons and must continue for future generations, he said.

The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Foundation is now set up as a
charitable organization through AmazonSmile.
AmazonSmile is a program that donates 0.5 percent of your eligible
www.okwildlifefoundation.org purchases on Amazon to a charity of your choice. All you need to do is
start your shopping at smile.amazon.com. The donation will be made
at no extra cost to you, and you can choose from nearly a million public
charitable organizations.

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