Page 15 - Jan/Feb 2022 Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

Catfishing and Fish Fry

• ODWC took legislators and their staff members to help jug-
line for catfish to supply the annual State Capitol fish fry BROOKLYN BLOOMFIELD/ODWC INTERN
event. The fish fry was started to showcase Oklahoma’s
fisheries and provide an opportunity for legislators to speak
with ODWC staff and Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation
Commissioners on site. For some, this year’s excursion was
a first-time experience catching fish!

Sportsmen’s Caucus
• The Oklahoma Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus was creat-
ed to bring together legislators interested in issues relat-
ed to hunting, trapping, fishing, and wildlife management.
The caucus provides an opportunity for these legislators
to dive into these topics with dedicated policy forums, reg-
ular meetings, and a National Summit that attracts legisla-
tors from all 50 states.
• In 2021, members of the Oklahoma and Texas Legislative State Sen. Blake Stephens lends a helping hand in a
Sportsmen’s Caucuses converged on the Durant State Fish Canada goose banding session.
Hatchery and the city of Durant for a reception and policy forum. This
unique opportunity provided elected officials with a chance to tour the
Durant hatchery and join state and federal fish and wildlife management
officials in a discussion about aquatic invasive species.

2022 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY:
LICENSE MODERNIZATION COREY JAGER/ODWC
The Wildlife Department’s focus for 2022 will be
to advance a major overhaul of the existing hunting
and fishing license structure. But first, some back-
ground is necessary.
The Department’s overarching powers are defined
by the Legislature, in Title 29 of the Oklahoma State
Statutes. Legislators may create, modify or repeal
laws, including laws within Title 29. Title 29 specifically
Several lawmakers watch how fish are fed during a tour of the
houses ODWC’s licensing language — types of licens- Durant State Fish Hatchery.
es, fees, exemptions, penalties, etc. Since license sales
are the primary source of funding for ODWC, the agency must work with the
Legislature to ensure licensing changes are not detrimental to hunter and angler
participation and wildlife conservation funding.
License statutes over time have become numerous and complicated as
licenses have been added and altered. At the same time, few changes to the
fees have been made, failing to allow ODWC to keep pace with the increasing
costs of managing the state’s fish and wildlife resources.
In 2018, ODWC contracted Southwick Associates to help review the agen-
cy’s license structure and develop a modernized and streamlined structure

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