Page 10 - November/December 2022 Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

GAME BAG maintain healthy populations, it is also a funding mechanism.
We often use harvest photos in our communication outlets. Before
publishing any photo, a set of guidelines must be met. These guide-
A COLLECTION OF LETTERS lines include proper hunter orange, legal means of take, proper safety
TO THE WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT measures, minimal blood, no visible tongue, etc. This photo met all our
guidelines. It is not uncommon for a harvested deer’s eyes to remain open.
We’d like to hear from you! Send your letters to Outdoor Harvested deer with eyes open also appear on pages 20, 21, and 22.
Oklahoma Letters, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152, Antlerless Harvest: A communication campaign aimed at increasing
or send e-mail to donald.brown@odwc.ok.gov. the percentage of antlerless deer harvested was initiated two years ago.
Imagery is a large part of that effort. Not only is it challenging to find
Dear Editor Nels Rodefeld and Associate images that meet our criteria listed above, but it is more challenging to find
Editor Don P. Brown, images of adult men with harvested antlerless deer. Because the primary
I’ve never written to a magazine before, target audience for this campaign is adult hunters (of which the majority
but the cover of the Sept./Oct. magazine are male), it is important they see antlerless harvest being celebrated.
made me so angry, I was persuaded to Considering nearly 90 percent of our readers hold a hunting license and
write. I majored in wildlife management 83 percent of our readers are interested in topics related to hunting, using
in California. A lot of our education was this image on the cover of Outdoor Oklahoma was a strategic move for
about how to talk to the public, especially our communication plan.
nonhunters, about wildlife management. You wrote, “You had the opportunity to educate your readers about
When I first saw your cover, I thought, population management.” I am proud to say that for two consecutive
“Oh, this man has tranquilized this doe, years, hunters have helped us meet our antlerless harvest goal. I believe
and he is happy she is doing well and coming out of anesthesia. Wonder this is in large part due to my team’s relentless efforts to educate constit-
what was wrong with her?” uents about the importance of antlerless harvest.
Imagine my disappointment to find that Outdoor Oklahoma magazine Hunter Recruitment: Hunting and fishing are intertwined with wildlife
put on the cover a dead deer (who looks very much alive) and a man conservation. Unfortunately, states are experiencing a decline in hunting
happily petting her! license sales and participation. This has resulted in loss of critical funding
It doesn’t matter what is said in the article. You had the opportunity to for wildlife conservation. So, recruitment, retention, and reactivation
educate your readers about population management. Instead, you have (R3) of participants in conservation-related recreation is paramount to
now made a good portion of your readers angry and feeling sick that you preserving our outdoor heritage. While it may be lost on the reader, the
would put a photo like that on the cover of their magazine. A picture is hunter in the photo is a new hunter. That fact is highlighted in the Table
worth a thousand words! Some may be nonhunters, but now they have of Contents on page 1. He is also Hispanic. Diversity, equity and inclusion
become anti-hunters. Smiling and petting a dead deer you just killed? (DEI) are also critical components of R3 efforts. Imagery, again, is used
That is appalling! to support our DEI goals. That stems from the notion that people can’t
If this is truly a magazine for all outdoor Oklahomans and not just anoth- be what they can’t see.
er hunting magazine, perhaps you could illuminate what other people do: You’re correct, there is more to share beyond hunting and fishing. We
SCUBA dive in our lakes, hike our trails, rock climb, wilderness camping, have been working to provide more varied content. Outdoor Oklahoma is
swimming holes … not just another hunting magazine as you point out. However, hunting and
Louise Burton fishing are the cornerstones of ODWC. While I acknowledge and respect
P.S. I don’t know if there is a “Letters to the Editor” section in the maga- your opinion, the cover of Outdoor Oklahoma represents so much more
zine, but I challenge you to post this. than a hunter “petting a dead deer.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Louise, challenge accepted. I appreciate your feed-
back and respect your perspective. I’m thankful for this continued oppor- Dear Game Warden Capt. Mark Reichenberger,
tunity to educate you and others. Please understand we never mean to I wanted to say thank you for put-
be offensive and recognize your feelings. ting on the hunter safety class in Alva.
Deer hunting, antlerless harvest, and hunter recruitment are critical for The group was very complimentary of
the fish, wildlife and habitat we protect. The image on the cover of the the quality job that you did present-
September/October issue of Outdoor Oklahoma represents all three. ing. You spoke at a pace and level the
Deer Hunting: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is youths could easily understand. You
responsible for managing the state’s fish and wildlife resources and habi- answered questions about firearms in a
tat. The Wildlife Department does not receive general state tax appropri- way that helped the kids learn and not
ations. Hunting and fishing license sales and federal grant revenues (the feel embarrassed or talked down to.
amount granted is dictated by the number of licensed hunters and anglers I appreciate how you were so helpful
we have) are the main funding sources. with the student in the class that needed Mark Reichenberger
Deer hunting is the most popular hunting season in Oklahoma and special attention.
provides millions in funding for wildlife conservation. It is essential to The youths, parents, and I were very impressed and appreciative.
our operation. Not only is deer hunting a management tool used to Greg Highfill, Woods County, Oklahoma Extension Service

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