Page 4 - September/October Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

NOTES ON WILDLIFE • OUTDOOR TIPS • READERS’ LETTERS • ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

COMPILED BY DON P . BROWN

KINGFISHER COUNTY GAME WARDEN TOPS FOR ’21-’22

Blake Pearson, a 15-year Game Warden based “There are so many great applicants.” He praised
in Kingfisher County, was selected by his peers as his colleagues as being some of the best people he
Oklahoma’s 2021-22 Game Warden of the Year. would ever hope to work alongside.
Pearson was born and raised in Watonga. “I grew He will be recognized at the Southeastern Asso-
up in the outdoors, and I got to know some of the ciation of Fish and Wildlife Agencies conference in
Game Wardens.” That is what influenced him to pur- October in West Virginia, where he will be in the
sue a career in wildlife law enforcement. running for the SEAFWA Wildlife Officer of the
He was hired by the Oklahoma Wildlife Depart- Year Award.
ment in 2007, after graduating from Southeastern Pearson enjoys hunting and fishing and almost any
Oklahoma State University with a degree in wildlife outdoor activity. “It’s a big bonus working outdoors,” he
Blake Pearson management and conservation. said. “It’s a lot of fun being able to interact with the pub-
He first served in Canadian and Oklahoma Coun- lic, teach right from wrong, and protect our resources.”
ties for about a year before he transferred to King- Another passion for Pearson is wrestling, and he
fisher County. often volunteers to coach local wrestling teams.
“It’s an honor; very humbling,” he said about his Pearson and his wife, Amy, have been married 14
selection as the year’s top wildlife officer in the state. years and have two sons, ages 10 and 6.

HUNTER EDUCATION CLASSES SCHEDULED STATEWIDE

Anyone between 10 and 30 years old who wants • Enid, Sept. 17, 2022.
to have a regular hunting license in Oklahoma is • Omega, Nov. 12, 2022.
required to complete a free hunter education course.
This can be done online at the student’s own pace, SOUTHEAST REGION
or by taking an in-person class. • Sulphur, Sept. 4 and 11, 2022.
Those wanting to attend a class must pre-register for • Antlers, Sept. 10, 2022.
“Events” at license.gooutdoorsoklahoma.com. Students • McAlester, Sept. 17, 2022.
must be age 10 or older to sign up. If an in-person class • Shawnee, Sept. 24, 2022.
must be postponed or canceled, registrants will be • Wayne, Oct. 1, 2022.
notified by email. SOUTHWEST REGION
Here is a list of in-person classes scheduled when
this issue went to press; additional classes may be • Elk City, Sept. 17, 2022.
added to this list: • Granite, Sept. 17, 2022.
• Norman, Sept. 17, 2022.
Those wanting NORTHEAST REGION • Foss, Oct. 1, 2022.
• Fort Gibson, Sept. 3, 2022.
to attend a • Skiatook, Sept. 10, 2022. Students unable to attend a scheduled class
class must • Sallisaw, Sept. 10, 2022. or who prefer to complete hunter education
• Tahlequah, Sept. 17, 2022. certification online you can take the course for
pre-register. • Okmulgee, Sept. 17, 2022. free. Go to wildlifedepartment.
• Jenks, Oct. 8 and Nov. 12, 2022. com, click on “Hunter Education”
• Edmond, Oct. 13 and Nov. 12, 2022. under the “Hunting” tab. For
more information about hunter
NORTHWEST REGION education, scan the code.
• Guymon, Sept. 10, 2022.
• Woodward, Sept. 10, 2022.

2 OFF THE BEATEN PATH