Page 5 - January/February 2023 Outdoor Oklahoma

GAME BAG Dear Director Strong,
I took my son to a Hunter Education
course recently in Edmond, and I just
A COLLECTION OF LETTERS wanted to let you know your folks did
TO THE WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT a great job. They kept our attention,
kept the class moving and involved,
We’d like to hear from you! Send your letters to Outdoor were very professional and very knowl-
Oklahoma Letters, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152, edgeable. Also, my son has dyslexia so
or send e-mail to donald.brown@odwc.ok.gov. he was a little nervous. But it wasn’t a
problem. He was the last one to finish Dylan King
Dear Skylar, the test, but he only missed one.
I’m a local resident from Shaw- Anyway, I’m sure you get a few com-
nee. I want to thank you for the Trout plaints every now and then like we do,
Angler Guide, your YouTube virtual so I wanted to send you something
course, and the other resources on positive. You all are doing a great job,
the ODWC’s Fishing Resources web- so keep up the good work.
page. My 7-year-old son and I had a Sheridan, Oklahoma Highway Patrol
very successful four-day weekend at
the Blue River recently, and it wouldn’t Editor’s Note: The class mentioned
have been possible without your arti- Skylar St.Yves above was taught by Game Warden
cles and videos. I’ve been to Blue River Dylan King, based in Oklahoma Coun- Lance Meek
several times, and all my past trips were unsuccessful and my son ty; Hunter Education Coordinator
was becoming restless and starting to lose interest in fishing. But Lance Meek; Hunter Education Tech-
that all changed with this trip. nician Jennifer Benge; and Education
Thanks again so much for your help. Your guides were invaluable Section intern Cameron Cranford.
and literally changed my son’s attitude toward fishing. Now when I Every year, dozens of ODWC staff
tell people we’re fisherman, he won’t respond with, “But Dad, were members along with volunteer citizens
not fisherman. We don’t ever catch any fish!” teach Hunter Education classes across
Marcus Johnson the state.

Thank you ODWC! We watched
Dear Director J.D. Strong, Jennifer Benge
I wanted to thank you, your agency, the Outdoor Oklahoma this morning
and specifically Game Wardens Kenny before church. My 12-year-old daughter watched the young
Lawson, based in McCurtain County, lady deer hunting and asked if I could take her deer hunting
and Chad Strang, based in Cleveland this afternoon.
County, for assisting CLEET Academy She harvested her first deer this afternoon!
with firearms and Law Enforcement Our great memories of today will last a lifetime. Thank you again.
Driver Training in Ada. Proud Parent, message via Facebook
As you know, we are a small state
agency but have a major imprint Kenny Lawson
across the state of Oklahoma regard- Dear Wildlife Department,
ing training and rely heavily on As an out-of-state falconer, I recent-
adjunct instructors. ly reached out to Administrative Assis-
Our mission, which is to provide tant Becky Rouner for a last minute
law enforcement training, could never trapping permit. She went above
be met without personnel from your and beyond to make sure I had what
Department helping us. I am grateful I needed when I needed it! She even
for your leadership and vision when it helped me work through some errors
comes to training associated at CLEET, on my end. She is an asset to your
Please pass along my sincere appre- Department. Please pass along my Becky Rouner
ciation to your staff, and I look forward Chad Strang thanks to her.
to seeing them again in the future. Spence Wise
Preston Draper, Interim CLEET Director

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