Page 10 - ODO 2024 JanFeb online version

GAME BAG if I did not also
I would be remiss

include our local
A COLLECTION OF LETTERS Game Wardens,
TO THE WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT Travis Garrett,
Brandon Fulton
We’d like to hear from you! Send your letters to Outdoor and Rylee Rolling,
Oklahoma Letters, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK who have given
73152, or send e-mail to donald.brown@odwc.ok.gov. valuable time to Shawn Gee Travis Garrett
visit our classes or
Dear Wildlife Department, drop off material
I would like to take this opportunity to for our students.
tell you how well one of your employees Because of the
performed. Game Warden Riley Willman work of these peo-
was called to confront a poacher on my ple and others at
property in Delaware County. Due to the ODWC, we have
poacher’s persistence, Willman was called helped to influ- Brandon Fulton Rylee Rolling
several times. Each time, he showed up in ence a new gener-
a timely and professional manner. He was Riley Willman ation of outdoorsmen and women. Thank you.
firm and clear with the trespasser. I do not believe we would have Frank Blair, outdoor education teacher,
been able to resolve this issue without Willman’s assistance. He Owasso 8th-grade Center
should be commended as a positive representative of the great
state of Oklahoma. Thank you for employing quality people.
Kimberly Parks Dear Editor,
Just wanted to let you know that I really
enjoyed Tell Judkins’ article in the Novem-
Dear Wildlife Department, ber/December 2023 issue of Outdoor Okla-
I wanted to homa. Great perspective!
express how thank- Brenda D. Smith
ful I am for all that the
Oklahoma Depart- EDITOR’S NOTE: In his article “North-
ment of Wildlife ern Bobwhite in Oklahoma: How Did We Tell Judkins
Conservation does. Get Here?”, Judkins, ODWC’s upland game
Every experience biologist, detailed some of the reasons likely responsible for the
and interaction I decade’s long decline in bobwhite populations in Oklahoma and
have had with the Colin Berg Lance Meek across the nation.
Department and its people has been positive. I wanted to especially
thank Colin Berg and everyone in the Education section.
I first met Berg about 30 years ago at a camp with a bunch of Dear Wildlife Department,
physical education teachers. Years later, we would cross paths when We wanted to
NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program) was brought to extend a thank you
Oklahoma. Because of Berg, I was able to start an Outdoor Educa- to Lauren Johnson
tion class at the Owasso 8th-Grade Center. It started with a single and Josh Richard-
class of 28 students the first year. The second year we expanded to son for their efforts
two classes and then three the third year. I now have five sections of and assistance with
28-30 students per class, and we have to turn some away because the restoration of
there is no more room. Because of the success of the class, our high our land. They are
school has also started an Outdoor Education program. All of this knowledgeable and Lauren Johnson Josh Richardson
was a result of Berg’s hard work and dedication to bringing ODWC friendly, and are great ambassadors for ODWC. We look forward to
programs to students. working with ODWC again.
I also want to acknowledge Lance Meek and his helpfulness and Stephen and Emma Clayman
patience when dealing with my incessant questions and material
needs. Thanks to him and Berg, we have successfully certified over EDITOR’S NOTE: The Claymans reached out to ODWC’s Land-
1,200 students in Hunter Education courses through my classes. owner Assistance Section to help improve wildlife conservation on
Sean Gee, Daniel Griffith, Kelly Boyer, and Damon Springer their property. Other landowners interested in assistance can call
have all been invaluable, providing us with resources, material, and one of five private lands biologists; find their phone numbers by
answering questions. searching “landowner programs” at wildlifedepartment.com.

8 OFF THE BEATEN PATH