Page 10 - 2024MarApr

OKLAHOMA BLACK BEARS OUTDOOR CALENDAR

EMERGE IN EARLY SPRING FOR THE LATEST UPDATES, GO ONLINE TO LICENSE .
GOOUTDOORSOKLAHOMA .COM/EVENT/EVENTS .ASPX
NOTICE: Events were scheduled at press time; they are subject to change.
Black bears are estab-
lished in eastern and MARCH 2024
southeastern Oklaho- LYNN BYSTROM/BEARWISE 2 Oklahoma City Free Fishing Day, no city permit required.
ma, and in the western 3 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, 8 a.m., OETA.
Oklahoma Panhandle.
But they can be encoun- 4 Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting, 9 a.m.,
Oklahoma City. Livestream: YouTube.com/OutdoorOklahoma.
tered nearly anywhere
from Interstate 35 east- 6 Rack Madness free scoring event, ODWC, 1801 N. Lincoln, 1-7 p.m.
Register: https://license.gooutdoorsoklahoma.com/Event/ViewEvent.
ward in Oklahoma. aspx?id=107665.
T hro ug h w inter, 10 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, 8 a.m., OETA.
bears hibernate in
dens or other places 14 International Fly-Fishing Film Festival, 6:30 p.m., Tulsa. Register: license.
gooutdoorsoklahoma.com/Event/ViewEvent.aspx?id=108332.
that offer them safe- Black bear cubs become much more active 17 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, 8 a.m., OETA.
ty while they “doze.” during April as they venture farther from
their dens.
Come springtime, the 22–24 Bassmaster Classic, Grand Lake and BOK Center-Tulsa, bassmaster.com.
bears begin to wake up and head out. 24 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, 8 a.m., OETA.
Bears that have denned up near homes or highways may star-
tle the human neighbors when they leave dens. More than one 26 “Learn to Hunt-Turkey Habitat and Characteristics” free webinar.
Register: https://license.gooutdoorsoklahoma.com/Event/
bear has been rudely awakened by a homeowner discovering ViewEvent.aspx.
it denned up under the porch. 31 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, 8 a.m., OETA.
Sows with cubs born earlier in the year are the last bears to
emerge from their dens. By 8 to 10 weeks old, healthy black • Ducks Unlimited events (date) set in Tulsa (2); Wagoner (9); Claremore (13);
Poteau (14); Stillwater (25). Info: www.ducks.org/events.
bear cubs have grown from the size of a stick of butter at birth • National Wild Turkey Federation events (date) set in Pryor (1); Seminole (9);
to 4 to 8 pounds. The baby-fine hair they were born with is Muskogee (14); Idabel (15); Wagoner (16); Weatherford (23); Chouteau, 23);
Glenpool (30); Westville (30). Info: https://your.nwtf.org/members/events.
turning into a protective fur coat. • Quail Forever event set in Blackwell, (2). Info: www.oklahomaquailforever.
Black bear cubs still spend a lot of time nursing on the sow’s org/pfqfeventsinok.
high-fat, extra-nutritious milk. Nursing cubs often sound as if APRIL 2024
they are purring.
In April, cubs become much more active. Cubs born in 1 Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting, 9 a.m.,
ground dens may hang around the entrance watching the Oklahoma City. Livestream: YouTube.com/OutdoorOklahoma.
world and playing with each other. Sows continue to keep the 2 “Learn to Hunt-How to Hunt Turkeys” free webinar. Register: https://
license.gooutdoorsoklahoma.com/Event/ViewEvent.aspx.
youngsters and the den clean.
By the end of April, most bears have left their dens for good. 3 “Learn to Hunt-Controlled Hunts” free webinar. Register: https://license.
gooutdoorsoklahoma.com/Event/ViewEvent.aspx?id=108222.
The days lengthen, the weather warms, and spring arrives, 6 Oklahoma City Free Fishing Day, no city permit required.
bringing with it nutritious spring grasses and budding plants. Hunter Education Class, Elk City. Register: https://license.
Bears start feeding on early spring greenery as well as any gooutdoorsoklahoma.com/Event/ViewEvent.aspx?id=107929.
insects they can find, including ants, bees and termites. Ant 7 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, 8 a.m., OETA.
colonies give off formic acid and have a distinct odor (to a
bear). So does insulation made with formaldehyde. That often 9 “Learn to Hunt-Regulations, Places to Go, Ethics, Private Land” free
webinar. Register: https://license.gooutdoorsoklahoma.com/Event/
includes hot tub covers, bicycle seats and many insulated mate- ViewEvent.aspx.
rials made of vinyl. A bear poking around your hot tub may think 14 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, 8 a.m., OETA.
it’s discovered a giant ant hill.
Hibernating bears can lose 20% to 50% of their body weight 17 Oklahoma Scholastic Shooting Sports Program State Shoot, El Reno.
over winter; bears are still living off their fat reserves in spring. 21 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, 8 a.m., OETA.
So, after a few days of drinking water, eating some roughage 28 “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV, 8 a.m., OETA.
and stretching their legs, bears begin searching for more food.
Bears have great memories, so bears that learned to rely on • Ducks Unlimited events (date) set in Bartlesville (2); Claremore (3);
high-calorie, human-provided food sources last year make a Mustang (5); Broken Arrow (5); McAlester (12); Tulsa (23); Enid (27). Info:
www.ducks.org/events.
beeline for the bounty. Early spring is the time to take down • National Wild Turkey Federation events (date) set in El Reno (5); Woodward
bird feeders, secure the garbage, and make sure pet food is (19). Info: https://your.nwtf.org/members/events/.
safely stashed inside. ** FOR HUNTING SEASON DATES, GO TO
— Bearwise.org www.wildlifedepartment.com/hunting/seasons **

8 OFF THE BEATEN PATH