Page 2 - 2024MarApr

PANORAMAS

Here’s to an enjoyable and successful 2024! As part of our continued effort to expand
After turning the calendar to anoth- and improve boating and fishing access
er January, I wondered what this year for our constituents, we have 12 boating
was going to bring. Exciting fishing trips, and fishing access projects that will be
heart-racing hunts, and making memories completed, started, or awarded in 2024.
with my family came to mind. Well, we We continue to monitor and manage
here at the Wildlife Department also have the fisheries at our amazing lakes, rivers,
some things on the Outdoor Oklahoma and streams, and will again stock about 15
radar that we want to share with you. million fish statewide.
We’re working with legislators to modern- Oklahoma again will host the Bassmas-
ize, consolidate, and update hunting and ter Classic on March 22-24 at Grand Lake,
fishing licenses. Currently, there are more with weigh-ins at the BOK Center in Tulsa.
than 100 offerings, and we want to simplify Our Game Wardens are often a first
that to fewer than 20. As an example, we’re point of contact with the public. Here’s
proposing a “youth super license” for resi- a handy link to their phone numbers:
dents younger than 18 that would cost $25. wildlifedepar tment.com/law/game-
This license would replace all other hunting warden-directory. Please help them help
licenses for them; they could hunt any spe- all of us by letting them know if you see

cies or season that’s open. anything that doesn’t look right out there
We will look closely at nonresident deer in the woods or on the water.
hunting and management, especially as And lastly, please check out our
it relates to our public hunting areas. Our Wildlife Conservation Foundation
wild turkey research will continue, and (okwildlifefoundation.org). Its sole purpose
we’ve implemented another tool to track is to provide financial support for the
local turkey populations. Wildlife Department, and you can see
We will also be assessing the economic a list of projects it has funded online:
value of our two year-round trout fisheries okwildlifefoundation.org/projects.
on the Lower Mountain Fork and Lower I look forward to working with our
Illinois rivers in an effort to better manage amazing staff to provide the very best
these important fisheries. fish and wildlife resources our state can
Several years ago, we began an aggres- offer, and I wish you a great 2024!
sive effort that aims to renovate a dozen
existing public shooting ranges and build
additional ones. The next new build will
likely start this spring at Atoka Wildlife
Management Area (just down the road Wade Free,
from the campgrounds). Interim Director