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GAME BAG had happened to him. Your efforts have not only returned years-old
stolen items, it brought a peace of mind to the victim.
Thank you for your exceptional work and tireless dedication.
A COLLECTION OF LETTERS Your contributions make a significant difference, and I feel priv-

TO THE WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT ileged to have worked with someone as dedicated and skilled
as you.
We’d like to hear from you! Send your letters to Outdoor Jared Cockerham, Fort Worth Police Department Homeland
Oklahoma Letters, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK Security Unit
73152, or send e-mail to donald.brown@odwc.ok.gov.

Dear Wildlife Department, Dear ODWC Law Enforcement Supervisor,
Thanks to all the effort put forth through the Oklahoma Wildlife I am writing to express my sincere
Departments Hunters Against Hunger program. Once again, here gratitude for the excellent work of Game
at Terry’s Taxidermy and Wild Game Processing, working with City Warden Riley Willman, who successfully
Rescue Mission and Yukon Manna Pantry, we were able to supply removed a group of poachers from one of
several thousand pounds of venison to needy families in our state. Tusker LLC’s properties in Delaware Coun-
Thanks to all the hard-working people that help make this program ty. I am a wildlife enthusiast, and I was
a success. appalled to learn that some people were
Terry’s Taxidermy and Wild Game Processing, via Facebook illegally hunting there.
Your Game Warden showed great cour- Riley Willman
age, skill, and professionalism in confronting the poachers and
Dear Interim Director Wade Free, Law Enforcement Chief asking them to leave. He is a true hero and a valuable asset to
Nathan Erdman, and LE Assistant Chief Wade Farrar, your Department.
On behalf of I appreciate your leadership and support for the Game Warden
Police Chief Loyd and his mission. You have demonstrated a strong commitment to
Berger and myself, the conservation of wildlife and the protection of the environment.
I want to thank all I hope you will continue to support and encourage Willman and his
of you for send- colleagues in their noble work.
ing Game War- Bill Lawson, grateful citizen,
den Capt. Gary Tusker LLC (owned by the Lawson family)
E mm o n s an d
Game Warden Lt. Gary Emmons Casey Young
Casey Young to assist in teaching multiple LASER active shooter Dear Don P. Brown, Associate Editor,
classes in the Oklahoma City metro area. During these classes, 94 Thank you for the nice article on the Crosstimbers Primitive
officers from 34 different agencies participated and completed this Society, as well as the story on Caleb Flies (January/February 2024
class. This was a huge effort, and the officers that attended greatly issue). Our club embraces all things primitive. Caleb is a great
benefited from being trained by such an experienced group. I ambassador for traditional archery! As one of the three remaining
have taught with Emmons and Young for many years and admire charter members of the Crosstimbers club, it warms my heart to
the passion, experience, and hands-on approach they bring when see the old ways preserved. Oh, to be young again!
teaching such an important class as this one. Clifton Sikes
Emmons and Young are tremendous assets, and your Depart-
ment is blessed to have them.
Austin Slaten, Assistant Chief of Police, Del City Police Dear Editor,
Department I just read your articles (“Shooting Ol’ Smokepoles Sparks Pas-
sion for Past,” “A Hunt for the Ages”) in the January/February 2024
issue of Outdoor Oklahoma. I shoot a smokepole, and I shoot a
Dear ODWC Special Investigator, recurve and long bow, so I agree with all that was said; they add
I wanted to take a moment to commend you for your outstand- much more to the hunt, and they require you to get intimate with
ing work on the recent investigation and recovery of stolen big cat the animal.
and bighorn sheep mounts. Your dedication and thoroughness I always say a prayer of thanks over the animal, perhaps reflecting
throughout the entire process have not gone unnoticed. that intimacy. Hemingway said something about loving the animal
Your commitment to locating and recovering the property and that you harvest.
returning it to its rightful owner is truly impressive. The meticulous Anyway, your articles made me feel good and warm. Thanks for
attention to detail and perseverance you exhibited in handling the that. Stay the course.
investigation reflects your professionalism and Department. Wayne Turner
I know the theft victim was heartbroken when he realized what

6 OFF THE BEATEN PATH