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Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Foundation Spotlight

OKLAHOMA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION SPOTLIGHT

OWCF Invests Time, Money to

Boost Conservation

The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Foundation supports the from OG+E to provide 18-1 matches to fully fund range con-
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation by supporting struction set for this year.
numerous conservation, fishing, hunting, and law enforcement • $8,750 for buying duty ammunition for all ODWC Game
projects across the state. Wardens at a time when state contracts were backlogged.
The Foundation was formed in 2018 to encourage private sup- • $27,500 for 115 Mustang Auto-Inflate Personal Flotation
port for ODWC. The Foundation’s vision is to enable all outdoor Devices bought for all Game Wardens.
enthusiasts to actively enjoy our state’s wildlife and wild spaces. • Enforcement Model Patriot airboat bought from private
OWCF is a nonprofit organization working exclusively alongside and donations for Game Wardens.
supporting the Wildlife Department. It provides citizens an outlet to • $5,000 that was matched by private donors, for a total of
show their passion for the outdoors by investing their time and money $40,000, to fund Tiger Bass stocking in Grand Lake.
in projects that will make a difference for generations to come. • Bought prizes to promote awareness and compliance for new
OWCF Executive Director Rick Grundman said the Foundation Fisheries Division program to gather data through bass tour-
is always looking for opportunities allowing it to partner with nament registrations.
ODWC to leverage resources because more can be done togeth- • Provided Lifetime License grand prize for Rack Madness
er than could ever be done alone. event, along with door prizes.
Here are some of the major contributions from OWCF to date:
MICAH HOLMES/ODWC
• $952,770 endowment started with Midway USA Foundation
to support youth shooting sports programs in Oklahoma. Up
to 5 percent may be spent each year.
• $75,000 match for a $300,000 planning and engineering study to
bring water back to Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area.
• $200,000 planning and engineering study match for the
planned Arcadia Lake Family Archery Range.
• $1 million-plus Arcadia Lake Archery Range construction
funding match committed; $50,000 matching grant secured Renaming of education building at Hackberry Flat WMA.

DON P. BROWN/ODWC

Patriot airboat donation to ODWC Law Enforcement Division.

44 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA