Page 10 - July/Aug 2020 Outdoor Oklahoma

A COLLECTION OF LETTERS TO THE WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
Game Bag We’d like to hear from you! Send your letters to Outdoor
Oklahoma Letters, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK
73152, or send e-mail to donald.brown@odwc.ok.gov.

Dear Director J.D. Strong,
If I have a negative experience with
an employee, I take it up with the
employee. If I have a positive expe-
rience with an employee, I take it up
with the boss. Hence the reason for
this hand-scribbled little epistle.
Fishing has always been a large part
of my life. I began fishing Oklaho-
man’s streams and ponds and lakes
about 1950. Bought my first license
when I turned 16 in 1960. But … I
have not been able to enjoy my favorite
pastime for the past dozen years or so.
I decided to correct this, and wanted Paul Welch
to start by getting a senior’s license. The ODWC online system defeated
me, so I turned to my local (human) game ranger for assistance.
It was my very good fortune that Game Warden Carlos Gomez put me
in touch with Game Warden Paul Welch. I was immediately struck by
Paul’s open, friendly attitude and, more importantly, professionalism.
He not only mailed a copy of the license application, but also thought-
fully included a list of nearby fishing locations.
Please add an official “Ewe Dun Reel Guud” Award with Gold
Star and Oak Leaf Cluster to his personnel file. His kindness will be
celebrated in feast and song in the Henley hovel well into the foresee-
able future!
Dear Wildlife Department, Tech. Sgt. David L. Henley (Ret.), 138th Fighter Squadron “Tulsa
I just had to share with y’all that I am a new Vipers,” Oklahoma Air National Guard
hunter and a new true fisher. I started hunting
my first season dove hunting two years ago, and it
was extremely exciting. I outshot the guys. … Deer Dear Wildlife Biologist
hunting two seasons ago, I got my first doe in Lex- J Jeff Tibbits,eff Tibbits,
ington at the wildlife management area. I couldn’t My name is Adam Cole. I am a non-
have been prouder. Then the following year, I was resident angler from Georgia. I visit
able to get my first buck at Lexington. … Then I Oklahoma a couple times per year to
started picking up on fishing ... now I couldn’t be snag paddlefish. Jason Schooley (Fish-
more hooked, LOL. … This year was my first year eries Senior Biologist) gave me your
turkey hunting. I’ve been taking my girls hunting number and basically just want to say
with me. … Needless to say, we have put in many the OLAP on the Salt Fork River is an
miles. … I have had 10 surgeries altogether — my awesome piece of property to fish for
medical history is not the best — but I just wanted these amazing animals. My passion for
to say that I couldn’t be more proud that’s how far I paddlefish goes way beyond just fish-
have come … as me being a new full-fledged female ing for them. So, thank you for what
hunter and raising two girls. … Thank you guys for you do; it’s greatly appreciated. Jeff Tibbits
all y’all do even though no matter how much work Adam Cole, via text message
… the woods are not handicap accessible. But it
doesn’t matter if you hunt or fish 100 yards off the Editor’s Note: Tibbits is coordinator of the Department’s Oklahoma
beaten path or five miles, it’s all still worth it and Land Access Program, which provides public hunting and fishing access
it’s all priceless. on leased private lands throughout Oklahoma. For more information, go
Jessica Revels, via text message to www.wildlifedepartment.com/OLAP.

8 Off the Beaten Path