Page 13 - Outdoor Oklahoma July/Aug 2021

Game Warden’s Journal

ACCOUNTS FROM THE FIELD BY THE PUBLIC
SERVANTS WHO ENFORCE THE FISH AND
WILDLIFE LAWS OF OKLAHOMA

Game Wardens Austin Jackson
and Riley Willman attended the
Green Country Giggers Association
annual gigging tournament on Eucha
Lake on April 9-10. Saturday night,
some unlucky contestants found
themselves on the wrong side of a
log in swift water. This caused their
boat to sink about 4 miles upstream
from the lake on Spavinaw Creek. Game Warden Austin Jackson
Game Wardens boarded their jet-
drive flat-bottom boat to reach the
stranded boaters. They waded through
waist-deep water at times to drag their
Game Warden Brad Magby,
based in Creek County, recov- boat over shallow portions of the creek.
They found one of the giggers
ered a stolen state vehicle in Hey- on shore, cold and wet. The other
burn Wildlife Management Area gigger was still straddling the log
in May. in the middle of the creek. He told
The pickup belonging to
the Oklahoma Conservation the Game Wardens that he had not
attempted to swim for shore because Game Warden Riley Willman
Commission was stolen from the water was well over his head and he couldn’t swim.
Bristow several weeks before. Both men were returned to the tournament weigh-in loca-
Around that time, Wildlife tion safely.
Biologist Matt Mattioda found Game Warden Brad Magby This incident serves as a reminder for everyone to use caution
some litter dumped on Heyburn and wear life jackets while on the water.
WMA that originated from the stolen vehicle.
During the investigation, Mattioda was able to provide (Reports from the Oklahoma Game Wardens Facebook page.)
information he found along with a Vehicle Identification Num-
ber, which allowed Magby to positively identify the vehicle. EDITOR’S NOTE: Please help make a difference! When violators
The Department thanks the Creek County Sheriff’s break the law, they steal fish and wildlife from you! Report violations
Office for help with the investigation. anonymously by calling Operation Game Thief at (800) 522-8039.
You could earn a cash reward.

Oklahoma residents 65 years old, or those turning 65 during the current calendar
year, may buy a senior citizen fishing license that is valid for the rest of their life.
year, may buy a
IT’S THE The current price for this license is $15. Senior citizen license applications are avail-
The current price for this license is $15. Senior citizen license applications are avail-
able online at wildlifedepartment.com, at Wildlife Department headquarters, field
able online at wildlifedepartment.com, at Wildlife Department headquarters, field
installations and license vendors. Applications must be submitted to Department
installations and license vendors. Applications must be submitted to Department
headquarters for processing.
headquarters for processing.
Although most people are aware of the great deal they get for a senior citizen license,
many senior anglers don’t realize they can go south of the Red River and fish in Texas
many senior anglers don’t realize they can go south of the Red River and fish in Texas
without needing a non-resident license! Any Oklahoma resident 65 or older can take
without needing a non-resident license! Any Oklahoma resident 65 or older can take
advantage of a decades-old reciprocal agreement between Oklahoma and Texas. This
advantage of a decades-old
agreement allows anyone 65 and older to fish in the other state without having to buy a
agreement allows anyone 65 and older to fish in the other state without having to buy a
license. You only need proper ID to prove your residency.
license. You only need proper ID to prove your residency.
—Smokey Solis, Communication Specialist
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