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Outdoor Oklahoma Journal

This is the Outdoor Oklahoma Journal, where we're all about helping you pursue and engage in Oklahoma's vibrant outdoor lifestyle. Follow us for great hunting and fishing stories, wildlife features, insider information about unique opportunities, and tangible details on how to go out and be a hunter, angler, and conservationist. The outdoors are always open, so don't miss out!

A brown and black spider perches between two green leaves with an insect held between its front legs.
Spinning Good Vibes

A biologist is spinning good spider vibes with facts and identification tips to help people take spider encounters in stride.

A corkboard showing to look-alike burying beetles with black and orange markings.
Wild Double Take: Burying Beetles

Tips for identifying two Oklahoma look-alike beetles, the American and margined burying beetles.

A photo taken from a trail camera of a small herd of deer within an ozark glade.
Habitat Highlight: Ozark Glades

Join us as we explore the fascinating world of Ozark glades, their ecological importance, and the ongoing efforts to protect and restore these incredible natural spaces.

A gloved hand holding a young tilapia collected furing an electrofishing survey in NW Oklahoma.
Tilapia Stocking: Is it Worth it?

Are tilapia a viable food source for largemouth bass in private ponds? This question has become increasingly important for landowners looking to cultivate robust bass populations. The unique climate challenges in Oklahoma are something to consider when stocking your pond.

A group of dung beetles on top a pile of lung.
Down and Dirty with Dung Beetles

It’s hard to imagine anyone or anything searching far and wide for good poop, but that’s just what dung beetles do. And not just any dung will do, they seek to find the best.

A brown and tan blotched snake is curled with its head pointing above the coil.
Highlights from Oklahoma’s History of Herpetology

The archived history of herpetology shows the compounding value of past reptile and amphibian conservation efforts and incredible potential for the future.

Girl with harvested doe in the field.
Youth Deer Gun Season Tips: A Guide for Youth & Parents

This year could be better than ever for youth hunters. The full scoop on how to "go out and do" the youth deer gun season, for kids and adult mentors.

A man and his niece (both wearing hunter orange) are looking at and discussing about the deer that the niece recently harvested.
Deer Licenses Just Got an Upgrade

If you have an annual hunting license, then a single deer license is all you need for a full bag limit of deer. Read on for details.

A corkboard showing two look-alike grouse.
Wild Double Take: Greater and Lesser Prairie-chickens

Tips for identifying two Oklahoma look-alike grouse, the greater and lesser prairie-chickens.

A slate gray bird with a white face and dark cap perches upside down on a tree.
Establishing a Successful Wildscape

Attracting wildlife to your yard can be as simple as providing four basic habitat components in your wildscape: food, water, cover, and space.