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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!

Two biologists look at a small turtle and record its location.
Conservation Efforts Soar with a Diverse Flock

Because the Wildlife Department is largely funded by the sale of these hunting and fishing licenses, much of its flock is dedicated to the conservation of game species. But a small wing of the agency, the Wildlife Diversity Program, concentrates its efforts on species that aren’t hunted or fished, with a special focus on species considered to be of greatest conservation need.

A corkboard with images of two large white birds in flight.
Wild Double Take: Whooping Crane and American White Pelican

Tips for identifying two Oklahoma look-alike birds, the whooping crane and American white pelican.

A woman in a blue coat leans over a GPS unit to document a plant growing on a rock ledge.
State’s Botanist Inventories Plants Growing at Arbuckle Springs WMA

Oklahoma’s state botanist will visit Arbuckle Springs WMA throughout the 2023 growing season to document the area’s plant diversity.

A semi-trailer truck leaves Cimarron Bluff WMA after cattle were unloaded as part of the area's grazing lease agreement.
Grazing Season Opens on WMAs to Maintain Wildlife Habitat

The Wildlife Department’s grazing lease program uses cattle to the benefit of Oklahoma’s wildlife. 

Two gray and yellow western kingbird hatchlings perched on a barbed wire with a search bar superimposed on the image with text "where can I share nature sightings".
Nature Sightings: Where to Share

We highlight four of our favorite sites for sharing nature sightings.

Girl with phone taking pictures of wildlife.
Naturally Curious: Nature Sightings App Helps One Mom Get Kids Outside

Mobile app gives youngsters fun way to learn, share their nature sightings, and contribute to science.

A stack
Identification Tools: Field Guides, Online Resources, and Sweat Equity

Countless learning resources and identification tools are available that suit a variety of learning styles.

A stocky tan and brown bird performs a mating display on the prairie.
List of Threatened and Endangered Species Gets Updates in 2023

We discuss the most recent federal listings of threatened and endangered species with the Wildlife Department’s endangered species biologist.

A corkboard with images of two frogs.
Wild Double Take: Plains and Coastal Plains Leopard Frogs

Tips for identifying two Oklahoma look-alike amphibians, the Plains and Coastal Plains leopard frogs.

A wall of invasive Chinese privet next to a grassy path
Controlling Chinese Privet

We address the plant, the problem, and the solution for controlling Chinese privet.