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!
Does Your Nest Box Have What It Takes to Be Successful?
Adding a nest box to your backyard is a great way to introduce your family to nature and help birds. But does your nest box have what it takes to be successful?
“Best Practices” Turning today’s Kids into tomorrow’s Deer Hunters
How should parents introduce new activities to kids who might be hesitant to try such activities? What do child psychologists, teachers, and other child behavior professionals say in terms of how children both learn and then permanently adopt new hobbies? What are some of the obstacles and pitfalls that parents often make when trying to get their children to “love” the same kinds of hobbies and pastimes that they themselves are passionate about?
2017-2018 Big Game Report
With the 2017-18 deer season in the books, Oklahoma again proved why it is a great destination for deer hunters from across the country. The total harvest of 107,914 deer is up from last year’s harvest total of 99,023. Figure 1 shows overall deer harvest numbers since 2004. Not only was overall harvest up, but many trophy animals were harvested as well. Antlerless harvest totaled 40 percent, which is on the low side of the Wildlife Department’s management goal of 40 percent to 45 percent. And in western Oklahoma, 196 mule deer were harvested from 13 counties.
Red Slough WMA Is a Nature-watching Bull’s-eye
A variety of wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities has earned Red Slough WMA a spot on the U.S. Forest Service's 2017 list of Top NatureWatch Viewing Sites.
Bounding After Texas Kangaroo Rats
Researchers with the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History searched for Texas kangaroo rats at nearly 200 sites to no avail.
Underground Conservation Areas Identified for Ozark Wildlife
Priority conservation areas were identified for 28 species, many of which are known from only a handful of locations in Oklahoma.
Tips for Making Your Winter Eagle Watching Trips Successful
Oklahoma's bald eagle numbers peak between November and February, making winter the prime season for eagle watching.
Conserving Oklahoma's Natural Heritage
The Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, a branch of the Oklahoma Biological Survey, collects information about our plants and animals.
Wildlife Watching Can Start with a Bird Feeder
Spending more time in nature doesn't necessarily mean a road trip to a national park or a long hike in the mountains. You can invite nature into your neighborhood with a simple bird feeder.
Ozark Refuge an Oasis for Bats
Biologists meet at a bat hotspot to monitor the numbers and species of bats using the Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge