Page 15 - 2021 JAN/FEB Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

brainstorm group events that will help bring legislators
face-to-face with sportsmen. During the session, I distill
what happens each week into an email for our employees, WilDliFeDePartmeNt.Com
Wildlife Conservation Commissioners, and partners that
have asked to stay informed on legislative matters. The
emails provide updates on what bills have been filed that
might impact sportsmen, if and how those bills are mov-
ing through the process, and any other pertinent infor-
mation about Capitol happenings. ODWC’s Director and
I often attend organization meetings to talk directly with
constituents about legislative matters, providing more
details about why certain bills might have been proposed
and what we anticipate the outcomes to be. Mostly, I try
to be available if people want to engage in the legislative
process but have questions and concerns. I hope to make
the process a little less intimidating in this way.
State Rep. Dell Kerbs of Shawnee and State Rep. Zack Taylor of Seminole
catch saugeyes while learning about ODWC’s saugeye production and
What is the most satisfying aspect of stocking program.
your job? can change a legislator’s perspective on an issue, and

Perhaps it is when I can encourage sportsmen to get maybe even sway a vote. I try to encourage sportsmen to
more involved in the legislative process, and then they take some time to contact their legislators and let them
are able to see the results of their participation. I think know what issues are important to them and why.
many people are surprised when a legislator responds to
an email or picks up the phone to call a constituent back, What are some major legislative issues
and even more surprised when a legislator votes favor-
ably on a bill they were contacted about. you anticipate in the coming year?
Although I feel honored to and enjoy representing
ODWC and sportsmen at the Capitol, I think it’s just as There is really just one major legislative issue that we
important for individuals to be involved in the legislative anticipate in the coming year, as a request from our agen-
process and stay tuned in to what is happening at the cy. The current system of establishing the ODWC licenses
Capitol. Many people assume legislators won’t receive or and fees by legislation has resulted in a confusing and
read their emails or respond to their calls, and so they overcomplicated license structure, including more than
choose to avoid getting involved in the legislative process 150 individual licenses. This current system also results
altogether, aside from voting. However, legislators are a in large fee increases after long periods of time that drive
lot more receptive to constituent feedback than people down hunter and angler participation due to the size of
tend to think, and sometimes just one constituent email the increase necessary to offset rising costs.
During the coming legislative session, ODWC wants to
work with the Legislature to propose a bill that removes
Corey JaGer/oDWC hunting and fishing licensing from the legislative pro-
cess, and instead authorizes the Oklahoma Wildlife
Conservation Commission to establish the types of
licenses and fees by administrative rule. The process
of administrative rules is much more flexible. It is the
process ODWC uses to set season dates and bag limits.
The administrative rules process requires us to follow
an extensive internal and external vetting process for
any rule change. This process includes a public review
and comment period, and approval by the Wildlife
Commission, the Legislature and the Governor. While it's
a more flexible process for us, it effectively increases the
necessary checks and balances for our customers.
As a user-pay, public-benefit agency that receives zero
state-appropriated tax dollars, the ODWC has a vested
business interest in developing a licensing structure and
setting fees that generate sufficient revenue to sustain
its work, while ensuring continued growth in license sales
and in hunting and fishing participation. Ultimately, we
plan to use this process to simplify our license structure,
adding value to each license option, and providing our
Sen. Roland Pederson of Burlington gets some hands-on experience in customers with the confidence in knowing that they're
goose banding. buying the right license.
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