Page 7 - 2021 JAN/FEB Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

Game Bag

A COLLECTION OF LETTERS TO THE WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
We’d like to hear from you! Send your letters to Outdoor Oklahoma
Letters, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152, or send e-mail
to donald.brown@odwc.ok.gov.

Dear Wildlife Department,
I would like to recognize Game Warden Dru Polk for going
above and beyond the call of duty.
This past summer, we went camping with some friends
at Talimena State Park. My teenage son decided to go on a
short motorcycle ride on the ATV trails from the park, while
JUNIOR DUCK STAMP ART another group of us went hiking on some of the hiking trails.
Riding by yourself is not a smart idea; riding by yourself in
CONTEST SEEKS ENTRIES unknown territory is a terrible idea. My son found that out

last summer. When we came back from hiking two hours later
Any young artists from kindergarten and my son wasn’t back, we knew something had happened.
through 12th grade are invited to enter Thankfully before I could hop on another motorcycle to go
the Oklahoma Junior Duck Stamp Art look for him, Game Warden Dru Polk and another ODWC
Contest. It’s fun, educational and free. employee (please forgive me for not catching his name) drove
Every year, the U.S. Fish and Wild- up with my son in the back seat. Turns out he got lost 20
life Service conducts the Junior Duck minutes after he left and ended up on the other side of the
Stamp contest across all 50 states and mountain where he came across the two ODWC employees
U.S. territories. This program is a great way to learn about and sheepishly approached them for help.
waterfowl species through art and tap into the creativity of Aside from a broken footpeg, no harm was done. And since
Oklahoma students. he had a GoPro, he got a great video of a bear crossing 40
Submissions are due by March 1, 2021, to Sequoyah National yards in front of him while on the motorcycle.
Wildlife Refuge (107993 S. 4520 Road, Vian, OK 74962). The Please recognize these two, employees as this event could
Best of Show winner in the Oklahoma contest will advance to have turned out really badly without their help. Thank you.
the national art contest. Last year, a painting of goldeneye ducks Tim Dowty
by London Peterson of Eufaula placed in the Top 10 nationally.
For more information about the Junior Duck Stamp Dear Wildlife Department,
Program, go to https://www.fws.gov/birds/education/junior- I am a walleye fisherman who uses Lake Hefner. I really appre-
duck-stamp-conservation-program.php. ciate the population that has been established and maintained at
that lake. I wanted to let you know I am thankful for the resources
and efforts that have gone toward that species of fish, and I hope
the population is maintained in the future. Thank you!
Carl

Dear Wildlife Department,
Ally, age 12, took a nice doe for her controlled hunt at the
Washita National Wildlife Refuge. Huge thank you to Levi and
all that he does out there. It was an awesome evening. Thank
you to the ODWC for offering these opportunities to our youth!
Jessica Kimble, via Facebook

Dear Game Wardens,
Thanks for doing all that you do. I hunt state land, and your
management in Oklahoma is awesome! Every year, I see more
and more game. It makes a great outdoors adventure when
presence of game becomes abundant. Of course, I still have to
venture for it to be able to see it! My hat is off to you always!
Dan Gray, via Facebook

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