Page 4 - 2023NovDec

Off the Beaten Path

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

NOTES ON WILDLIFE • OUTDOOR TIPS • READERS’ LETTERS • ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

COMPILED BY DON P . BROWN

GAME WARDEN WILLMAN HONORED AS 2023 OFFICER OF YEAR

Game Warden Riley Willman, based in Delaware a cookout and a shotgun sporting clays shoot for
County, is Oklahoma’s 2023 Conservation Officer students and volunteers.
of the Year. He prioritizes service to ODWC before himself
Willman was honored by Shikar-Safari Club Inter- and his family to make sure that the sportsmen and
national after being selected by his peers from nom- sportswomen of Oklahoma receive justice for wildlife
inations throughout the Law Enforcement Division of crimes committed in his area.
the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation His preparedness, quick actions, and selflessness
(ODWC). He’s now in the running for the national has saved the life of several in need of rescue. From
Conservation Officer of the Year award. helping a citizen with a self-inflicted gunshot wound,
Last spring, Willman was honored by the State Leg- to using tourniquets to stop bleeding on a man who
Riley Willman islature for saving the life of a man in a near-drowning slit his wrists, to risking his life by jumping into turbu-
is eastern Oklahoma. He’s served four years as a lent water to pull a drowning victim from the water
Game Warden, and he consistently logs the most and performing CPR on the victim to bring him back
contacts with the public in his district. to life twice, Willman's extreme altruism shows his
Willman sets examples for teamwork, public true dedication to all aspects of law enforcement.
outreach, and excellence. He has participated Nominees from other law enforcement districts
in many programs such as fishing field days for were Stephen Paul (Noble County); Orlando Marti-
youths and special youth hunts. He organized the nez (Washita County); Michael Zimmerman (Grady
largest hunter education course in his district. County); Dylan King (Canadian County); Trey Hale
He engaged community support through prize (Marshall County); Jim Gillham (Love County); and
donations and went above and beyond by hosting Cody Youngblood (Cherokee County).

SEND US PHOTOS TO LEARN YOUR BAGGED DEER’S AGE

Did you ever wonder about the true age of your will contribute to managing the state's deer herd.
harvested deer? Oklahoma deer hunters can find What’s required is to submit images of your deer’s
out from an expert when they participate in help- jaw and antlers to a biologist, who can then deter-
ing ODWC biologists collect important data that mine age based on scientific methods. Your deer's
age will be posted by your E-Check confirmation
WILDLIFEDEPARTMENT.COM based on body conditions.
number, eliminating the guessing game of aging
When processing your deer, simply remove the
jaw without damaging any teeth. Or ask your taxider-
mist to save your deer jaw when he or she capes out
your trophy. Then provide clear photos. To gather
additional information on bucks, photos of antlers
and the measurements of antler beam length and
beam circumference are requested as well.
To learn more about the Age My
Deer program and to see how-to
videos, go to wildlifedepartment.
com/form/age-my-deer or scan the
QR code.

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