Page 4 - OutdoorOK-2023-September-October-Low

Off the Beaten Path

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

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

COMPILED BY DON P . BROWN

WILDLIFE COMMISSION OF YEAR HONOR GOES TO OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma’s Wildlife Conservation Com-
PROVIDED mission was recognized as the Wildlife Com- in the award recognition included:
Beginning an aggressive campaign to bring public
mission of the Year for 2023 at the summer target shooting ranges to nearly 20 wildlife manage-
meeting of the Western Association of Fish ment areas statewide.
and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). Helping to create the Oklahoma Land Access
The honor is presented each year to Program to open private leased land for hunting and
the commission or board that made a fishing access.
significant contribution to the manage- Acquiring three new management areas, opening
ment, protection or enhancement of fish thousands of acres for public use.
and wildlife resources within the past five Supported formation of the Oklahoma Wildlife
years. It is meant to show appreciation for Conservation Foundation as a private nonprofit fund-
the work that commissioners do day in and raising organization.
day out to support the conservation mis- Overseeing a complete renovation of the Wildlife
sion of the wildlife agencies they oversee. Department’s headquarters building, a rebranding
Oklahoma’s Commission Chairman effort to solidify the agency’s values and image
Accepting WAFWA’s Commission of Leigh Gaddis accepted the award at the (which included a new logo), and the implementation
the Year Award are, from left, Wildlife
Commission Vice Chairman James V. event in Santa Fe, N.M. of new, modern, customer-focused license sales sys-
Barwick, Commission Chairman Leigh “It’s truly an honor for Oklahoma’s Wild- tem and mobile app.
Gaddis, and ODWC Director J.D. Strong.
life Commission to be recognized, and it Created in 1922, WAFWA now represents 24
serves as a testament for all the hard work our eight states and Canadian provinces, an area covering
commissioners put in all year long,” Gaddis said. nearly 3.7 million square miles of some of North
“Serving as commissioners and working with such America’s most wild and scenic country, inhabited
an outstanding state agency for the benefit of our by over 1,500 wildlife species. WAFWA’s goal has
wildlife and our sportsmen and sportswomen is been to support sound resource management and
actually a labor of love.” build partnerships to conserve wildlife for the use
Some of the Commission’s accomplishments cited and benefit of all citizens, now and in the future.

HUNTERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF 2023-24 REGULATION CHANGES

Hunters are encouraged to read and understand • Extend the closing time on shooting ranges at
all regulations before going afield. Regulation ODWC-managed properties to one-half hour
WILDLIFEDEPARTMENT.COM nearly every year, and they are listed in the • Establish archery range rules for ODWC shoot-
after official sunset.
changes for hunting and fishing are made
ing ranges that offer archery facilities.
Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations
that are posted to www.wildlifedepartment.
• Open holiday antlerless gun season on Bro-
com and that are free in printed form at
license vendors across the state. ken Bow Wildlife Management Area, Hono-
bia WMA, Gains Creek WMA, Ouachita
Here are brief descriptions of hunting WMA-McCurtain and Tiak units, and Three
regulation changes for 2023-24: Rivers WMA.
• Extend squirrel season through Feb. This summary of regulation changes is intended
28 annually. to be used as a reference only. You are required to
• Decrease the state hunter education be familiar with all the changes to regulations that
course from eight hours to six hours. apply to each of these items.

2 OFF THE BEATEN PATH