Landowner of the Year 2008 - Chris Cowlbeck
Chris Cowlbeck of Ardmore is not unlike other landowners in
Oklahoma in that his piece of property is relatively small —
just 115 acres — but his efforts to manage his land for wildlife
stand out, so much so that he was recently selected as the 2008
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Landowner of the
Year.
“Chris Cowlbeck has made a number of wildlife habitat
improvements to his Carter Co. property that, though done on a
smaller scale, set a strong example for other landowners like
him,” said Mike Sams, senior private lands biologist for the
Wildlife Department. “There are quite a few small scale
landowners in Oklahoma whose habitat work can go a long way in
conserving wildlife in our state.”
Cowlbeck’s conservation efforts have included restoring native
grasses by getting rid of Bermuda pastures, restoring oak
savannah and woodlands, placing brush piles throughout open
prairie habitat, fencing off riparian areas, constructing ponds,
planting food plots and planting 1,700 sandplum trees to create
permanent cover for quail and other wildlife. Additionally,
Cowlbeck used prescribed fire to promote new growth while
controlling overgrowth, and practices proper cattle stocking
ratios for optimum grazing pressure. Cowlbeck also uses his
property as a demonstration area for wildlife conservation
practices.
Cowlbeck refers to his management efforts as the “postage stamp”
approach, in that he is able to coordinate with neighbors and
other nearby landowners to create a greater impact for wildlife,
even though tracts of land may be of varying sizes. He said he
has worked with neighbors on a number of occasions to share
information, assist with projects and achieve results.
Cowlbeck’s 115 acres have been in his family for more than 30
years, but for much of that time he said it “laid idle” and
became overgrown. When a friend took a walk on Cowlbeck’s land
one day and reported seeing wild quail, Cowlbeck became
increasingly interested in improving the property for quail
habitat. From there, conservation and land management became a
passion for Cowlbeck, and his passion has spread to others.
In addition to his hard work on his own land, Cowlbeck is
responsible for a number of habitat improvement projects on
other property as well, including the initiation of a 2,000-acre
demonstration area on the Lake Murray Field Trial Grounds.
Cowlbeck also chairs the Arbuckle Mountain Area Chapter of Quail
Unlimited, and he developed the Habitat Improvement Team (HIT),
which assists landowners in conservation efforts by providing
equipment and assistance. Additionally, Cowlbeck continues to
help area landowners with management practices throughout the
year.
Visit with Cowlbeck and you will quickly learn why he puts so
much effort into conservation. He calls it “infectious,” and
though he owns six bird dogs and enjoys hunting, he has just as
much interest in the actual work that goes into producing
results ideal for hunting.
“I get equal amounts of satisfaction in improving the land and
harvesting quail and watching the birddogs work,” Cowlbeck said.
Cowlbeck emphasizes his belief that many people want to practice
habitat management on their property but do not know where to
start, but he says the solution is not as complicated as it may
seem and encourages landowners to go to work, even if it is just
one step at a time.
“You have to put your feet on the ground and your hands on the
equipment to see the birds fly,” Cowlbeck said.
The Wildlife Department offers several landowner programs
ranging from deer management assistance (DMAP) to the Landowner
Incentive Program, which provides technical and financial
assistance to private landowners for habitat restoration and
enhancement. There is also a wealth of information available for
those interested in managing pond fisheries and publications and
newsletters released regularly that contain useful information
on conservation and habitat management.
For more information about landowner programs offered by the
Wildlife Department, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.