WEEK OF JULY 29, 2010
WEEK OF JULY 22, 2010
WEEK OF JULY 15, 2010
WEEK OF JULY 8, 2010
WEEK OF JULY 1, 2010
Controlled hunt results
available July 7
Applicants can find out July 7 at 8 a.m. if they were drawn for any of
the hunts offered through the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's
Controlled Hunt program by logging on to wildlifedepartment.com.
Once applicants log on to the website, they can click on the
"Controlled Hunts Results Available" link and enter their last name, birthday,
and the number they used on the original application (either their Social
Security or driver’s license number). The system will only access the Controlled
Hunts results database when the correct number matches with the hunter’s other
information.
Sportsmen also can check their results at computer terminals available
at the Department's headquarters and at certain regional offices during those
offices’ regular business hours. Contact information for Wildlife Department
field offices are available at wildlifedepartment.com. In addition, many local
libraries offer Internet access to library cardholders. Applicants should check
with their local library for Internet services and user-policies. Successful
applicants will also be notified by mail.
“This is a free service that is easy to use,” said Melinda
Sturgess-Streich, assistant director of administration and finance for the
Wildlife Department. “As long as you check the results using the same number
that you used in your original application, you’ll know in a matter of minutes
if you’ve been drawn.”
The opportunity to hunt on some of Oklahoma’s most unique and
desirable hunting properties have made the Department’s controlled hunts program
one of the most popular programs in the country.
For more information about the Wildlife Department’s Controlled Hunts
program, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
-30-
Non-native
crab among Texoma aquatic nuisance species
Anglers fishing at Lake Texoma might catch a range of
well-recognized fish, but they may also stumble upon a number of aquatic
nuisance species, such as the now common zebra mussel or even the tiny,
dime-sized Harris mud crab that has been found in limited numbers.
The first mud crab discovered at Lake Texoma was found by a scuba
diver in the Caney Creek area in September of 2008.
The find spurred a research study to learn the source of
introduction of the crabs and to examine potential effects on the lake’s
ecosystem. And although the direct impact of the mud crabs on Oklahoma’s fishery
is still unknown, the species has created both economic and ecological problems
in several states, including Texas.
Soon after the discovery of mud crabs in Oklahoma, researchers from
Southeastern Oklahoma State University began surveying for the crabs. After
several trapping and surveying attempts with limited results, it is thought that
the Harris mud crab population in Oklahoma is limited. However, anglers have
reported finding mud crab carcasses in the stomachs of cleaned blue catfish.
Because the numbers are small and the research is ongoing, it is unknown whether
the crabs have been introduced (by way of boats or released bait) or have
naturally traveled their way to Oklahoma from Texas through rivers. Research is
also being conducted in Texas by Tarleton State University in Stephenville.
There, DNA samples are being collected to determine if the crabs are more
closely related to the population naturally found on the Atlantic coast, or the
population found along the Gulf Coast; if they are from the Gulf Coast
population, they may have traveled to Oklahoma on their own.
The Harris mud crab varies from olive green to brown and has
white-tipped claws. It has four pairs of walking legs and one pair of pinchers.
Legs are sparsely covered with hair. Generally found in brackish waters, it can
complete its life cycle in freshwater, and is currently found throughout Texas.
Like many aquatic nuisance species, the Harris mud crab can
negatively affect native habitat. According to Curtis Tackett, aquatic nuisance
species biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, aquatic
nuisance species, or ANS, are a threat because of their potential to disrupt the
balance of state fisheries. Since they are non-native, they may have few
predators, reproduce and spread rapidly, and compete with native species for
available forage and habitat. Along with the Harris mud crab, aquatic nuisance
species in Oklahoma include species such as zebra mussels, didymo, white perch,
bighead carp, golden alga, and hydrilla, among others.
“An ANS can be any organism that threatens our native waters, not
just fish or plants,” Tackett said. “They are often unknowingly transported by
man — usually boaters and anglers — to a new location where they thrive and
cause problems for native habitat or native aquatic species.”
Along with threatening food sources for native species, ANS such as
mud crabs can clog intake valves and other water delivery systems.
Tackett urges anglers not to release their leftover bait into lakes
after fishing and to check, drain, clean or dry their boats to limit the
transfer of this and other aquatic nuisance species.
If you encounter a Harris mud crab, you can let the Wildlife
Department know by contacting Tackett at (405) 521-4623.
In the meantime, while enjoying the season of fishing at hand,
anglers can help stop the spread of ANS and their possible economic and
environmental consequences by observing the following measures:
* Never dump unused bait into the water; dispose of on land
* Drain bilge water, live wells and bait buckets before leaving a lake.
* Inspect boats and trailer immediately upon leaving the water.
* Scrape off any zebra mussels or aquatic vegetation found. Do not return them
to the water.
* Wash boat parts and accessories that contact the water using hot water (at
least 140 degrees F.), or spray with high-pressure water.
* If possible, dry boats and trailers for at least a week before entering
another waterway.
* Before leaving a river or stream, remove all clumps of algae and look for
hidden fragments.
* Soak and scrub all gear for at least one minute in a two percent bleach
solution, or five percent salt solution, or simply use hot water and dishwashing
soap.
* If cleaning is not practical, then wait at least 48 hours before contact with
another water body after equipment has dried.
* Consider keeping two sets of wading boots, and alternate their use between
cleaning and drying.
* Avoid using felt-soled waders.
* Avoid wading through colonies of the algae that may be the ANS known as didymo.
Breaking up the material could cause future colonies and blooms to occur further
downstream.
Photo Caption: With only minor effort, anglers can help prevent the spread of
aquatic nuisance species such as Harris mud crabs (pictured) and other aquatic
nuisance species along with their economic and environmental consequences.
Photo Credit: Dr. Donald Keith, Tarleton
State University
-30-
Outdoor Marketplace returning to 2010 Oklahoma Wildlife Expo
One of the best features of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation’s annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo is the free admission, but there
are still opportunities for visitors to purchase great outdoor gear for use in
future getaways.
For the fourth year in a row, vendors at the Oklahoma Wildlife
Expo’s Outdoor Marketplace will be on hand offering their outdoor goods and
services visitors at the event.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s sixth annual
Oklahoma Wildlife Expo is slated for September 25-26 at the Lazy E Arena, just
north of Oklahoma City. The Wildlife Department will be working with a range of
organizations, individuals and outdoor-related companies to host the event —
intended to promote and develop appreciation for Oklahoma’s wildlife and natural
resources. Last year’s Expo drew an estimated 42,000 visitors to the Lazy E
Arena over the course of three days.
“Admission for the Expo is free, and all of the events and
activities it offers are free,” said Rhonda Hurst, Expo coordinator for the
Wildlife Department. “Tens of thousands of visitors come out to the Lazy E Arena
to enjoy the fun, so this a great opportunity for vendors of outdoor goods and
services to showcase their products to outdoor-minded people at the Outdoor
Marketplace.”
The Outdoor Marketplace is a large area where commercial vendors
will be selling their hunting and fishing-related merchandise and services. The
Marketplace features vendors under a large tent, but outdoor open-air spaces
also are available for displaying larger items such as ATVs and hunting blinds.
A 10’ x 10’ booth space under the tent or a 20’ x 20’ outside space costs $300.
Both include electricity. Nonprofit conservation organizations also will be able
to sign up for free booth spaces to promote membership and educate sportsmen
about their organizations.
Along with shopping at the Outdoor Marketplace, Expo visitors will
be able to fish, shoot shotguns, kayak, ride mountain bikes, see and touch
wildlife, attend dog training seminars and learn about recreation in the great
outdoors. They will also be able to win a variety of free prizes thanks to
generous sponsors of the event.
“Any vendor who wants to reach people interested in the outdoors
needs to be a part of the Outdoor Marketplace at this year’s Wildlife Expo,”
Hurst said.
Log on to wildlifedepartment.com regularly to stay up to date on the
upcoming Oklahoma Wildlife Expo.
For more information about obtaining a booth in the Outdoor
Marketplace or to obtain an application for a booth, contact Ben Davis, Outdoor
Marketplace coordinator, at (405) 521-4632.
-30-
Wildlife Commission
approves OG&E partnership
At its July meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission
voted to approve a memorandum of agreement with OG&E to offset the impact of
the151 MW “Keenan Phase II” wind farm on lesser prairie chickens in northwest
Oklahoma. OG&E is purchasing 100 percent of the energy produced from the wind
farm, which is owned by Competitive Power Ventures, an independent wind farm
developer. The agreement secures $4.9 million for projects such as conservation
easements to protect undeveloped property, management agreements to restore
property with critical habitat and acquisition of land by the Wildlife
Department to protect and restore habitat for lesser prairie chickens.
“The lesser prairie chicken as a species is in jeopardy,” said Alan
Peoples, chief of wildlife for the Wildlife Department. “OG&E has been a
valuable partner in its effort to develop Oklahoma’s wind resources in a
responsible manner.”
The prairie of northwest Oklahoma is home to some of the state’s
most abundant wind resources and important habitat of the lesser prairie
chicken, identified as a species of greatest conservation need. Research shows
that habitat fragmentation and vertical structures like wind turbines are not
conducive to good prairie chicken habitat. The species has evolved over time in
regions virtually void of vertical structure, which may be perceived by prairie
chickens as perches for predators like hawks and owls. As a result, maintaining
unfragmented tracts of sand shinnery, sage and high plains habitat in northwest
Oklahoma is a high priority for achieving a sustainable outcome for lesser
prairie chicken populations.
This is the second partnership agreement between the two parties. In
April of 2009, the Commission approved its first memorandum of agreement with OG&E
to protect lesser prairie chicken habitat for the 101 MW “OU Spirit” Project.
That initial $3.75 million led not only to the development of habitat management
projects, but also helped fund land purchases such as a 4,500-acre addition to
Packsaddle WMA. OG&E’s contributions have and will continue to be leveraged with
additional federal grants to ensure habitat enhancement and restoration efforts
to benefit the lesser prairie chicken and other wildlife in northwest Oklahoma.
The initial $3.75 million has already been leveraged up to approximately $9
million, which is being utilized in on-the-ground efforts to improve habitat for
the lesser prairie chicken.
“OG&E is trying to balance the development of renewable energy with
the need to protect the environment, including the conservation of the lesser
prairie chicken,” said Trish Horn, vice president, environmental, health and
safety for OG&E. “We are very pleased to be able to partner with the Department
and assist the Department in its efforts to conserve the lesser prairie chicken,
implement its conservation plan, and begin to see what can be done to conserve
this species right now in Oklahoma.”
Officials hope the agreement between the Wildlife Department and OG&E
will serve as an example to energy industries in the Southern Plains to focus on
responsible development and conservation. State Secretary of Environment J.D.
Strong endorses the agreement, calling OG&E a “great partner and leader in the
effort who works voluntarily to keep the prairie chicken off the endangered
species list.”
Though the memorandum of agreement specifically partners the
Wildlife Department with OG&E, the cooperation of several other agencies and
organizations such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nature
Conservancy, the Sutton Avian Research Center, Playa Lakes Joint Venture and
others play critical roles in this partnership.
“Everyone has a key part in conservation, from energy development
industries to everyday hunters and anglers, and this agreement is just a great
example of that,” said Richard Hatcher, director of the Wildlife Department.
The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing
board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Wildlife
Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for
the Wildlife Department and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife
conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by the governor and
confirmed by the Senate.
-30-
Inaugural arrow flies
at new outdoor facility
At its July meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission
celebrated the dedication of its newest facility with a shot from the bow of
two-time National Archery in the Schools Champion Meredith Noland of Chickasha.
Noland’s well-placed arrow is only one of many that will be released
in the future on the grounds of the Arcadia Conservation Education Area, where
the Commission celebrated the opening of its new Outdoor Training and Education
Center, an indoor facility on the Edmond property that will be used for outdoor
education purposes.
The Arcadia Conservation Education Area is a 700-acre property on
Lake Arcadia that Oklahoma anglers have been enjoying for years by way of
walk-in access, but with the completion and dedication of the area’s new indoor
facility comes even more outdoor opportunities. The area can be used for hunter
education and aquatic education classes, wetland learning opportunities, bird
watching, and field trips for area schools. Additionally, conservation-based
curriculum is being developed for educators to provide students with outdoor
learning opportunities on the property. Complete with a wetland walking trail,
fishing access, and birding opportunities, the area represents the Department’s
goal to engage youth in the outdoors and to instill appreciation for
conservation.
The Commission also approved of a memorandum of agreement with OG&E
for the funding of moneys to offset the impact on the lesser prairie chickens in
northwest Oklahoma relating to the “Keenan Phase II” wind farm, which is owned
by Competitive Power Ventures from which OG&E purchases 100 percent of the
output. The agreement secures $4.9 million for projects such as conservation
easements to protect undeveloped property, management agreements to restore
property with critical habitat and acquisition of land by the Wildlife
Department to protect and restore habitat for lesser prairie chickens. The
agreement follows a previous one with OG&E, approved in April of last year to
secure $3.75 million for the same purpose of conserving lesser prairie chickens.
In other donations, the Commission accepted $36,200 from NatureWorks
and $7,500 from the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International (SCI)
to fund a range of Wildlife Department projects.
The $36,200 donation from Tulsa-based conservation group NatureWorks
will be used to fund five projects, including $15,000 for fireguards and ridge
top clearings at Osage Wildlife Management Area in northeast Oklahoma, $10,000
to fund subscriptions to the Wildlife Department’s Outdoor Oklahoma magazine for
every public school and library in the state, $5,000 for the Department’s
Hunters Against Hunger program, $5,000 to fund awareness and equipment for the
Department’s aquatic nuisance species program, and a $1,200 prize for the winner
of the state duck stamp design contest. NatureWorks generates its funds through
its annual wildlife art show in Tulsa.
The donation from the Oklahoma Station Chapter of SCI will be used
to support the Department’s Hunters Against Hunger program, fund bear research
in Oklahoma, and to purchase a youth deer license for one participant in each of
the Department’s 350 hunter education classes throughout the year. The
organization is also working to make SCI membership discounts available for one
adult from each hunter education class throughout the year.
The Commission also recognized Tillman Co. landowner Jim Wolfe as
the Wildlife Department’s Landowner of the Year Award recipient.
“With 95 percent of Oklahoma in private ownership, it’s vital that
our landowners be a part of the wildlife equation,” said Mike Sams, private
lands senior biologist for the Wildlife Department.
Wolfe owns the Red River Ranch, about 1,000 acres bordering the Red
River in Tillman County characterized by rolling sandhills.
The Commission also finalized changes to its retirement plan for
Wildlife Department employees. The current defined benefit plan was frozen to
new entrants, and a new defined contribution plan was adopted for employees
hired after July 1, 2010. This action will provide a long-term funding solution
for the agency’s retirement plan while continuing to provide a good retirement
benefit for employees.
The Commission also voted to establish regulations for early season
migratory bird hunting seasons based on a federal framework provided by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. This year, seasons and regulations for September
teal, dove, rail, gallinule, woodcock and common snipe will be the same as last
year, except for adjustments to calendar dates, and the special resident Canada
goose daily limit has been increased from five to eight.
Additionally, the Commission approved renovation designs for the
Wildlife Department headquarters in Oklahoma City to improve front entrance
access for persons with disabilities.
The Commission also recognized Liz Howard, human resources assistant
for the Wildlife Department, for 25 years of service.
The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing
board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Wildlife
Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for
the Wildlife Department and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife
conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by the governor and
confirmed by the Senate.
The next scheduled Commission meeting is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 7 at
the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium),
located at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City.
-30-
Wildlife Department’s Oklahoma Landowner of the Year recognized
Tillman Co. landowner Jim Wolfe was recently awarded the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Landowner of the Year Award.
Through the Landowner of the Year program, the Wildlife Department
selects a landowner who has gone above and beyond to improve their property for
wildlife habitat.
Wolfe owns the Red River Ranch, about 1,000 acres bordering the Red
River in Tillman County characterized by rolling sandhills and thoughtful
management efforts.
Wolfe received his award at the July meeting of the Oklahoma
Wildlife Conservation Commission. By his side as he received the award was Red
River Ranch manager Lloyd Kelly, who plays a vital role in management project
completion on the ranch.
After purchasing his ranch, Wolfe sought technical advice from a
range of conservation agencies to help him improve his property for wildlife.
“With 95 percent of Oklahoma in private ownership, it’s vital that
our landowners be a part of the wildlife equation,” said Mike Sams, private
lands senior biologist for the Wildlife Department.
Wolfe has taken advantage of several programs including the
Department’s Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program, Deer Management Assistance
Program and the Federal Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program. Wolfe has installed
fencing to protect riparian areas, including more than a mile-long stretch of
creek important to hundreds of wild turkeys. The creek portion of Wolfe’s
property is critical winter habitat for the local turkey population, providing
winter roosting to an estimated 400 turkeys.
Wolfe has managed cattle grazing on his property to complement his
wildlife management goals. He has installed wood duck boxes, created clearings
and restored roost sites for turkeys and worked to increase forage on his ranch
through soil disturbance, among other efforts.
Because of its southwest location in the state, the property has the
distinction of being one of the few properties in Oklahoma to document the
presence of javelinas, also called peccaries.
“This is an important recognition that we give to landowners, and
Jim is very deserving,” Sams said.
To learn more about wildlife conservation and landowner programs
operated by the Wildlife Department, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
-30-
Photo Caption: Tillman Co. landowner Jim Wolfe (center) accepts the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Landowner of the Year Award from Alan
Peoples, chief of wildlife for the Wildlife Department (left) alongside ranch
manager Lloyd Kelly (right). Wolfe has taken advantage of several programs and
management techniques to make his Red River Ranch an example of good habitat
management in Oklahoma.
Calling all wildlife artists: Oklahoma waterfowl stamp design contest now open
to entries
The Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp design contest hosted by the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation will feature the bluewing teal in 2011-12,
and artists’ entries are being accepted through Aug. 31, 2010.
The Wildlife Department’s waterfowl stamp design contest draws
artists from across the United States hoping to see their rendition of a
pre-selected waterfowl species on the state’s next stamp, which also serves as a
state waterfowl license. The Oklahoma waterfowl stamp is required of hunters who
pursue waterfowl in Oklahoma and is an important source of funding for the
on-the-ground habitat work that benefits waterfowl and other wetland wildlife.
The Wildlife Department receives no general state tax appropriations and is
supported primarily through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, among them
the Oklahoma waterfowl license. Duck stamp sales help finance many projects that
benefit ducks and geese. Since the duck stamp program began in 1980, thousands
of acres of waterfowl habitat have been created through duck stamp revenues.
“This is really much more than an art contest,” said Micah Holmes,
information supervisor for the Wildlife Department. “When waterfowl hunters
purchase that stamp, they are doing their part in conserving wildlife and
preserving the sport of hunting. Stamp collectors can support the cause as well,
since the stamps always feature stunning and unique artwork that’s worth adding
to a collection.”
Artwork may be of acrylic, oil, watercolor, scratchboard, pencil,
pen and ink, tempera or any other two-dimensional media. The illustration must
be horizontal, six and a half inches high and nine inches wide. It must be
matted with white mat board nine inches high by 12 inches wide with the opening
cut precisely 6.5 inches by 9 inches. Artwork may not be framed or under glass,
but acetate covering should be used to protect the art. All artists must depict
the bluewing teal, and any habitat appearing in the design must be typical of
Oklahoma. Artists also can include a retriever dog in their entry, as long as
the bluewing teal is the featured element of the artwork. For complete entry
guidelines, call (405) 521-3856.
Entries should be sent to the Duck Stamp Competition Coordinator,
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK
73152. Fed Ex, UPS and other ground deliveries should be sent to 1801 N.
Lincoln, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.
Entries will be judged on anatomical accuracy, artistic composition
and suitability for printing. The winner and honorable mentions will appear in a
future issue of Outdoor Oklahoma magazine.
A non-refundable entry fee of $20 (cash, money order or cashier’s
check) must accompany each entry. No entries will be accepted after 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 31.
The winning artist will receive a purchase award of $1,200, courtesy
of Tulsa-based conservation group NatureWorks, and the winning entry will become
the sole and exclusive property of the Wildlife Department.
A selection of waterfowl stamp art from previous years is currently
on display in the lobby of the Wildlife Department headquarters located at 1801
N. Lincoln, in Oklahoma City.
Prints of the winning art are no longer made, but a small number of
limited edition prints from previous years are available for $135 . To order,
log on to
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com.
For more information about the contest call (405) 521-3856. For a
complete list of contest rules, log on to
wildlifedepartment.com.
-30-
Volunteers help make fishing memories for children with illnesses
Volunteers recently came together to take almost 170 kids from
Oklahoma Children’s Hospital fishing at Lake Texoma.
Camp Cavett offers outdoor experiences to children who are
undergoing treatments for illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, sickle cell
anemia and other childhood illnesses, and each year anglers and boaters from
across Oklahoma, Texas and even Louisiana volunteer their time and their boats
to take them fishing.
“Some of these kids have had a tough time over the last few years,
but they’re just like any other kids — they love to go fishing and take a boat
ride,” said Gene Gilliland, central region fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Gilliland volunteers each year and said some of the campers don’t
get to fish at home, either because their conditions will not allow them to fish
easily or because they are in the hospital too much to find time. Getting the
opportunity to go through Camp Cavett gets them involved in the outdoors, giving
them something to look forward to as well as broadening their appreciation for
the natural world.
Kids who come to the camp, sponsored by the Cavett Kids Foundation,
stay at the Cross Point Methodist Youth Camp on Lake Texoma and have a chance to
go fishing twice during the week. While they fish for striper on Thursday, a
fishing derby is held Saturday for any species that bites, with trophies awarded
to the three biggest fish in each category, including bass, striper, catfish,
panfish and other species.
“One little girl who won a trophy last year passed away before this
year’s camp,” Gilliland said. “At her funeral they had a table of her most
prized possessions. Among them was the trophy she won at the fishing derby.”
Boaters interested in volunteering at future Camp Cavett fishing
days can contact Jenny Rodgers, Cavett Kids Foundation Director, at (405)
271-2271
-30-
Wildlife Expo feature to teach Oklahomans how to attract and enjoy wild birds
With over 350 bird species found in Oklahoma, wildlife enthusiasts
can learn to attract some of them to their own yard this fall at the sixth
annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo Sept. 25-26.
Along with a range of other outdoor learning opportunities, an
interactive birding area at the event will include a free bluebird house
make-and-take seminar, optics courses to improve bird identification skills, and
experts on hand to talk with visitors about all things birding in Oklahoma.
The Expo’s birding area also will feature a walk-through bird and
butterfly garden, courtesy of K&K Nursery in Norman, designed to attract birds
with cover and food.
“You can bring birds to your property, and this Expo feature will
give you a visual example of how to do it,” said Melynda Hickman, wildlife
diversity biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City, the event is
designed to promote and instill appreciation for Oklahoma's wildlife and natural
resources and provide hands-on learning opportunities for all types of outdoor
enthusiasts. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is partnering with
a wide range of other state agencies, private individuals and outdoor-related
companies to host the event. Admission to the Expo is free.
Birds and birdwatching are just the beginning of what’s available
for outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts at the Expo. Activities range from shotgun
and archery shooting to fishing, kayaking, ATV riding, mountain biking and much
more. Additionally, numerous learning opportunities are available at booths and
exhibits at the Expo. Visitors can speak with wildlife biologists and
outdoorsmen experienced in fishing, hunting, game calling, wildlife and
fisheries management, reptiles and amphibians and more, as well as attend
seminars on hunting dog training, wild game cooking, Dutch oven camp cooking and
mule packing, among other topics. And for Expo visitors who like to shop, a
large area called the Outdoor Marketplace is set aside at the Expo for vendors
who will be on hand showcasing and offering for sale their outdoor merchandise
and services.
The Expo is Oklahoma’s largest outdoor recreation event, drawing
tens of thousands of people each year, including celebrities.
The Wildlife Expo will be held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of
Oklahoma City. Expo hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Sept. 25-26. Log
on to wildlifedepartment.com regularly to stay up to date on this year’s Expo
activities.
-30-
August 20 deadline for
bonus youth deer hunts
Beginning deer hunters have a unique opportunity to participate in two
youth controlled antlerless deer hunts that will take place on private land in
Alfalfa and Osage Counties and are scheduled for October and January.
This year 22 youth will be drawn to receive one of the bonus private
lands antlerless deer gun permits. To be eligible, youth must have completed
their hunter education requirements prior to applying and must be 12-16 years
old at the time of their scheduled hunt.
"These hunts are on private property and should provide young
hunters a great opportunity to see some deer as well as a chance to harvest a
doe," said Bill Dinkines, assistant chief of wildlife for the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation. “The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation
Commission has endorsed the youth hunt program and we are thankful for the
landowners' willingness to allow these kids the opportunity to hunt on their
property.”
To apply for a hunt, applicants must send the Department a 4” by 6”
index card with the following information:
* Hunter’s name
* Date of birth
* Mailing address
* Telephone number
* Hunter education certification number
* Social security or driver’s license number
* Their order of hunt preferences: Osage County (October 1-3) & Alfalfa County
(January 7-9)
* Lifetime license number if applicable
* A non-hunting adult (licensed or unlicensed) who is at least 21 years old must
accompany the youth, and must also be listed on the index card
Youth who will be 16 years of age at the time of the hunt, who are
required to have a hunting license, may possess an apprentice-designated
license; however, the non-hunting adult accompanying an apprentice-designated
hunter must possess a valid Oklahoma resident or nonresident hunting license,
lifetime hunting license, or lifetime combination license and be hunter
education certified, unless otherwise exempt.
The envelope/card should be labeled “Private Lands Youth Deer Hunt” and
should be mailed to: Department of Wildlife, Attn: Wildlife Division-Youth Deer
Hunts, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. Applications must be received at
the Department by 4 p.m. Friday, August 20, 2010.
Applicants that are successfully drawn will receive a notification
letter in the mail about their hunt the following week. The letter will inform
them of their selection and provide details about the hunt and license
requirements.
Selected resident youth will need to purchase a $10 resident youth deer
gun license unless they possess an Oklahoma resident lifetime hunting or
resident lifetime combination license. Selected nonresidents will need to
purchase a $206 nonresident deer gun license.
Any antlerless deer harvested during the controlled hunt will be
considered a bonus deer and will not count against the youths’ combined season
limit.
For additional information concerning the hunts, contact the Wildlife
Department at (405) 521-2739.
-30-
Heat is on in
Oklahoma; so is the trout fishing
This week trout fishing is excellent at the Lower Illinois River
above Gore Landing on surface flies, rooster tails at 1-2 ft. deep and on power
bait on the river bottom.
Oklahomans may not typically associate the heat of summer with trout
fishing, but the Lower Illinois River in northeast Oklahoma and the Lower
Mountain Fork River in the southeast both offer some of the best cold water
angling, even during some of the hottest months of the year.
Both the Lower Illinois River and Lower Mountain Fork River trout
fisheries are stocked with rainbow trout nearly every two weeks, with occasional
brown trout stocked as well. Since both fisheries are open to trout fishing
year-round, anglers can plan their fishing getaway around their own schedule but
also around pre-scheduled stocking dates, available on the Oklahoma Department
of Wildlife Conservation’s website at wildlifedepartment.com.
“Anglers can catch trout any time, but it’s great that they can get
an idea of when new stockings are taking place,” said Jay Barfield, streams
management technician for the Wildlife Department. “Having the schedule right
there online is like having an inside scoop on the fishing, yet it’s free to
everyone who will log on and take advantage of the information.”
The Lower Illinois River trout fishery includes a 7 ¾-mile stretch
of the Illinois River from Tenkiller Dam to the Hwy 64 bridge near Gore in
Sequoyah County. The Lower Illinois River Public Fishing and Hunting Area – Simp
and Helen Watts Management Unit offers public fishing access to almost one mile
of the trout stream as well as 320 acres of public hunting opportunity. To reach
the area, travel north on SH 100 from Gore approximately one mile to the
entrance. The area is managed for walk-in access only. Four other public access
sites are available along the designated trout stream as well. Learn more by
logging on to wildlifedepartment.com or by picking up a free copy of the current
“Oklahoma Fishing Guide” anywhere fishing licenses are sold.
The Lower Mountain Fork River designated trout stream includes a
12-mile portion of the Lower Mountain Fork extending from the Broken Bow Lake
spillway downstream to the U.S. Route 70 bridge. About five miles of the trout
fishery lies within Beaver’s Bend State Park in McCurtain County. Bank access is
unlimited within the state park and downstream to the Re-regulation dam. The
area attracts anglers from all over to enjoy the fishing, but also great
camping, cabin rentals, scenery and a range of other family-friendly outdoor
recreation opportunities.
“Besides the great scenery and fishing opportunities, trout fishing
can be as easy or as challenging as you want, so anglers of any experience level
can enjoy it,” said Barfield. “Whether you want to use fly fishing equipment or
ultra-light tackle and salmon eggs, it’s really a matter of getting out there on
the water and casting a line.”
Because of colder water temperatures, the Lower Illinois River and
Lower Mountain Fork River remain sufficient trout habitat throughout the year,
but seasonal trout fisheries in Oklahoma also exist at Lake Pawhuska, Robbers
Cave, Blue River, Lake Watonga, Quartz Mountain and Lake Carl Etling. Trout
season in these areas kicks off Nov. 1.
A trout license is required for all who fish in state-designated
trout areas or in tributaries of state-designated trout streams during trout
season. Trout anglers also must carry a resident or nonresident fishing license,
unless exempt, while fishing. Starting Jan. 1, the trout license requirement
will be eliminated, and anglers will only be required to carry a fishing
license.
For trout angling tips as well as daily trout limits, season dates
and other trout fishing regulations for each area, log on to
wildlifedepartment.com or consult the current “Oklahoma Fishing Guide.”
-30-
Wildlife Expo
introduces visitors to fishing
Some would say if you have never had a chance to catch a fish, then
you really haven’t experienced Oklahoma, but you can at this year’s sixth annual
Oklahoma Wildlife Expo slated for Sept. 25-26.
The Wildlife Expo, held at the Lazy E Arena just north of Oklahoma
City, provides visitors a chance to fish for free in a stocked pond. Other
angling-related opportunities at the Expo include seminars, bowfishing
simulations, kids casting games, fly fishing and fly-tying lessons, fish
filleting demonstrations and exhibits hosted by Wildlife Department fisheries
personnel. Visitors can speak with experts on a range of fishing topics such as
the Wildlife Department’s paddlefish program, black bass tactics, fishing tackle
and more. Visitors can even sample delicious fried fish at the Expo’s popular
Taste of the Wild booth, where volunteers serve up free samples of wild game
snacks.
According to Damon Springer, aquatic resource education coordinator
for the Wildlife Department, the event can be the springboard for a lifetime of
fishing excitement.
“Oklahoma has thousands of ponds, lakes and streams that are teeming
with fish, and several are open to public access,” Springer said. “Even with the
abundance of open fishing waters, there are so many folks who still have not had
the opportunity to fish. The Expo offers those folks with little to no previous
exposure to fishing the opportunity to learn basic fishing and safety at the
pond.”
Fishing only scratches the surface of the activities, events,
seminars and other opportunities provided at the Expo. Visitors can shoot
shotguns and archery equipment with hands-on instruction from experts, ride an
ATV, attend a hunting dog seminar, learn to identify wildlife and even paddle a
kayak in an indoor pond built right into the floor of the Lazy E Arena
especially for the Expo. While activities at the event are free, visitors can
shop for outdoor goods and services at the Outdoor Marketplace, an area on the
Lazy E designated for vendors showcasing their outdoor-related products.
The Wildlife Expo is Oklahoma’s largest outdoor recreation event,
drawing thousands of people to the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City,
for a weekend of hands-on outdoor recreation and learning. The Expo is hosted by
the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in partnership with a wide
range of other state agencies, private individuals and outdoor-related
companies.
Designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities for all types of
outdoor enthusiasts, the Expo offers something for everyone to try while
promoting and instilling an appreciation for Oklahoma's wildlife and natural
resources.
The Wildlife Expo will be held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of
Oklahoma City. Expo hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 25-26. Log on to
wildlifedepartment.com regularly to stay up to date on this year’s Expo
activities.
-30-
Free “2010-11
Oklahoma Hunting Guide” available now
This fall hunters can enjoy expanded antlerless deer and elk
opportunities and even use a crossbow during any hunting season open to archery
equipment. Hunters also will have more licensing options, and they will be
required to follow some new field tagging and game checking requirements. All
these new regulation changes and more can be found in the new “2010-11 Oklahoma
Hunting Guide,” available now for free anywhere hunting licenses are sold or
online at wildlifedepartment.com.
The 62-page full-color guide, produced by the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation, provides regulations for hunting in Oklahoma as well as a
wide range of hunting-related articles and other helpful information. Hunters
can sharpen their wildlife identification skills, view biological data on some
of the most popular wild game species and learn about different programs and
projects of the Wildlife Department. They can even use the detailed 2010-11
sunrise/sunset table to help them plan their hunts around legal shooting hours.
“It may seem just like a book of regulations, but I’ve been reading
and using the Oklahoma Hunting Guide extensively since I was a kid to get
important information,” said Michael Bergin, information specialist for the
Wildlife Department. “I make sure and keep a copy close at hand all during the
hunting season, and I suggest other hunters do the same. You can keep it in your
truck, and you’ll constantly find yourself referring back to it.”
Sportsmen also can find the new “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” online by
logging on to wildlifedepartment.com, which also provides the most recent
“Oklahoma Fishing Guide,” online brochures and publications, interactive
topography maps and a wealth of other information relating to hunting, angling,
wildlife viewing and other wildlife conservation. Sportsmen can even purchase
hunting and fishing licenses online. Additionally, sportsmen can sign up online
for a free weekly news release from the Wildlife Department that is sent
straight to their email inbox. The news release contains late-breaking
outdoor-related information important to Oklahoma hunters and covers everything
from upcoming hunting and fishing seasons and events to news about state
records, wildlife management, public lands and more. The free news release also
contains a weekly fishing report from lakes and other fisheries as well as
seasonal reports on waterfowl activity across the state.
“We’re always striving to give sportsmen more and better
information,” said Nels Rodefeld, information and education chief for the
Wildlife Department. “When you combine the new ‘Oklahoma Hunting Guide’ with
wildlifedepartment.com and the Department’s weekly email news release, you’re
going to get a lot of great information that is important for Oklahoma sportsmen
to know. Plus, it’s all absolutely free.”
More information about the Wildlife Department is available by
logging on to wildlifedepartment.com.
-30-
Western Oklahoma photography contest open; winner to be displayed at Wildlife
Expo
This year’s Oklahoma Wildlife Expo will include something for every
kind of outdoorsman, including photographers hoping to showcase their work.
The Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance is currently
accepting entries for the Great Plains Trail Photography Contest, and the
winning photos from several categories will be displayed at the Wildlife Expo
Sept. 25-26 at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City. Judging for the
contest will take place at the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site in
Cheyenne, which will be accepting entries through Aug. 10.
Submissions should depict the unique attractions, landscapes,
wildlife, and wildflowers found across portions of the Great Plains Trail of
western Oklahoma.
“The Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma is a road-based wildlife viewing
trail that takes visitors into some of the most unique landscapes in Oklahoma,”
said Melynda Hickman, wildlife diversity biologist for the Oklahoma Department
of Wildlife Conservation, a primary partner in the Great Plains Trail project.
“Unique wildlife species such as the Texas horned lizard, American pronghorn,
prairie dogs and American avocets are just a few of the many wildlife species
that can be seen while driving the loops of the Trail.”
The Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma explores a significant portion of
the state located west of Highway 81. Full details on the Great Plains Trail,
including different routes, maps and local amenities along the trail can be
found by logging on greatplainstrail.com.
To enter the contest, applicants must mail or deliver their
submissions — consisting of a matted photograph, a digital copy and an official
entry form — to Washita Battlefield Historic Site, Rt. 1 Box 55a Cheyenne, OK
73628. Contest entry forms and rules can be found online at owpha.org.
The Oklahoma Wildlife Expo, hosted by the Wildlife Department, is
Oklahoma’s largest outdoor recreation event, offering guests the chance to shoot
shotguns and archery equipment, ride mountain bikes and ATVs, catch fish in a
fully-stocked pond, experience kayaking, attend seminars and even sample wild
game and camp cooking for free. The Wildlife Department partners with a wide
range of other state agencies, private individuals and outdoor-related companies
to host Expo. The event is designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities
for all types of outdoor enthusiasts while promoting and instilling an
appreciation for Oklahoma's wildlife and natural resources.
Whether building a birdhouse to take home with them for free or
attending a Dutch oven camp cooking seminar, visitors to the Expo get the chance
to soak up a weekend of free outdoor knowledge, skills and experiences as
hundreds of volunteers and Wildlife Department employees work to keep the event
exciting, educational and entertaining.
The Wildlife Expo will be held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of
Oklahoma City. Expo hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Sept. 25-26. Log
on to wildlifedepartment.com regularly to stay up to date on this year’s Expo
activities.
-30-
Wildlife Expo gets families
outside
Visitors to the 2010 Oklahoma Wildlife Expo Sept. 25-26 will have a
chance to catch a fish, shoot a bow and arrow or shotgun, ride a mountain bike,
float in a kayak, pet an alligator and even sample wild game meat and camp
cooking.
The Wildlife Expo, hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation in partnership with a range of other state agencies, private
businesses, organizations and volunteers, is a free public event designed to
generate interest in the outdoors while providing hands-on learning
opportunities that cover a number of outdoor activities. Some opportunities
provided at the Expo are considered common and popular among outdoorsman — such
as fishing at a pond — while others, like tanning a buffalo hide with primitive
tools or even experiencing a mock bowfishing trip, will be new experiences for
all involved.
“The idea is to provide an absolutely free opportunity for people to
come see all that Oklahoma’s outdoors have to offer,” said Rhonda Hurst, Expo
coordinator for the Wildlife Department. “By getting people interested in the
outdoors, we are confident we can raise awareness about the importance of
wildlife conservation.”
The Wildlife Expo will be held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of
Oklahoma City. Expo hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 25-26. The event
consistently draws tens of thousands of people per year for a weekend of outdoor
recreation and education.
The event features archery and firearms ranges, a stocked fishing
pond, bird watching areas, mountain bike and ATV test ride trails, Dutch oven
cooking seminars, and even an indoor pond used for kayaking and sporting dog
demonstrations. The event also features free wild game samples, live wildlife,
and a range of booths and activities that provide information, learning
opportunities and recreation, among other attractions. Though admission and
activities at the event are all free, visitors have the option to shop at the
Expo’s Outdoor Marketplace, a large area where vendors will be showcasing their
outdoor-related goods and services.
Log on to wildlifedepartment.com regularly to stay up to date on
this year’s Expo activities.
-30-
