AUGUST 2010 |
WEEK OF AUGUST 26, 2010
WEEK OF AUGUST 19, 2010
WEEK OF AUGUST 12, 2010
WEEK OF AUGUST 5, 2010
Ancient art of archery a modern pastime and big business; try it at the Wildlife
Expo
Some things never get old, like archery. Though the art of shooting
an arrow with a bow is considered ancient by anyone’s standard, it remains a
popular outdoor sport today, with continually advancing technology and a booming
industry. Visitors to this year’s Oklahoma Wildlife Expo can shoot a bow and
arrow for free and receive hands-on instruction to sharpen their archery skills.
This year’s Oklahoma Wildlife Expo is slated for Sept. 25-26 at the
Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City. Activities available to visitors
include a range of outdoor recreational opportunities. In addition to archery,
visitors can plan on free fishing opportunities in a stocked pond, shotgun
shooting, kayaking, mountain biking, ATV riding, bird watching activities, wild
game meat samples, seminars, prizes and more. Visitors also can shop at the
Outdoor Marketplace, a large area where outdoor-related businesses will be
selling gear and services for sportsmen. This year’s Expo also will feature
popular attractions like wild game calling, hunting dog training and
performances, wildlife photography and more.
The Wildlife Department partners with a wide range of other state
agencies, private individuals and outdoor-related companies to host the free
event, which 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 catching a fish for the first time or building a birdhouse
to take home with them for free, 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.
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Game
wardens inform, educate public while enforcing game laws
“You’ll be surprised the number of questions a game warden will
answer in a day,” said Jimmie Henthorn, District 4 law enforcement chief for the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Henthorn was referencing the day-in and day-out activities of a game
warden for the Wildlife Department, whose job is not only to enforce the game
and fish laws of the state of Oklahoma, but also to inform and educate the
public about the importance of good stewardship of wildlife resources.
Though the responsibilities of a game warden sometimes include
writing a citation or issuing a warning, Henthorn said most contacts with the
public are positive and result in a win-win for both sportsmen and wildlife.
“We’re giving information to the public as much as we check
licenses,” Henthorn said, although the Department aggressively works to ensure
compliance with game laws and to ensure sportsmen know the requirements of
utilizing wildlife resources.
Recently Henthorn and other game wardens from District 4 carried out
a 10-day special initiative at Lake Texoma emphasizing compliance with
regulations, and as a result sold 73 non-resident temporary fishing licenses in
addition to a large number of resident temporary fishing licenses to anglers who
were not properly licensed. Through the effort, game wardens were able to make
positive contacts with constituents while informing anglers of the importance of
possessing appropriate fishing licenses when fishing Oklahoma’s waters. Funds
generated during the special enforcement emphasis went back into wildlife
conservation.
“When sportsmen realize that they are the very reason we enforce the
laws — when they realize that their license dollars are what conserves fish and
wildlife for the future — they tend to see the value in that and get on board
with us, working toward a common goal of wildlife conservation,” said Robert
Fleenor, law enforcement chief for the Wildlife Department. “That’s why it’s so
important that we are out there every day informing sportsmen of the importance
of their contribution to conservation — in the form of their fishing or hunting
license, and in their compliance with hunting and fishing regulations.”
The Wildlife Department receives no general state tax appropriations
and is supported primarily by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and
federal excise taxes paid by sportsmen when they purchase certain sporting
goods. Additionally, when game wardens issue fines or sell temporary licenses
such as those sold during District 4’s special emphasis at Lake Texoma, those
funds also go back into conservation by funding game warden training and other
efforts.
“We want sportsmen to know we are out there working for them and
with them, and if they ever have any questions or want to report a game
violation, they shouldn’t hesitate to contact us,” said Fleenor. “We are on the
same side, and together our efforts can go a long way in making sure our
wildlife is conserved and our hunting and fishing heritage is preserved.”
Each county has at least one game warden they can depend on to
enforce game and fish laws and help educate the public about the outdoors.
Phone numbers for game wardens in each county are listed in the
current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide,” available free anywhere hunting and fishing
licenses are sold, or online at wildlifedepartment.com.
To learn more about the Wildlife Department and the effort that goes
into conservation, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
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Outdoor Oklahoma TV to premier new line-up of shows this month
Oklahomans have been watching Outdoor Oklahoma TV for decades, and
this month marks the start of a brand new season that will take viewers across
Oklahoma’s landscape in pursuit of a variety of outdoor recreation.
Outdoor Oklahoma TV is the official television show of the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation, covering topics ranging from bear hunting
to sand bass fishing.
“Outdoor Oklahoma has a legacy of promoting conservation through
interesting TV shows,” said Darrin Hill, producer of the TV Show. “Being one of
the longest running wildlife related TV shows in the United States, we work hard
each year to incorporate something unique while still holding onto the show’s
past.”
Outdoor Oklahoma TV airs on several networks, but most Oklahomans
catch the show on OETA, the state’s education television network that has been
airing the show for almost 35 years.
The premier season will begin Sunday, Aug. 29 on OETA and weekly thereafter
throughout the fall.
The line-up of upcoming fall 2010 shows includes:
Aug. 29: Jumpstart your dove season with this episode’s look at one of
Oklahoma’s most popular hunting seasons.
Sept. 5: Bear season opens Oct. 1. Here’s a recap of last year’s inaugural
season in preparation for another successful season.
Sept. 12: The Oklahoma Wildlife Expo is Oklahoma’s largest outdoor recreation
event, with everything from shotgun and archery shooting to catching a fish in a
stocked pond available for free to visitors. Watch today’s show to get details
on the event, scheduled this year for Sept. 25-26.
Sept. 19: Everyone in Oklahoma has the luxury of public hunting land within a
relatively short drive from where they live. This episode shows how to make use
of Oklahoma’s public lands for bowhunting.
Sept. 26: Take a look at how the state’s wildlife agency goes about its ongoing,
ever-changing responsibility of conserving wildlife for future generations.
Oct. 3: Tag along on the Sequoyah Youth Deer hunt.
Oct. 10: Waterfowl hunting abounds in Oklahoma as does opportunity to find
ducks. Watch some exciting shooting in this action-packed episode of field
hunting for ducks in western Oklahoma.
Oct. 17: The sport of archery involves skills that can be built and maintained
over time, providing recreational opportunities to last a lifetime. This show
takes a look at a special group of teachers involved in the Wildlife
Department’s Oklahoma National Archery in the Schools Program.
Oct. 24: Meet one young and inspiring hunter with a contagious enthusiasm for
the outdoors who overcomes the odds every day.
Oct. 31: The Wildlife Department continually works to obtain new public lands
for conservation and access for hunters and anglers. This episode showcases a
few newly acquired lands with wildlife and sportsmen in mind.
Nov. 7: Step back in time and learn about two of the state’s conservation
pioneers — Duck and Fletcher — who helped put Oklahoma’s wildlife and bioscape
on the map — literally — way back in 1938. See how they are still effecting us
today.
Nov. 14: The ancient sport of falconry teams up man and raptor for a unique
hunting adventure. Viewers will take a trip into the world of falconry to shed
light on this surprisingly popular sport.
Nov. 21: Viewers who have never experienced the excitement of a waterfowl hunt
will be itching to try their hand at it after this episode of duck hunting
excitement.
Catch Outdoor Oklahoma TV on OETA at 8 a.m. Sundays and 6 p.m.
Saturdays; on KSBI Network at 4 p.m. Saturdays; on Stillwater’s KWEM-UHF at 8:30
Mondays and 11 a.m. Saturdays; on KXOK-UHF in Enid; and on KTEW in Ponca City.
The show can also be viewed online or with an iPod for free by downloading the
show from wildlifedepartment.com.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is the state agency
charged with conserving the state’s wildlife and is dedicated to continually
providing more and better information to its constituents relating to hunting,
fishing, and wildlife conservation in Oklahoma.
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Duck blind drawings set for Sept.
18
Though it’s still hot, it’s not to early to mark the calendar for
Sept. 18 when a number of drawings will be held for permits to construct
permanent seasonal blinds on several lakes across Oklahoma.
Registration and drawings for duck blinds will be held for Ft.
Gibson, Eufaula, Webbers Falls, Waurika, W.D. Mayo, Ft. Supply, and Canton
lakes.
Registration and drawings for duck blinds at Fort Gibson, Eufaula
and Webbers Falls will take place at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation’s field office in Porter, located between Wagoner and Muskogee on
Hwy. 69. Registration for Fort Gibson will take place at 7 a.m., with drawings
to follow at 8 a.m. For blinds at Eufaula, registration will begin at 9:30 a.m.,
with drawings at 10:30 a.m. Registration will begin at noon for Webbers Falls,
with drawings at 1 p.m.
Drawings for Waurika blinds will be held at 9 a.m. at the Corps of
Engineers office located at the Waurika Lake Dam. Drawings for W.D. Mayo will be
held at 10 a.m. at the Spiro City Council chambers in Spiro (510 S. Main St).
Hunters also may be drawn for duck blinds at Ft. Supply. Drawings
will take place at 10 a.m. at the Wildlife Department’s northwest region field
office in Woodward.
Duck blind permits for Canton Lake will be issued from 8 a.m. to 10
a.m. at the Overlook Café on the south end of Canton Lake dam. Permits will be
issued for Canton Lake on a first-come, first-served basis
Applicants for permanent blind permits must be at least 16 years of
age and possess all valid hunting licenses, signed stamps and permits as
required for hunting waterfowl during the waterfowl season, unless exempt.
Additionally, they need a valid Harvest Information Program (HIP) Permit.
Applicants must be present at the drawings to be eligible.
Waterfowl hunting blinds constructed on Corps of Engineers and
Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs are classified in two categories: temporary
blinds (constructed for only one hunt and removed at the end of the hunt) and
permanent blinds (constructed for seasonal use). No permit is required for
temporary blinds.
To learn which lakes allow permanent and temporary blinds, log on to
wildlifedepartment.com.
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Enjoy outdoor fun;
sign up to win free prizes
After test riding a John Deere Gator at this year’s Oklahoma
Wildlife Expo Sept. 25-26, visitors to the event can then sign up for a drawing
to win one of the stout off-road utility vehicle courtesy of P&K Equipment.
P&K Equipment has donated a Gator to the Expo to be given to a lucky
visitor for six years running. Offered as the grand prize at the Wildlife Expo,
visitors need only sign up for the drawing at one of the prize registration
stations located at the Expo, a weekend event designed to draw interest in the
state’s wildlife and outdoors. The Gator can be seen in person leading up the
Wildlife Expo at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters
at 1801 N. Lincoln in Oklahoma City. Visitors can also win a lifetime
combination hunting and fishing license or one of many other prizes at the
Wildlife Expo, held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City.
“There are going to be a lot of great prizes to be had,” said Mikki
Gutierrez, human resource administrator for the Wildlife Department and one of
hundreds of volunteers working to make the sixth annual Wildlife Expo happen.
“All you have to do is look for the prize registration boxes at many of the
exhibits, fill out a registration slip and drop it in the box. It’s as easy as
1,2,3!”
Though prizes will be in plenty at the Expo, they really only
scratch the surface of all that is to be seen, enjoyed and tried hands-on at the
Expo.
The Wildlife Expo is Oklahoma’s largest outdoor recreation event,
drawing thousands of people for a weekend of outdoor recreation and learning.
Visitors can shoot shotguns and archery equipment, catch a fish from a stocked
pond, ride mountain bikes, go kayaking, learn to pack a horse or mule with gear,
sample wild game meat, build a birdhouse to take home with them and even attend
seminars on a number of outdoor-related topics.
“The entire event is free, but the experiences visitors can take
home are priceless,” said Rhonda Hurst, Expo coordinator for the Wildlife
Department. “It’s not every day you can try more than 100 hands-on outdoor
activities in one trip. There’s something for everyone at the Expo, regardless
of age or skill level.”
The Expo is hosted by the Wildlife Department in partnership with a
wide range of other state agencies, private individuals and outdoor-related
companies to promote and perpetuate appreciation of Oklahoma's wildlife and
natural resources.
Expo hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 25-26. Admission and
parking are free. For more information about the Wildlife Expo or the Wildlife
Department, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
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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.
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Calling all wildlife artists: Oklahoma waterfowl stamp design contest deadline
Aug. 31
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.
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Dove season to kick off
fall hunting
Many hunters mark Sept. 1 as a important right of passage
into the approaching fall hunting season, and with good reason since it
marks the first day of dove season in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma’s dove season is generous in length and harvest
limits, plus it is often one of the most exciting and action-packed
hunting experiences in the state.
“Our counts are down a little this year compared to last,
but when you’re dealing with a population whose most recent estimate was
350 million birds, a slight decline will not be noticeable in the
field,” said Josh Richardson, migratory game bird biologist for the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “The birds are out there;
the key, as it is with any hunting, is scouting first and hunting a
location the birds are using frequently.”
The daily limit for doves is 15, which can include any
combination of mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared doves.
However, there is no bag limit on Eurasian collared doves provided that
the head or one fully feathered wing remains naturally attached to such
doves. If a hunter fully dresses a Eurasian collared dove in the field,
it will be counted against their 15-bird limit.
According to Richardson, Oklahoma generally enjoys quality
dove hunting for both migratory and resident doves throughout much of
the season, which runs Sept. 1 through Nov. 9 statewide, except in the
Southwest Zone. The Southwest Zone will be open for hunting Sept. 1
through Oct. 31 and Dec. 25 through Jan. 2. The southwest zone starts on
U.S. 62 from the Texas border west of Hollis, east to Interstate 44,
Interstate 44 south to OK 7, OK 7 east to U.S. 81 and U.S. 81 south to
the Texas border at the Red River.
Along with generous harvest limits and a lengthy season,
dove hunting also provides a challenging shooting experience. Doves can
be found from one corner of the state to the next, and excellent hunting
often can be found on wildlife management areas managed by the Wildlife
Department — some of which have been managed specifically for doves.
Additionally, persistent dove hunters can often obtain permission from
landowners to hunt private land, such as those where grain fields have
been recently harvested.
Oklahoma Free Hunting Days take place Sept. 4-5, during
which Oklahoma residents do not need a hunting license or HIP permit to
go afield.
“Dove season is a great time to introduce or reintroduce
people to the world of hunting,” Richardson said. “Gear requirements are
low, doves are found everywhere and usually in high numbers, and the
hunting can occur in more of a social type outing — perfect for those
new hunters who need supervision or instruction. And with the Free
Hunting Days, potential new hunters don’t even have to buy a license to
try this out.”
To hunt doves during the rest of the open season, sportsmen
need a hunting license. Additionally, all hunters must carry a Harvest
Information Permit (HIP) while afield, unless otherwise exempt. Both can
be obtained online at wildlifedepartment.com or at designated locations
statewide.
“The HIP is the primary way the states and the federal
government estimate harvest of migratory birds by obtaining the names
and addresses of migratory bird hunters so they can be sent a survey to
report their harvest,” said Mike O’Meilia, program supervisor for the
Wildlife Department. “Without HIP, and the good estimates of harvest
that it provides, migratory game bird hunting regulations would have to
be much more conservative. Hunters have always been our most important
source of information for managing game species.”
For complete hunting license information and dove hunting
regulations, consult the “2010/11Oklahoma Hunting Guide,” which can be
found online at wildlifedepartment.com or anywhere hunting licenses are
sold.
Richardson reminds dove hunters to check their harvested
birds for federal leg bands and report them by logging on to
reportband.gov or by calling 1-800-327-2263. To date, thousands of doves
have been banded in Oklahoma, and the information they have provided is
helping to conserve doves and provide good hunting in the future.
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Hunters reminded to obtain Harvest Information Permit (HIP) for hunting
season
With the opening of dove season in sight, officials with the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation are reminding dove hunters
to obtain a free but required Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit
before hunting. All migratory bird hunters, including lifetime license
holders who hunt migratory birds (dove, ducks, geese, sandhill cranes,
mergansers, coots, woodcock, rails, gallinules and snipe) must carry a
HIP permit while hunting migratory birds.
“Many hunters hold lifetime or five-year hunting licenses,
and for them it might be easy to forget about the HIP permit,” said Bill
Hale, assistant chief of law enforcement for the Wildlife Department.
“It’s a free permit, but it’s important that hunters have it along with
their hunting license while in the field.”
The HIP is a primary tool for states and the federal
government to estimate the number of migratory birds being harvested.
The number of permits obtained by hunters not only can provide an idea
of the number of hunters pursuing migratory birds, but surveys also can
be mailed to HIP holders so they can report their harvests and help
wildlife biologists with management efforts.
According to Mike
O'Meilia, program supervisor for the
Wildlife Department, migratory bird hunting regulations would likely be
much more conservative without the help of hunters who provide harvest
information through the HIP program. Hunters also play a critical role
in wildlife conservation when they purchase a hunting license. The
Wildlife Department receives no general state tax appropriations and is
supported primarily through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and
federal excise taxes on certain sporting goods used by sportsmen.
The HIP permit is valid from July 1 through the following
June 30 and may be obtained free of charge online at
wildlifedepartment.com or for $3 at any location that sells hunting
licenses.
Exemptions from the HIP permit include those under 16 years
of age, those 64 years old or older, those who turn 64 during the
calendar year in which they intend to hunt migratory birds and
landowners hunting on their own property.
For more information about wildlife management efforts in
Oklahoma, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
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No hunting license required during Oklahoma’s Free Hunting Days
Oklahoma residents can hunt for free and without a hunting
license Sept. 4-5 as part of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation’s annual Free Hunting Days.
The Wildlife Department is the state agency charged with
conserving the state’s wildlife and, rather than receiving general state
tax appropriations, the agency is funded by sportsmen through the
purchase of hunting and fishing licenses and federal excise taxes on
sporting goods.
The concept of Free Hunting Days is intended to offer
individuals without hunting licenses an opportunity to experience
hunting. Officials with Wildlife Department are confident that, after
trying the sport for free, new hunters will gain an appreciation for
conservation and hunting and will be more likely to participate in
hunting in the future.
“Free Hunting Days provides sportsmen an easy way to take
someone hunting with them because it’s free and convenient,” said Bill
Hale, assistant chief of law enforcement for the Wildlife Department.
“Some people may not want to buy a hunting license if they are not sure
they’ll like hunting. But during Free Hunting Days, they can just go and
hunt. If they like it — and I know they will — they can then purchase a
hunting license and begin enjoying the outdoors through hunting while
playing an important role in conservation.”
Both dove and squirrel hunting seasons are open during Free
Hunting Days, as well as seasons for several species that are open for
year-round hunting in Oklahoma.
More seasons become available to licensed hunters later in
the fall, including opportunities to hunt deer, turkey, black bear,
antelope, elk, rabbit, quail, pheasant, waterfowl, and more. The current
“Oklahoma Hunting Guide” outlines details on all of Oklahoma’s season
dates, daily limits and regulations. The free booklet is available
electronically online at wildlifedepartment.com or in hardcopy at any
location where hunting licenses are sold.
“Residents who want to try hunting during Free Hunting Days
shouldn’t be intimidated by trying something new,” Hale said. “The best
advice is to find someone they know who can take them hunting, and they
can always call us at the Wildlife Department for tips.”
Free Hunting Days participants also can follow up their
outdoor experience by attending one of many hunter education courses
held statewide by the Wildlife Department. The class teaches a range of
topics including firearms safety, wildlife identification, wildlife
conservation and management, survival, archery, muzzleloading and hunter
responsibility. The course is available as a standard eight-hour course,
through an Internet home study course or through a workbook home study
course. Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
say hunter education courses have not only reduced accidents within
Oklahoma, but also in every state and Canadian province with similar
programs. Over the past 30 years, hunting related accidents and
fatalities have declined by more than 70 percent in Oklahoma.
To learn more about hunting in Oklahoma, log on to
wildlifedepartment.com.
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Vendor space still available at 2010 Wildlife Expo Outdoor Marketplace
Preparing for a hunting or fishing trip is part of the fun
of enjoying the outdoors, which is why the Outdoor Marketplace at the
2010 Wildlife Expo is one stop every visitor at the event will want to
make.
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, and the Outdoor Marketplace is a
large area at the event where commercial vendors will be selling their
outdoor-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.
“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 Wildlife Department will be working with a range of
organizations, individuals and outdoor-related companies to host the
Wildlife Expo — intended to promote and develop appreciation for
Oklahoma’s wildlife and natural resources.
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.
With so many different outdoor opportunities, the Expo draws
crowds of visitors with a range of outdoor interests. Last year’s Expo
drew an estimated 42,000 visitors to the Lazy E Arena over the course of
the weekend.
“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.
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.
Log on to wildlifedepartment.com regularly to stay up to
date on the upcoming Oklahoma Wildlife Expo.
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