SEPTEMBER 2011 NEWS
RELEASES
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 22, 2011
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2011
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
Yukon teenager finds lifelong hobby at Wildlife Expo
After spending hours at the Oklahoma Wildlife Expo,
17-year-old Jake Sutton of Yukon knew falconry was the sport for
him.
“I’ve always seen it in history books and thought it
would be a cool thing to do, so the Oklahoma Falconer’s
Association booth really stood out to me,” said Sutton, who is
now an apprentice falconer learning the sport from an
experienced mentor.
The Oklahoma Falconer’s Association has been an
active participant at the Wildlife Expo for many years. Like
other partners who come together each year with the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation to make the event happen,
they operate a booth to introduce visitors to an outdoor
activity and encourage them to try something new. Their booth
includes live birds to give visitors an up-close glimpse.
“My family went to the Expo and I could’ve spent all
day at the one booth while they were doing the other
activities,” Sutton said. “They pretty much told me everything I
needed to know about going into falconry. I made great
connections and two of the association members allowed me to go
hunting with them to see if falconry was really something I
wanted to do.”
Finding quickly he had a love for falconry, Sutton
began the two-year falconry apprenticeship designation phase of
his falconry licensing process with the Wildlife Department,
which he will complete in December. Sutton plans to attend this
year’s Wildlife Expo as a booth volunteer for the Oklahoma
Falconer’s Association to share what he has learned with other
wildlife enthusiasts.
The Wildlife Expo is a free public event designed to
generate interest in the outdoors while providing hands-on
learning opportunities. Hosted by the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation in partnership with a range of other state
agencies, businesses, organizations and volunteers like Sutton,
the Expo is the state’s largest outdoor recreation event.
Some opportunities at the Expo are considered common
and popular among outdoorsman — such as fishing at a pond or
shooting a shotgun — while others, such as the booth operated by
the Oklahoma Falconers Association, will provide experiences and
learning opportunities for all involved.
The Expo features archery and firearms ranges, a
stocked fishing pond, bird watching areas, mountain bike trails,
ATV test ride courses, 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 booths and activities that provide information, learning
opportunities and recreation. Though admission and activities at
the event are all free, visitors can shop at the Expo’s Outdoor
Marketplace, a large area where vendors will be showcasing their
outdoor-related goods and services.
The Wildlife Expo is slated for September 24 and 25
at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City, and admission
is free. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
Caption: Seventeen-year-old Jake Sutton of Yukon discovered the
sport of falconry at the Oklahoma Wildlife Expo and will be
volunteering at the event this year with the Oklahoma Falconry
Association. The Wildlife Expo is hosted by the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation and is slated this year for
Sept. 24-25 at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City.
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September geese and teal offer early waterfowling opportunities
September is a big month for hunters across
Oklahoma, and not just for those pursuing doves. The resident
Canada goose and September teal seasons both open Sept. 10.
Resident Canada goose season will run through Sept.
19, and September teal season will run through Sept. 25.
Shooting hours for both seasons is one half hour before official
sunrise to official sunset. Hunters can harvest eight geese
daily and four teal daily.
Bluewing and greenwing teal are the first ducks to
migrate through Oklahoma as they migrate southward on their
traditional journey to wintering grounds in Mexico and Central
and South America.
To participate in the September teal season or
resident Canada goose season, hunters must possess a resident or
nonresident Oklahoma hunting license and a Harvest Information
Permit (HIP). Additionally, hunters 16 years old and older must
carry on his person a valid federal duck stamp and Oklahoma
waterfowl license, unless otherwise exempt.
All waterfowl hunting is restricted to
federally-approved nontoxic shot in all areas of the state.
Possession of lead shot while hunting waterfowl is prohibited.
For complete regulations, consult the “2011-12
Oklahoma Hunting Guide" or log on to the Wildlife Department’s
website at wildlifedepartment.com.
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Duck hunters look
forward to another great season
Waterfowl hunting season is just around the corner, bringing with it
74 days of duck hunting and liberal harvest opportunities. Full regulations and
details are now available online at wildlifedepartment.com.
New this year, Zone 1 will open one week later than normal to
prevent overlapping with the opening of deer muzzleloader season. Additionally,
hunters will have two extra days to hunt white-fronted geese.
Every year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes frameworks to
states for structuring their waterfowl seasons at an annual meeting held in
August. The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission then approves the state’s
seasons at its September meeting.
In the Panhandle counties, duck season will run from Oct. 8 through
Jan. 4, and youth waterfowl days will be Oct. 1-2.
In Zone 1, which includes most of northwest Oklahoma (excluding the
Panhandle) duck season will run from Oct. 29 through Nov. 27 and Dec. 10 through
Jan. 22. Youth waterfowl days in Zone 1 will be Oct. 15-16.
Zone 2 duck season dates will be Nov. 5 through Nov. 27 and Dec. 10
through Jan. 29, with youth waterfowl days slated for Oct. 29-30.
According to Josh Richardson, migratory game bird biologist for the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, waterfowl breeding and production
was very successful this year in the north central United States and Southern
Canada and hunters may be in for a successful season.
“We are experiencing a rather dry year, but provided we get some
rainfall we should have a pretty good waterfowl season,” Richardson said.
The daily limit of six ducks may include no more than: five mallards
(only two may be hens), three wood ducks, two redheads, two scaup, two pintails
and one canvasback. The daily limit of mergansers is five, of which no more than
two may be hooded mergansers, and the daily limit of coots is 15.
The Commission also authorized the director of the Wildlife
Department to pursue an agreement with the Commissioners of the Land Office to
enter into a long-term lease on property adjacent to Beaver River Wildlife
Management Area in the Panhandle.
In addition, the Commission authorized the Wildlife Department to
solicit and negotiate lease agreements for mineral interests on Wildlife
Department-owned properties in Beaver, Cleveland and Alfalfa counties. Certain
measures may be required to minimize or mitigate the potential effects of
drilling in the areas, and Wildlife Department officials are directed to ensure
conservation priorities are met in agreements with potential lessees.
The Commission also heard a presentation from Melinda
Sturgess-Streich, assistant director of administration and finance for the
Wildlife Department, on the Wildlife Department’s hunting and fishing license
certification process. The number of licensed hunters and anglers in the state
plays a critical role in conservation. The Wildlife Department receives no
general state tax appropriations and is funded primarily by the sale of hunting
and fishing licenses. Additionally, manufacturers of sporting goods pay federal
excise taxes on the sale of certain products, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service disburses the funds back to state wildlife agencies based in part on the
number of licensed hunters and anglers in the state. The funds must be used for
conservation.
In other business, the Commission recognized several Wildlife
Department employees for tenure. Charles Baker, fisheries technician at the Blue
River Public Fishing and Hunting Area, was recognized for 25 years of service;
Dwight McKay, crew leader at the Durant State Fish Hatchery, for 25 years; David
Routledge, south central region fisheries technician for 25 years; Keith Thomas,
central region fisheries biologist, for 25 years; and Brett Gantt, wildlife
technician stationed at McGee Creek WMA, for 20 years.
The Commission also recognized recent graduates of the Wildlife
Department’s Wildlife Resource Professional Program, a continuing education
curriculum for Wildlife Department employees designed to broaden knowledge and
skills in the professional management of the state’s fish and wildlife.
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. Oct. 3 at
the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium),
located at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City.
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Wildlife Expo to feature hands-on outdoor learning and free giveaways
A stop by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
headquarters in Oklahoma City can give sportsmen a glimpse of the John Deere
Gator utility vehicle that will be given away at the 2011 Oklahoma Wildlife Expo
Sept. 24-25. Even better, they can attend the Expo and register to win it. They
also can get behind the wheel of a Gator at the Expo and drive it down an
off-road trail as part of a weekend of hands-on outdoor learning opportunities.
The Gator that will be given away as well as the free off-road test
driving course is being provided by P&K Equipment, a major Expo sponsor who has
partnered with the Wildlife Department on the Expo for seven years running.
Offered as the grand prize at the Wildlife Expo, visitors need only sign up for
the drawing at the prize registration booth at the event, held at the Lazy E
Arena just north of Oklahoma City.
The Wildlife Expo is a weekend event designed to draw interest in
the state’s wildlife and outdoors. Along with test driving and winning a Gator,
visitors also can win a lifetime hunting or fishing license or even a lifetime
combination hunting and fishing license. Other giveaways include a kayak from
OKC Kayaks, four kids’ bows from Heartland Outdoors, and much more. A full
listing of giveaway at the Expo can be viewed online at wildlifedepartment.com.
In addition to numerous giveaways visitors can try over 100 hands-on
outdoor activities like shooting a shotgun or bow and arrow, catching a fish in
a stocked pond, riding a mountain bike or even kayaking. Events and seminars are
scheduled throughout the weekend to give visitors a glimpse of everything
Oklahoma’s outdoors have to offer, from hunting dog training and mule packing to
wildlife identification, wild game meat sampling and camp cooking.
“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. 24-25. 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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Waterfowl visiting Lake Eufaula to benefit from millet planting
Thanks to a donation from the Oklahoma Waterfowlers Association,
hundreds of acres of exposed shoreline on Lake Eufaula have been planted with
Japanese millet seed to attract and benefit waterfowl this fall and winter.
Along with providing the donation of 5,400 pounds of millet seed to
the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Waterfowlers Association
members donated time to assist with the plantings efforts. The Wildlife
Department’s millet seeding program on Eufaula has included three separate
seedings this year, each at a different elevation zone and timed to take
advantage of falling lake levels related to unseasonably hot weather.
“Although the millet program is often a ‘boom or bust’ practice, if
successful it has been proven to have a tremendous positive effect by providing
a supplemental food base for thousands of waterfowl and migratory birds
traveling through our state,” said Alan Stacey, wetland habitat biologist for
the Wildlife Department.
Due to fairly stable lake conditions earlier this spring, desirable
natural foods have become established at Lake Eufaula above the “normal pool”
lake zone, making this the first time in over six years that food resources of
any significant quantity have become established on the lake. On the other hand,
recent record temperatures combined with power generation needs have lowered
lake levels and created conditions conducive to the growth of undesirable
vegetation as well.
Conditions like record heat and rapidly-dropping lake levels can
create a recipe on exposed mudflats for quick germination of plants that provide
little to no fall or winter food value for migratory birds. At Lake Eufaula,
these plants typically include sesbania and cocklebur.
“The millet seeding program is designed to ‘compete’ with
undesirable vegetation and help compliment desirable natural food resources
already established earlier this spring at higher lake elevations,” Stacey said.
The Wildlife Department normally overseeds exposed mudflats and
shoreline areas of the lake aerially by plane since those areas are inaccessible
by tractor. If timed right and applied correctly, millet plants can actually
dominate mudflats, provided they have a chance to germinate ahead of undesirable
plants. Japanese millet, a somewhat "water tolerant" and rapidly maturing
variety of millet, can produce an abundance of seed highly sought after by
waterfowl and other migratory birds.
Seeding operations by the Wildlife Department also were implemented
this year on Texoma, Oologah and Kaw reservoirs, and the Wildlife Department
works closely with U.S. Army Corp of Engineer hydrologists to monitor lake
levels and growing millet stands. For information about waterfowl and waterfowl
hunting in Oklahoma, log on to the Wildlife Department’s website at
wildlifedepartment.com.
Caption: The Wildlife Department’s millet seeding program on Lake Eufaula has
included three separate aerial seedings this year to attract and benefit
waterfowl this fall and winter.
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Deer and turkey
archery seasons to heat up Oct. 1
Thousands of Oklahoma archery hunters have Oct. 1 in their sights
when they will kick off a season of deer and turkey archery hunting.
The whitetail deer is by far the most sought after big game animal
in Oklahoma, with thousands of hunters taking to the woods each year and
thousands of deer harvested. Last year, archery hunters harvested 20,480 of the
109,314 deer checked by hunters, for a total of about 19 percent of the total
harvest.
This year’s drought may have an effect on the hunting season, but
according to Jerry Shaw, big game biologist for the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation, it is no reason to stay out of the woods this October.
Shaw said the warmer temperatures associated with early fall archery season can
be used to hunters’ advantage.
“The high temperatures can help focus deer movement to the hour or
so just after dawn and then again to the final hour of daylight as deer, like
the rest of Oklahoma, try to limit their activities during the heat of the day,”
Shaw said.
“From a biological standpoint, hunters might notice reduced weights
for some deer as the drought takes its toll on food availability and nutritional
content,” Shaw said, adding that dry vegetation is not as digestible or
nutritious as lush, green browse.
“Acorns may also be scarce in many areas, forcing hunters to adapt
their stand location strategy,” Shaw said. “While there are still plenty of very
warm days still ahead of us, hunters should not let the temperatures keep them
from going to the woods. In fact, the smart hunter will use the heat to their
advantage, focusing on available water sources to help increase their odds.”
Shaw advises early fall hunters to pack plenty of water, wear loose
fitting clothing, and carry bug-proof headnets and gloves to protect against
insects during the long hours often invested by hunters.
Additionally, Shaw said hunters should be prepared for the proper
care of game meat that is harvested in warmer temperatures. One tip he offers is
to place bags of ice in the chest cavity of a field dressed deer right away.
“Also, if you plan to use a deer processor, call before your hunt to
make sure that they will be open for you to drop off your harvest,” Shaw said.
“Many processors have greatly different hours of operation for archery season as
opposed to muzzleloader or gun seasons.”
To hunt deer during archery season, resident hunters must have an
appropriate hunting license and a deer archery license for each deer hunted or
proof of exemption. Resident youth hunters 16 or 17 years old must purchase a
hunting license, and all youth hunters under 18 years of age may purchase a
youth deer archery license. Nonresident deer hunters are exempt from a hunting
license while hunting deer, but they must possess a nonresident deer archery
license. Holders of nonresident lifetime hunting and lifetime combination
licenses are not exempt from purchasing deer licenses.
Deer archery season runs through Jan. 15, and archers who hunt from
Jan. 1-15 must possess a deer archery license for the current calendar year and
either a fiscal-year license or current annual license.
The archery season harvest limit is six deer, which may include no
more than two antlered deer. Deer taken by hunters participating in archery
season are included in the hunter’s combined season limit of six deer. Deer
taken from Jan. 1-15, 2012, count toward the 2011 season limit.
All hunters who harvest a deer must immediately attach their name,
license number and date and time of harvest securely to the carcass. Annual
license holders who harvest deer must also complete the “Record of Game” section
on the license form.
Hunters must check their harvested deer within 24 hours of leaving
the hunt area either online at wildlifedepartment.com, at the nearest open
hunter check station or with an authorized Wildlife Department employee Once
checked, the animal will be issued a carcass tag or an online confirmation
number that must remain with the carcass to its final destination or through
processing and/or storage at commercial facilities.
Turkey fall archery season runs concurrent with deer archery season,
and hunters must possess an appropriate resident or nonresident hunting license
and a turkey license for each bird hunted, unless exempt. Nonresident lifetime
license holders are required to purchase a nonresident annual hunting license
and turkey license. The nonresident five-day hunting license is not valid for
hunting turkey.
The turkey fall archery season limit is one turkey of either sex,
statewide, and all hunters who harvest a turkey must immediately attach their
name and license number securely to the carcass. Annual license holders must
also include the date and time of harvest with their field tag and complete the
“Record of Game” section on the license form. Additionally, turkeys harvested
east of I-35 must be checked within 24 hours of leaving the hunt area. Turkeys
harvested west of I-35 will not be checked.
Seasons on public lands for both deer and turkey may vary from
statewide season dates. For full details and regulations, consult the current
“Oklahoma Hunting Guide,” available free online at wildlifedepartment.com or
anywhere hunting licenses area sold.
To learn more about deer hunting in Oklahoma or to purchase a
hunting license, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
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Pushmataha
field tour enhances landowner management choices
Landowners looking to get the most out of their natural resources
should plan now to attend the Fire, Wildlife, Timber and Cattle Grazing Annual
Fall Field Tour Oct. 11 at the Pushmataha Wildlife Management Area.
The tour will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There is no cost to
attend. The Pushmataha Management Area headquarters is located two miles south
of Clayton off State Highway 271, approximately three miles west on a county
road. Signs will be visible.
Participants will gain a better understanding of how to use
prescribed fire, timber harvest and cattle grazing to meet land management
objectives; integrated timber, livestock and wildfire management; stocking rate
and carrying capacity considerations for running cattle; and ways to maintain
and promote overall forest health.
Also included will be a history of the Pushmataha Wildlife
Management Area and some of the many land use and efficiency insights and
benefits that research on its 19,000 acres has yielded.
Sessions will be led by Terry Bidwell, Oklahoma State University
Cooperative Extension rangeland specialist; Jack Waymire, senior biologist and
Pushmataha site manager for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation;
and Ron Masters, director of research for Florida’s Tall Timbers Research
Station and a former faculty member with OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences
and Natural Resources.
“Coming back to Oklahoma for the annual field tour is one of the
highlights of my year,” Masters said. “We had no idea back in 1982 that the
studies we began would still be yielding valuable insights today, or that they
would generate such beneficial additional areas of research. It has been quite
the land-management detective story.”
Masters and Bidwell said research results from the Pushmataha
Wildlife Management Area have been applied to hundreds of thousands of private
and public land in the southeastern United States.
“This research has given landowners the opportunity to diversify and
the economic information to make good business choices and optimize their
operations,” Bidwell said.
The tour is being sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and OSU department of
natural resource ecology and management.
Anyone seeking additional information about the Pushmataha Wildlife
Management Area field tour should contact Waymire by phone at (918)
569-4239, or Bidwell by e-mail at
terry.bidwell@okstate.edu or phone
at (405) 744-9618.
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Pick up
Sept. 18 Sunday Oklahoman for Wildlife Expo programs
Sportsmen should watch the Sept. 18 Sunday Oklahoman for a program
featuring the seventh annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo. The program serves as a
complete guide to the event, slated for Sept. 24-25 at the Lazy E Arena, just
north of Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is partnering with
a wide range of other state agencies, private individuals, outdoor-related
companies and sponsors such as The Oklahoman to host the Wildlife Expo. 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 event is free and open to the public.
“Our sponsors and partners are a huge part of the Expo’s success,”
said Rhonda Hurst, Expo coordinator for the Wildlife Department.
For a full list of partners and sponsors, or to see the Expo program
online, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
Activities at the Expo 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 and basic firearm safety, 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. Expo visitors also can register to win a
number prizes, such as a John Deere Gator utility vehicle, a lifetime
combination hunting and fishing license and more. Giveaways can be viewed at
wildlifedepartment.com.
“In short, the Expo is a celebration of everything outdoors in the
state of Oklahoma,” Hurst said. “We want you to leave the Expo with a new
appreciation for wildlife and the hobbies of hunting, fishing and wildlife
watching. And who knows, you may even leave as the proud winner of a great
giveaway item!”
The Expo is Oklahoma’s largest outdoor recreation event, drawing
tens of thousands of people each year. The 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. 24-25. Admission and parking are free.
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Seventh Oklahoma Wildlife Expo greeted with grateful Oklahomans and mild
temperatures
A grateful Oklahoma has been welcoming some rain and long-awaited
mild weather recently, which has arrived just in time for this weekend’s free
Oklahoma Wildlife Expo at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City.
The Wildlife Expo, sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation and coordinated by hundreds of volunteer organizations and
individuals, is slated for September 24-25, bringing with it nonstop outdoor
action for all ages and levels of experience with the outdoors. And it’s free.
The Expo takes a hands-on approach to educating visitors about the
outdoors. Guests can try their own hand at shooting a shotgun or bow and arrow,
riding a mountain bike or ATV, floating in a kayak, building a birdhouse,
painting their own fishing lure, catching a fish and dozens of other activities
and learning opportunities. Booths and other activities inside the arena will
offer information and resources about a range of outdoor activities available to
them, and seminars and booths offering everything from fly fishing instruction
to wild game tasting will be available.
One visitor will even win a brand new John Deere Gator utility
vehicle from P&K Equipment. Offered as the grand prize giveaway, visitors need
only sign up for the drawing at the outdoor license tent, located by the Outdoor
Marketplace. Other giveaways include a lifetime combination hunting and fishing
license, a kayak from OKC Kayak, kids bows, and more. See the list of Wildlife
Expo giveaways online at wildlifedepartment.com.
Additionally, shoppers can visit the Expo’s Outdoor Marketplace, a
huge area at the event where vendors will display and sell outdoor-related
products and services.
Expo hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 24-25. Admission and
parking are free, and all events and activities at the Expo are free.
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Wildlife Department employment exam is first step to rewarding wildlife career
Recently an employee of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation retired after 49 years of service to the sportsmen of the state,
and the agency commonly recognizes employees for 20 and even 30 years of
service. As one of the longest tenured state agencies in Oklahoma, the Wildlife
Department still continually welcomes new faces onboard who are anxious to begin
a career in wildlife conservation.
For most people looking to join the Wildlife Department’s workforce
as game wardens, biologists, fisheries and wildlife technicians and fish
hatchery assistant managers, the starting point is to take the Department’s open
employment exam, which will be held Friday, Sept. 30, at Rose State College.
The standardized employment exam is set for 10 a.m. in the
auditorium of the Tom Steed building at Rose State College. The exam is free,
and participants must have photo identification upon check-in. Late arrivals
will not be permitted to enter the examination room after 10 a.m.
More Wildlife Department career information is available on the
Department's official website a
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com
.
Individuals may take the exam once in a 12-month period. Test scores
are valid for 12 months from the test date, and top scorers will be invited to
submit an employment application. When a job opening becomes available, selected
applicants from the test register will be scheduled for an interview. For more
information, contact the Wildlife Department's Human Resource office at (405)
521-4640.
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Two
corners of the state boast most unique hunting opportunities
Oklahoma is blessed with a tremendous diversity of landscapes and
wildlife and at no time is that more evident for hunters than Oct. 1. That dates
marks the opening for both bear archery and antelope archery seasons, two of the
most unique outdoor opportunities in the state.
The black bear population is growing in southeast Oklahoma and is an
important part of the state's wildlife diversity. Biologists with the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation have collected biological data for years
mainly from bear surveys and research projects. Wildlife Department biologists
also worked with researchers with the Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife
Research Unit with Oklahoma State University and the findings showed the bear
population in Oklahoma can sustain a limited hunting season. Over the years,
biologists have collected data on Oklahoma bears from these research projects,
nuisance bear reports and now two years of successful legal hunting.
The first season in 2009 resulted in 19 harvested bears and last
season a total of 32 bears were harvested in a single day. Hunters are expecting
another successful season in the mountains of southeast Oklahoma.
The bear archery season will run from Oct. 1 through Oct. 21 or
until the season quota of 20 bears has been met. If the season quota is not met
during bear archery season, black bear muzzleloader season will open Oct. 22 and
run through Oct. 30 or until the season quota is met. Hunters must check by
phone or online at wildlifedepartment.com before hunting each day to see if the
quota has been reached. Once the quota of 20 bears is reached, the season will
close. The use of dogs is prohibited, and baiting is prohibited on wildlife
management areas.
To hunt black bears in Oklahoma, resident hunters must possess a
hunting license. Additionally, resident bear hunters must possess a bear
license. Nonresident bear hunters are exempt from a hunting license while
hunting bear but must possess a nonresident bear license. Lifetime license
holders are not exempt from the purchase of a bear license. Bear licenses for
the archery season must be purchased prior to Oct. 1.
“Wildlife Department personnel will be available in the four-county
hunt area during early bear season to help check in bear harvests, visit with
sportsmen, and to help ensure compliance of bear hunting regulations,” said Joe
Hemphill, southeast region wildlife supervisor for the Wildlife Department. “We
will collect biological data from each bear harvested, including a tooth for age
determination and specific size measurements. Additionally, bears harvested may
be subject to forensic analysis to ensure legal means of harvest were observed.
The Wildlife Department also will work in cooperation with the U.S. Forest
Service to establish several hunter check points throughout the hunt area for
checking bear hunters.”
In the complete opposite corner of the state, Oct. 1 also marks the
opening day of antelope archery season in the Panhandle in Cimarron Co. and
parts of Texas County. The season closes Oct. 14. This marks the third year
that “over-the-counter” antelope archery licenses have been sold. Last year
hunters enjoyed a very successful season harvesting 49 bucks and 12 does.
The archery bag limit is two antelope, with no more than one buck
allowed. Antelope harvested during the archery antelope season count against a
hunter’s statewide combined season bag limit of two antelope, of which no more
than one may be a buck. All other antelope hunting in Oklahoma is limited to
hunts offered through the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s
controlled hunts program, in which hunters must be drawn for an antelope hunt,
or through a limited number of landowner permits. In total 253 pronghorn were
checked in 2010.
Pronghorn
antelope are true American natives. Found nowhere else in the world, pronghorns
are unique in every sense of the word. In fact the pronghorn is so unique, it
is the only member of its family, Antilocapra. Its Latin name Antilocapra
americana, literally means the "American goat-antelope." But the pronghorn is
directly related to neither New World goats nor Old World antelopes.
Pronghorns are the quintessential prairie animal. It is at home in
the wide-open spaces of the American West where other animals may find food and
cover in short supply. In Oklahoma, these striking creatures can be spotted in
the short and mixed grass prairie of Cimarron and Texas counties.
If
pronghorns are known for one thing it is speed – dazzling speed. They can sprint
up to 70 miles per hour, making them the fastest animal in North America. They
sometimes seem to fly across the prairie, covering up to 20 feet in a single
stride. Besides their legs, pronghorns rely on their keen eyesight and sensitive
noses to avoid danger on the prairie. Both pronghorn bucks and does have horns,
although the female’s horns are much smaller than the male’s, which are 10 to 16
inches long.
Mature pronghorn bucks stake out their territories and assemble
groups of up to 10 females each fall. Although brief fights may break out
between rival males, confrontations are usually decided with a few head butts
and a lot of posturing.
The wide open terrain of Texas and Cimarron counties provides added
challenge in getting close to antelope, as judging distance can become difficult
without landmarks, trees, and other indicators of distance. Binoculars and range
finders can be very useful. Additionally, decoys may help attract curious
antelope and distract them from seeing the subtle movements of hunters adjusting
for a shot.
Hunters must obtain written landowner permission before hunting on
private land. To hunt antelope during antelope archery season, resident hunters
must have an appropriate hunting license or proof of exemption. Additionally,
all antelope hunters must have an antelope license for each antelope hunted, or
proof of exemption. All antelope hunters must carry written permission from the
landowner while hunting antelope, unless exempt. For full season details,
consult the “2011 Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
In addition to the opening bear and antelope archery seasons, Oct. 1
also marks the opening of deer archery, turkey fall archery and rabbit seasons.
For more information, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
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Trout stocking
suspended at Lower Illinois River
Trout stocking at the Lower Illinois River near Gore has been
suspended until water quality improves according to officials with the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation. The trout fishery is supported by water
released from Lake Tenkiller. The majority of that water is released for
hydropower generation. However during non-generation hours the only water
available to maintain suitable flows, oxygen levels and water temperatures has
come from an allocation loaned to ODWC by Sequoyah Fuels Corp. That allocation
has run out.
The Lower Illinois River is one of the only two year-round trout
fisheries in the state and is managed by the Wildlife Department. While the
long, dry summer of 2011 has contributed to poor water quality and insufficient
water quantity, the underlying issue is that there is no permanent water
allocation in Lake Tenkiller dedicated to the trout fishery. ODWC is pursuing
possible solutions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other users of
water in Lake Tenkiller. Officials hope that trout stocking can resume once
flows are restored and water quality improves.
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Youth deer gun season offers young hunters first shot
Youth hunters have the first chance at a buck or doe
with a rifle during the youth deer gun season slated for Oct.
14-16.
The youth season is open to hunters under 18 years
of age. Youth hunters must be accompanied by a hunter 18 years
or older. New this year, youth can hunt with an
apprentice-designated hunting license if they are eight years
old or older as long as they are accompanied by a licensed
hunter who is 18 years old or older and hunter education
certified or exempt.
“In years past, hunters had to be at least 10 years
old to hunt with an apprentice-designated hunting license, and
the required accompanying hunter had to be at least 21,” said
Lance Meek, hunter education coordinator for the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation. “These new rules went into
effect Aug. 26, in time to benefit young hunters during the
youth deer gun season.”
Oklahoma
youth under the age of 16 are exempt from the purchase of a
hunting license but must possess a youth deer license.
Youth 16 or 17 years old must possess a hunting
license or proof of exemption, plus a youth deer gun license for
each deer hunted. A $5 youth hunting license or a $9 youth
combination hunting and fishing license is available to 16 and
17-year-old residents, and resident youth deer gun licenses are
$10.
Youth hunters who do not harvest a deer during the
youth deer gun season may use their unfilled youth deer gun
license during the regular deer gun season. Hunters who do
harvest a deer during the youth deer gun season may purchase
another youth deer gun license and harvest a deer during the
regular gun season.
The youth deer gun season limit is one antlered and
one antlerless deer, and the harvest of antlerless mule deer is
prohibited. Deer taken by hunters participating in the youth
deer gun season are included in the hunter’s combined season
limit.
For complete information on youth deer gun season
details and regulations and the apprentice-designated hunting
license, consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log on
to wildlifedepartment.com.
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Seventh annual Wildlife Expo proves appealing to record crowds
The popular Oklahoma Wildlife Expo held each year by
the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation once again drew
record crowds Sept. 23-25 with an estimated attendance of more
than 59,000 visitors. Last year’s record crowds were estimated
at just over 51,000.
In addition to record crowds, onsite surveys of Expo
visitors showed that nearly half of visitors surveyed were
visiting the event for the first time, about half tried an
activity they had never done before, and the vast majority of
those surveyed gave high rankings for their overall experience
at the Expo.
Held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma
City, the free Oklahoma Wildlife Expo is hosted by the Wildlife
Department in partnership with a range of organizations, other
state agencies, individuals and outdoor-related companies to
generate an interest in the outdoors and conservation. That
mission is accomplished through hands-on education and learning
opportunities in which visitors can try everything from shooting
a shotgun to petting an alligator.
Kayaking in a pond built into the floor of the Lazy
E Arena, catching a fish from a stocked pond, or riding a
mountain bike on a dirt trail are all part of the experience of
the Wildlife Expo.
Additionally, visitors can shoot archery, sample wild game meat,
test-drive an ATV, see wildlife firsthand, watch hunting dog
demonstrations and even win prizes such as a John Deere Gator
off-road utility vehicle. Everything from birdwatching and
birdhouse building to seminars on how to pack a mule for a
hunting trip is included at the Expo, and it is all free of
charge.
The 2012 Expo is already slated for Sept. 29-30 at
the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City. To learn more
about the Wildlife Expo, log on to
www.wildlifedepartment.com
.
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Calling all young outdoor writers to compete for outdoor
getaways
Oklahoma youth are getting a chance this year to
share their outdoor heritage to competing for an
all-expense-paid outdoor getaway.
According to Colin Berg, education supervisor for
the Wildlife Department, the essay contest is an ideal way for
youth to show their love for the outdoors and, in the process,
possibly win a vacation in the great outdoors.
“The tradition of hunting runs deep in Oklahoma,”
Berg said. “Each year, when I review the youth essay
submissions, I’m reminded about how important it is to pass
along our heritage of hunting.”
To participate, students must be 11-17 years of age
and currently enrolled in any Oklahoma school or home school.
Students also must use the theme of “Hunting: Sharing the
Heritage” or “Archery: What I like about Archery in the Schools
and Bowhunting” or the concept of the theme to develop a
descriptive essay or short story. Winners of the previous year’s
contest are not eligible. Applicants must have successfully
completed an Oklahoma Hunter Education course by the entry
deadline, which is Nov. 18, 2011. There are two age categories —
11-14 and 15-17.
Winners in the 15-17 age category (one boy and one
girl) will receive a guided antelope hunt in New Mexico, and
winners in the 11-14 age category are competing for a
scholarship within the Apprentice Hunter Program at the YO Ranch
in Mountain Home, Texas. Safari Club International’s Apprentice
Hunter Program is a unique, hands-on course designed for girls
and boys aged 11-14. The program covers topics such as the
history of hunting, the ethical basis of modern sport hunting,
wildlife management, field identification, tracking and
interpreting sign, game cooking and the SCI Sportsmen Against
Hunger Program. There are three sessions — each one week long —
during the summer of 2012.
“If you don’t enter, you can’t win,” Berg said.
The four statewide winners and their legal guardians
will be invited to Oklahoma City to attend an awards ceremony in
March. In addition, the top 25 essay entrants will receive a
one-year youth membership to Safari Club International. The
Oklahoma State Chapter will reimburse trip travel expenses to
New Mexico and Texas up to $500 per essay contest winner. The
winning student essays will be published in the OSCSCI
newsletter, “Safari Trails.” Publication qualifies the winning
entries for the Outdoor Writers Association of America Youth
Writing Contest. Several past national winners have come from
Oklahoma. Essays may also be printed in Outdoor Oklahoma
magazine.
“We have had past winners from all across the
state,” Berg said. “Public school, private school and home
school students can all enter.”
Two educators also will be awarded
all-expenses-paid scholarships for an eight-day conservation
education school at Safari Club International’s American
Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS) at Granite Ranch near
Jackson, Wyoming.
The AWLS program is conducted during the summer and
presents an outdoor program for educators that concentrates on
natural resource management. Participants learn about stream
ecology, map and compass, language arts and creative writing in
an outdoor setting, fly tying, shooting sports, wildlife
management, the Yellowstone ecosystem, camping, white-water
rafting, educational resources and how to implement outdoor
education ideas.
Both the essay contest rules and teacher scholarship
applications are available from the Department's Web site at
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com
Essays and applications must be postmarked no later
than Nov. 18, 2011, or delivered by Nov. 18 in person to the
Department of Wildlife’s Jenks Office at 201 Aquarium Drive,
Jenks. Address entries to: Essay Contest, Attn: Education
Section Supervisor, ODWC Jenks Office, P.O. Box 1201, Jenks, OK
74037. Fax entries will not be accepted.
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Hunters reminded to check burn ban status before building
campfires
Fall has arrived in Oklahoma after one of the
hottest summers on record, but the state still suffers from
drought, leaving a number of counties under Governor and
county-enacted burn bans. With the start of several hunting
seasons Oct. 1, officials with the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation are reminding hunters to be aware of burn
bans in counties where they hunt and to be extra mindful around
legal campfires in the outdoors.
“The fall is a favorite time of year for hunters,
and campfires are often part of that,” said Lance Meek, hunter
education coordinator for the Wildlife Department. “This year,
though, hunters need to be extra vigilant when camping to ensure
whether a campfire is legal in the county in which they are
camping and hunting. If there is no burn ban in effect, hunters
still need to remember that Oklahoma has been in a period of
intense drought, and they should make sure their campfires are
well-contained, safe and completely extinguished before leaving
the area.”
Title 2 of the Oklahoma Statures authorizes the
governor to declare a ban on outdoor burning based on drought
conditions and the recommendation of the Forestry Division in
order to reduce the threat of wildfire, and country
commissioners have similar authority under certain conditions
and restrictions. Bans proclaimed by the governor supersede
county bans on burning, and hunters can see a map of counties
under burn bans online at
http://www.forestry.ok.gov/burn-ban-information
.
For more information about hunting in Oklahoma, log
on to wildlifedepartment.com.
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