SHOTGUN TRAINING & EDUCATION PROGRAM

 STEP PROGRAM
 
     

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History and Accomplishments

The Department started the STEP program in 1995. Department personnel were provided training through the Cooperative North American Shotgun Education Program (CONSEP). CONSEP’s ballistic consultant has conducted several workshops and lectures in Oklahoma for department personnel and the general public and continues to provide technical data to the program as it becomes available.

The STEP program conducts about 100 programs per year. These programs provide wing-shooting opportunities to approximately 9,000 participants. Youth (<18) comprise about 63% while females make up 25% of the participants.

 
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Purpose

The STEP program offers a broad range of learning opportunities for beginners as well as experienced hunters with special emphasis on teaching basic wing-shooting techniques and fundamentals. The program projects a positive image toward hunting and general acceptance of responsible gun ownership. Another important purpose for the program is the recruitment of new hunters for future interest in wildlife conservation and outdoor activities. In addition, the program exposes participants to the use of nontoxic shot to develop hunter confidence in lead-free shot shell alternatives.

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Goals and Objectives 

          The STEP program goals and objectives include:  

  • Recruiting hunters.

  • Providing wing shooting opportunities to the public.

  • Improving hunters' wing-shooting and hunting skills.

  • Educating hunters to nontoxic shot shell technology.

  • Providing shooting experience to Hunter Education course students.

  • Promoting safe gun handling
Educational Programs
 
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    1.       Hunter recruitment and public shooting opportunities – The recruitment of new hunters is accomplished by presenting programs and providing wing-shooting opportunities to various groups that traditionally have little or no exposure to these activities. Such groups include women’s organizations, youth groups and school groups as well as other events where the general public is in attendance. These open public events provide wing-shooting exposure to many newcomers who have never tried shotgun shooting.
   
   
   
   
   
   

2.       Improving hunter skills – Improving hunter skills is accomplished by presenting: 

A.      Wing Shooting Workshop – These workshops are acceptable to any group regardless of skill level. Participants are exposed to shotgun wing-shooting fundamentals and techniques by department instructors. The workshops also provide an opportunity to experience shooting nontoxic shot in an effort to dispel misconceptions surrounding its use.

 B.      Hunter Skills Workshop – These workshops address hunter skills and education in an effort to improve hunter efficiency. It takes participants, from any skill level, through various exercises that enable them to evaluate their personal wing shooting skill, assess their range estimation skill and measure their equipment (gun/choke/load) selection and performance.

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
    3.       Hunter Education classes – The STEP program provides instructors, equipment and supplies to Hunter Education courses. This assistance allows for live-fire exercises as part of the course.
   

Expected Benefits 

The STEP program assists in fulfilling the department’s mission by:      

  • Promoting responsible hunter behavior.

  • Improving hunter image to non- hunting public.

  • Increasing acceptance of nontoxic shot.

  • Continuing hunting tradition/heritage.

  • Ensuring continued funding sources for wildlife programs.
   
   
   
    Back to Educational Programs
   
 

     The STEP program has numerous trailers located state wide with over 100 certified instructors capable of setting up quality shooting courses. If you are interested in a free seminar offered by the Wildlife Department please contact the STEP Coordinator Ed Cunnius at (918) 625-3955.  Workshops are very popular and the calendar fills early. So schedule early. You will need to be able to provide an area or facility adequate for safe shooting.

News Release pertaining to the STEP Program:

     Altus and Apache teams take top honors at the 5th annual FFA Sporting Clays Championship (1/19/06)

Southwest Oklahoma District FFA Shooting Sports Competition at Hobart, Okla

Our largest STEP trailer is capable of hauling several thousand rounds of
shotgun ammunition, clay targets, GP-trap machines, safety equipment,
shotguns, and a John Deere Gator.

The FFA chapters listed below competed in the 2007 FFA shooting sports competitions.

Alex Cameron Dover Kansas Okarche
Aline-Cleo Canadian Drummond Keyes Okemah
Altus Caney Valley Duke Kingfisher Oklahoma Union
Alva Canute Edmond Liberty Oktaha
Apache Carl Albert El Reno Lomega Paden
Arnett Cave Springs Elgin Luther Pauls Valley
Atoka Cement Fargo Macomb Pawhuska
Balko Central High Fletcher Mannford Porter
Battiest Chandler Fort Cobb-Broxton Marlow Porum
Beaver Checotah Fort Gibson McCurtain Poteau
Beggs Chelsea Fort Supply Meeker Prague
Bennington Cheyenne Garber Merritt Pryor
Bethel Comanche Glencoe Miami Reydon
Binger-Oney Copan Guthrie Midway Ringwood
Bixby Coweta Heavner Morris Rock Creek
Blackwell Crescent Hinton Mountain View-Gotebo Roland
Blair Cushing Hollis Navajo Rush Springs
Blanchard Cyril Howe Newcastle Ryan
Bluejacket Dale Hulbert Newkirk Sapula
Bokoshe Depew Hydro-Eakly Noble Seiling
Bristow Dibble Indiahoma Norman Sharon-Mutual
Broken Arrow Dickson Indianola Nowata Skiatook
       
Snyder Vici      
South Coffeyville Vinita      
Sperry Walters      
Stigler Wannette      
Stillwell Warner      
Stonewall Washington      
Stratford Watonga      
Stringtown Watts      
Strother Waukomis      
Sweetwater Weatherford      
Tahlequah Webbers Falls    
Talihina Welch      
Taloga Weleetka      
Tecumseh Wellston      
Temple Westville      
Thomas-Fay-Custer Wright City      
Timberlake Yale      
Tipton        
Tushka        
Tuttle        
Union City        
Valliant