Page 5 - March/April 2020 - Outdoor Oklahoma

KeLLY AdAMS/odWC
CONTROLLED HUNTS: CHANCE TO SHARE THE HERITAGE

Frequent exposure and a committed mentor is needed to help a new hunter progress from curiosity to confidence. The Controlled Hunts program
offers unique hunts often outside the regular statewide season dates, such as this muzzleloader hunt at McGee Creek WMA, that potentially serve as
the perfect opportunity to support someone new on their journey as a hunter.
By Michael Bergin, Senior Information Specialist The Controlled Hunts application period will open in
Sometimes $5 is all it takes for a chance at a priceless early April through the Wildlife Department’s Go Outdoors
memory. That's how it is for hunters who enter the Controlled Oklahoma online system. Applicants will simply log in to
Hunts drawing conducted by the Oklahoma Department of their profile at license.gooutdoorsoklahoma.com, click on
Wildlife Conservation. The program offers the chance to the “Controlled Hunts” tile at the top right, apply for the
hunt big game and wild turkeys in prime locations at prime hunts of their choosing, then pay their $5 application fee. A
times, often outside the regular season and for game that never party application can be used to apply in groups for many of
counts in a hunter’s statewide annual limit. High-quality the hunts, and hunters can also view their preference points
hunts, high-quality game and just $5 to enter — there really while logged in. Successful applicants will be notified via
is no reason not to apply! email this summer.
But there’s more. While the chance for a legendary deer or
elk hunt in the Wichita Mountains or the many extra antlerless
deer hunting opportunities offered through this program may be WiLdLiFedePArTMeNT.CoM
tempting enough, consider also that someone close to you might be
interested in learning to hunt. And you might be the only person
who can teach them. Some of these highly sought-after opportu-
nities are held outside the regular statewide seasons and often can
be applied for in groups of up to four friends or family members.
It’s well-known social science that frequent exposure and a
helpful mentor can go a long way in helping newcomers become
committed hunters. And committed hunters are precisely what
is needed to ensure wildlife conservation for the future. The
Oklahoma Wildlife Department and wildlife conservation are
funded primarily by sportsmen and sportswomen through their
purchase of hunting and fishing licenses, as well as by taxes on
certain sporting goods. Quite literally, if active hunters and
anglers don’t share their heritage, conservation suffers.
The Controlled Hunts program is a great starting point for Apply through your Go Outdoors Oklahoma profile, as shown above.
inviting someone along this year.

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