Page 2 - 2021 MAR/APR Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

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e all can agree that 2020 was a year like no Be it fishing, camping, hiking, hunting, birding, or any num-
other. And we can all use some positive news ber of enjoyable outdoor activities, participation took off. The
right now. So, here’s some great news that came surge was unprecedented, and our staff stepped up to meet the
W out of 2020! needs of greater public use of Wildlife Department resources.
Despite the quarantines and mask mandates, 2020 was a magnif- Department Director J.D. Strong summed it up with a mes-
icent year for the outdoors in Oklahoma. sage to everyone who took to the outdoors: “Thank you for an
As it happened, the great outdoors served as a great escape for amazing 2020.”
many people needing relief from the new realities in the age of No one argues the benefits of outdoor activities to the mind
COVID-19. “The Outdoors Are Always Open” was the tagline we and body. But in many cases, the outdoor exodus was also of great
chose to encourage folks to get outside and experience what nature benefit to the fish, wildlife, hunters and anglers here in Oklaho-
has to offer. ma. That’s because many more people bought hunting and fishing
licenses in 2020. Compared to 2019, Oklahoma residents bought
49 percent more fishing licenses and 15 percent more hunting
licenses during 2020.
Simply put, more license sales equals more money for wildlife.
Some of the numbers are astounding. Lifetime license sales rose
36 percent in 2020. Resident hunting license sales were up 68 percent
for December. Antlerless deer licenses rose 34 percent over 2019.
Overall, license sales increased 27 percent for the year.
2020 was a year like no other. In a time when Remember, these are license fees, not tax revenues. What many
the world had to close, Oklahoma’s outdoors don’t realize is that the Wildlife Department doesn’t receive a single
were there for everyone to enjoy! penny from general state tax appropriations. In 2019, license fees
made up 30.8 percent of the Department’s total revenue. Federal
grants accounted for 33.3 percent of funding, and various other
sources (such as ag and oil leases, donations and fines) account for
the rest.
So, when we see growth in license sales, we know there will be
more money available to meet our responsibility to manage and pro-
tect fish and wildlife, along with their habitats, while also growing
our community of hunters and anglers, partnering with those who
love the outdoors, and fostering stewardship with those who care
for the land. There will be more public access, more outreach, and
healthier fish and wildlife populations.
Oklahomans love the outdoors. And we love caring for Oklaho-
ma’s outdoor resources. Thanks for your support!

Nels Rodefeld
Chief, Communication and Education Division,
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

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