Page 7 - Mar/Apr 2022 Outdoor Okahoma Magazine

Game Warden’s Journal

ACCOUNTS FROM THE FIELD BY THE PUBLIC
SERVANTS WHO ENFORCE THE FISH AND
WILDLIFE LAWS OF OKLAHOMA

Game Warden Garret into E-Check. Wardens
Harley, based in Seminole issued seven citations to
County, received informa- this man for no hunting
tion from Game Warden license, no deer tag, fail-
Shane Fields, based in ure to check, and illegal
Pittsburg County, about possession of wildlife.
a man who shot two large Both men pleaded
bucks in a Texas high-fence guilty in court to all
ranch and then brought the charges in Oklahoma.
deer into Oklahoma and The first suspect had
checked them in the Okla- wildlife charges pending
homa E-Check system as in Texas, including two
Oklahoma-harvested deer. Harley spoke with the Texas ranch felony Lacey Act violations.
owner and the local Texas game warden to confirm the information. Game Wardens expressed their thanks to the Texas game
Harley gathered more information and photos of the deer. A wardens who helped in this case.
a team of Game Wardens was assembled to interview people at
residences. Investigation and multiple phone calls with Texas
authorities led Harley and his team to evidence that the man Hunters at McGee Creek Wildlife Management Area report-
had killed other deer at the same ranch the year before. ed a sportsman as missing for more than 24 hours on Dec.
Game Wardens Harley, Fields, and Shay Loudermilk, based in 30, 2021. Wildlife Department Biologist Hunter Redden and
Hughes County, met the suspect, who confessed to all crimes relat- Wildlife Technician Taylor Dealy immediately began a search
ed to the investigation. The man confessed to killing three large and notified Game Wardens Jay Harvey and Jim Gillham,
white-tailed deer and one black-buck antelope inside the Texas both based in Atoka County. A comprehensive search began,
high fence area with no license or tags, and illegally bringing them and the missing hunter was found that evening in good health
to Oklahoma. Five citations were issued for illegal possession of and in good condition. Among the agencies assisting were
wildlife and falsifying information to an Oklahoma check station. Atoka County Sheriff’s Office, Choctaw Nation Tribal Police,
Wardens also questioned the man about other evidence. The Pushmataha County Search and Rescue, Coal County Search
person is a taxidermist who had multiple deer heads at his res- and Rescue, and fire departments from Atoka, Bentley, Caney,
idence. Recently harvested deer heads were boiling in water. Crystal, Farris, Harmoney, Hopewell, Tushka, and Stringtown.
Several recently completed European mounts were observed.
The facility did not have proper documentation, including but (Reports from the Oklahoma Game Wardens Facebook page.)
not limited to confirmation numbers for checked animals, license
information, and contact phone numbers. EDITOR’S NOTE: Please help make a difference! When violators
Harley contacted the man to which the boiling deer heads break the law, they steal fish and wildlife from you! Report violations
belonged and obtained a confession. That man had no anonymously by calling Operation Game Thief at (800) 522-8039.
hunting license, no deer tag, and had failed to check deer You could earn a cash reward.

CONSERVATION PASSPORT REQUIREMENT

IT’S THE Their primary purpose is to provide habitat to Oklahoma’s fish and wildlife. WMAs are purchased with funds
Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are public lands owned, managed or leased by the Wildlife Department.

generated through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. Because ODWC follows a user-pay/public-benefit
model, WMA visitors must have a valid Oklahoma hunting or fishing license (unless exempt). People who don’t
have a hunting or fishing license may buy an annual Conservation Passport, currently priced at $26, in order to
legally visit WMAs. But there’s a better deal: an annual resident fishing or hunting license costs $25 and qualifies
the Wildlife Department to receive additional federal funds. And these regular licenses provide WMA access,
plus the added privilege of hunting or fishing!
— Smokey Solis, Communication and Education Specialist

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