Page 3 - 2019 MAR/APR Outdoor Oklahoma

LARRY E. SMITH/FLICKR CC-BY2.0

MARCH/APRIL • VOLUME 75 • NUMBER 2

Contents

Off the Beaten Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Go Outdoors Oklahoma System Opens
New Era in Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
By Don P. Brown, Information and Education Specialist
2019 Anglers’ Guide:
An Angler’s Journey Never Truly Ends . . . . . . . . . . . 16
By Skylar St.Yves, Information & Education Specialist

Just the ’Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Wildlife Tech Crafts Traditional Items for Museum
Don P. Brown, Information and Education Specialist
Going Behind the Lens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Shutterbug Biologist Stalks Sandpipers
By Jena Donnell, Wildlife Diversity Specialist
The More Things Change... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Longtime Turkey Hunter Recalls Lean Early Days
By Don P. Brown, Information and Education Specialist
Watchable Wildlife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
The Cottontail Rabbit by Justin Veach, Education Intern

THIS PAGE: The wild turkey was a rare sight in Oklahoma during much of the 20th
century. But reintroduction efforts primarily during the 1960s and ‘70s has resulted
in an outstanding success story for wildlife conservation. A longtime Oklahoma
turkey hunter shares his memories of how things have changed starting on page 40.
ON THE COVER: Any time you go fishing is a great time to introduce someone
new to the sport or to take someone who hasn’t been fishing in a while. We Follow the Wildlife Department on Facebook and Twitter.
focus on building participation in one of America’s favorite activities in our
annual Anglers’ Guide starting on page 16. (Courtesy of Take Me Fishing) facebook.com/wildlifedepartment @OkWildlifeDept

Published by the Oklahoma Department Bill Hale, Chief, Law Enforcement Division Art direction by Stroud Design, Inc. Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 504
of Wildlife Conservation Nels Rodefeld, Chief, Information & Oklahoma City, Oklahoma of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of
Education Division the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. To
STATE OF OKLAHOMA Copyright ©2019 by the Oklahoma Department request an accommodation or informational
J. Kevin Stitt, Governor Nels Rodefeld, Editor of Wildlife Conservation. Reproduction in whole material in an alternative format, contact
Micah Holmes, Managing Editor or in part without permission is prohibited. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation,
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION Don P. Brown, Associate Editor Outdoor Oklahoma (ISSN 0030-7106) is published (405) 521-3851. If you believe you have been
John D. Groendyke, Enid – Chairman CONTRIBUTING STAFF bimonthly by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife discriminated against in any program, activity or
Bill Brewster, Marietta – Vice Chairman Kelly Adams, Joe Alexander, Dallas Barber, Conservation, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK service, contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Leigh Gaddis, Ada – Secretary Emily Clark, Jena Donnell, Jeff Ford, Wade 73152. Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management,
James V. Barwick, Edmond Free, Daniel Griffith, Darrin Hill, Matt Mauck, OK, and additional mailing offices. Notification 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.
Robert S. Hughes II, Bartlesville Jerry Shaw, Melinda Sturgess-Streich, Skylar of address change must include both old and
Bruce Mabrey, Okmulgee St.Yves, Justin Veach, Jeremiah Zurenda. new addresses and ZIP codes, with six weeks’ Printed on recycled, recyclable paper.
Dan Robbins, Altus notice. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
John Zelbst, Lawton Outdoor Oklahoma editorial offices: Outdoor Oklahoma, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma ONLY $10 A YEAR
P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152 City, OK 73152. Subscriptions are $10 per year, $18 for
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF two years and $25 for three years. Single
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PHONE This program receives federal assistance from copies are $3 ($4 if mailed). Any costs of
J.D. Strong, Director (405) 521-3856 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and thus production and distribution not covered
Wade Free, Assistant Director of Operations WEBSITE prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, by subscription costs are borne by the
Melinda Sturgess-Streich, Assistant Director www.wildlifedepartment.com color, religion, national origin, disability, age sportsmen of Oklahoma through their
of Administration and Finance and sex (gender) pursuant to Title VII of the hunting and fishing fees.
Barry Bolton, Chief, Fisheries Division E-MAIL Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), Title CALL (800) 777-0019
Alan Peoples, Chief, Wildlife Division donald.brown@odwc.ok.gov IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the
MARCH/APRIL 2019 1

OutdoorOK-2019-March-April.indd 1 2/18/19 9:33 AM