Page 6 - 2019 JUL/AUG Outdoor Oklahoma

Game Warden’s Journal

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

In May, Game
Wardens Justin
Cornett, based in
Le Flore County,
and Andrew Potter,
based in Choctaw
County, attended
Swift Water Rescue
Operations Train-
ing on the Lower
Mountain Fork River. This training was funded by the McCur-
tain County Firefighters Association and taught by Oklahoma
State University Fire Service Training. Participants included
firefighters, emergency medical personnel and law enforce-
ment officers. Game Wardens train and work hard to support In mid April, angler Zachary Sutterfield of Durant harvest-
public safety. Game Wardens urge all sportsmen, sportswomen ed this alligator gar while bowfishing on Lake Texoma. The
and outdoor enthusiasts to play it safe especially when on or fish was 6-foot-9-inches long and weighed about 170 pounds.
around water. Luckily Nic Sutterfield and Billy Sutterfield were there to help
wrangle this big prehistoric fish into the boat!
Zachary prides himself in being a conservationist. He allowed
Game Wardens Wildlife Department Fisheries Biologist Richard Snow to come
Karl i n Ba i ley, and gather data from the gar for important research.
based in Creek (Photo courtesy of Game Warden Trey Hale, based in Bryan County.)
County, and Car-
los Gomez, based
in Tulsa County, First Fish Alert!
recently completed Jase, 5, landed this
a lengthy investiga- beautiful crappie for
tion in conjunction his first fish ever at
with the U.S. Fish Lake Altus-Lugert
and Wildlife Ser- this spring. Game
vice. The Game Warden Daniel
Wardens received Perkins, based in
information about Jackson County,
people staying in a was lucky enough
hotel and bringing in unusual amounts of turtles. During to meet Jase and
the initial contact, the Game Wardens seized more than 180 get the whole story!
turtles. They also learned that several shipments of turtles
had already been made to buyers on the coast. The people
were charged with illegal possession of wildlife and selling (Reports from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
native wildlife. Conservation-Game Wardens Facebook page.)
They paid fines of $900 apiece and $10,000 in restitution.
Illegal wildlife trade can be big business. Anyone who sees EDITOR’S NOTE: Please help make a difference! When viola-
unusual activity is asked to report it to the local Game tors break the law, they steal fish and wildlife from you! Report
Warden. This case shows what one person who reports can violations anonymously by calling Operation Game Thief at
accomplish in safeguarding Oklahoma’s wildlife. (800) 522-8039. You could earn a cash reward.

4 Off the Beaten Path