Page 5 - 2018 MAY/JUNE Outdoor Oklahoma

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SELMAN BAT WATCH REGISTRATION OPEN MAY 29-JUNE 8

Some observers have described the nightly sight as resem- visitors drawn from the pool of all registrations.
bling a column of smoke rising from the ground. But in reality From May 29 to June 8, prospective visitors must print and
what they are seeing are hundreds of thousands of Mexican fill out the registration form at the Wildlife Department’s web-
free-tailed bats rising from the Selman bat cave to feed on site. It must be mailed and postmarked between May 29 and
insects all across northwestern Oklahoma. June 8 to be eligible for the drawing.
The cave site is owned by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Admission to the event for visitors who are selected is $14 for
Conservation and is closed to the public except for eight organized adults and $8 for children ages 8-12. Children must be at least
bat watch events on Friday and Saturday evenings in July each year. 8 years old to attend.
People who want to attend a bat watch must register for a For more information, search for “Selman” at
drawing that is held in June. Each nightly event is limited to 75 www.wildlifedepartment.com.

WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT CAN BE FOUND ON WEBSITE

The 2017 annual report for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Con-
servation is available on the website at wildlifedepartment.com. Find the
“Quick Links” box, then click on “About the ODWC.”
The Department receives no general state tax appropriations and is
funded in large part by sportsmen and women through their purchase of
hunting and fishing licenses.
It is a constitutional agency that was created based on the user-pay,
user-benefit principle, whereby hunter and angler license fees fund depart-
ment operations.
In fiscal year 2017, the Department operated with an estimated $54.77
million in revenue. The major revenue sources were annual license sales,
$18.43 million, and federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration grant
revenues, $20.51 million (based on a formula that includes the certified
number of hunting and fishing licenses sold in the state). Expenditures for
fiscal year 2017 were $62.2 million.
How can people support the Department’s conservation activities?
There are several ways, including buying a hunting or fishing license,
buying wildlife conservation license plate for your vehicle, and by taking
someone hunting or fishing.

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