Agriculture Outdoors Fall 2022 & TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS Agricultural Insights Area Lakes & River Maps Hunting & Fishing Regulations
2 • Fall 2022, Agriculture & Outdoors
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Around Nature Conservancy – J.T. Nick el Family Nature & Wildlife Preserve –they’ll kill a few.”
4 • Fall 2022, Agriculture & Outdoors
Game warden offers tips for hunters, fishers
Deer season starts Oct. 1 and goes to Jan. 15. Cody Youngblood, a game warden at the Oklahoma Depart ment of Wildlife Conservation, recommends that locals review regulations.
By BRIAN D. KING news@tahlequahdailypress.com
Hunters around the county are gear ing up for deer season, which runs from Oct. 1, 2022, to Jan 15, 2023, and Cody Youngblood, a game warden at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, has offered suggestions to those seeking to bag a big one this year.Elk season is also coming up, but Youngblood said deer season in Chero kee County is much more popular be cause elk season is limited to private properties. Those interested in hunt ing elk must get permission from the propertyTahlequahowner.falls within the ODWC’s Northeast Region, which will distribute up to 20 tags for elk this season. Young blood said most of the time, tags go un used.“Usually, we don’t meet our quota. There are just a few spots that have elk, and landowners have to give them per mission for those who hunt them. Being private properties, it is kind of limited,” Youngblood said. “In Braggs, they kill a few. In Cookson, they’ll kill a few.
The region has no quota for deer.
The class will take place in Tahlequah at the Cornerstone Fellowship Church on Sept. 17 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Youngblood said new regulations for largemouth and smallmouth bass will take effect in September. With a state wide limit of six fish per day, only one may exceed 16 inches in length. Excep tions will be made for fishing competi tions. Other popular fish include crap pie, rainbow and brown trout, saugeye and walleye, white and striped bass, and blue and channel catfish. Other fish are nongame. Anglers must fish with a license and must obtain permission to fish on pri vate land. To find out about best fishing spots, Youngblood recommends check ing out different Facebook groups, such as Tenkiller Fishing Report.
Fishing season is open year-round.
The ODWC will host a hunter educa tion class before deer season starts.
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“We go over regulations and hunter safety. You can attend it online. We offer it in person before deer season starts in September,” said Youngblood.
Agriculture & Outdoors, Fall 2022 • 5
Popular public hunting sites in the Northeast region include Barren Fork WMA, Camp Gruber, Cherokee GMA, Cherokee PHA, Cookson WMA, Deep Fork WMA, Fort Gibson PHA, and Low er Illinois River PFHA.
Hunters need to obtain a license and a tag, which can be purchased at the ODWC website, Walmart, or Atwoods.
“People can get to see what fish are biting on,” he said.
“It’s a good idea for people to come out and learn about the new regulations before going out,” said Youngblood. “It never hurts to refresh on the regula tions.”For more information, visit the ODWC website. For licenses, hunt ers should visit the ODWC website at com.https://www.wildlifedepartment. 17642 S. Muskogee Ave, Tahlequah, OK 74464 918-458-0733 www.xpressequipment.com
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The president of TFM, Marla Saeger, helps organize events annually.
“We are open ‘til the end of October,” said Saeger. “We will be doing mini-mar kets at the elementary schools from Aug. 23 to Sept. 6.”
“The Farmers’ Market is a great place to find locally grown fruits and vegetables along with handcrafted products,” said Landry. “This supports local vendors and their passions. It also builds community relations.”Landry’s products themselves are wid er-ranging than simply honey.
TFM brings local products from farm to table
In an ever-increasing automated and mass production-reliant society, many Americans are refocusing on efforts to support and sustain local production as a means of reviving community and rerout ing wealth and health to their areas.
By MADELINE ANELE news@tahlequahdailypress.com
The mini-markets allow elementary stu dents from the Tahlequah Public School District to experience a piece of local ag riculture. Many different vendors from the area get a chance to show the community their goods through the market alone.
M3 Bee Farm, operated by Micahael Landry, is contributing greatly to the local agricultural industry by managing over 100 hives of needed bees.
“The honey and wax products come from our hives. I have been a beekeeper for 10 years and have a passion to sup port the dwindling bee population,” said Landry. “Currently I instruct two different beekeepers’ classes. One at Northeastern Beekeepers Association and two at ICTC in Tahlequah and Muskogee. I always en joy talking about bees.” Other passions are apparent at the Tahlequah Farmers’ Market, as well as the quality and level of care that local entre preneurs and craftspeople put into their products.Nancy James owns and operates Clear Creek Wellness, and 2022 has been the first year she began participating in the market.“Itis important to support the local farmers and you know where your food
Local farmers’ markets are seeing a re awakening in the demand for local goods to reach local hands. The Tahlequah Farmers’ Market is an example of the community coming together to support farmers, artists, and entrepreneurs as they seek to contribute their unique goods, which bring a multitude of benefits to the area and the locals themselves.
“When I decided to make my herbal products for the larger community, the market seemed like a logical place to build a cli ent base,” said Hibbs. “My prod ucts are made in small batches here in Tahlequah; the ingre dients are organic and locally sourced.” Honey sticks are a popular product sold by M3 Bee Farms.
Michael Landry explains the M3 Bee Farm products to customers.
Agriculture & Outdoors, Fall 2022 • 7 comes from and you get better quality,” said James. “I sell aro matherapy lye soaps, essential oil mixtures, handmade bead bracelets, and house plants. My soaps are all very good for the skin and leave no chemical resi due.”Another vendor, Tabatha Hibbs, is business owner of Wise Cat Apothecary. Hibbs had been a customer of the market for years, and even served on the board of directors for a time. Participating as a vendor was a natural next step.
8 • Fall 2022, Agriculture & Outdoors
“The lake and river both provide op portunities for nutrients for plants to grow. Local nurseries pump water to plants and especially in the Fort Gibson bottoms, there are opportunities to use the water
By MADELINE ANELE news@tahlequahdailypress.com
locals are unaware of the many operations by organizations that contrib ute to the maintenance, beautification, and regulation of such critical natural features as local lakes and rivers. The Grand River Dam Au thority, is re sponsible for many opera tions in
The GRDA works with local govern mental bodies as well as Tahlequah to benefit communities and make plans for disaster aversions related to bodies of water.George Kellner, a local farmer and former agriculture educator of 13 uniqueareabelievesyears,thishasben efits because of the Illinois River and Lake Ten killer.“It’s truly unusual to live in a place where we have the benefits of both a lake and a river nearby. Water has al ways played a huge part in the success of agriculture, from the earliest irrigation systems of thousands of years ago, to the way we manipulate water today,” said Kellner.Kellner isn’t the only agriculture pro fessional who recognizes the importance of water. Carl Wallace is agriculture edu cator at Tahlequah High School.
LakeRivertheingarea,TahlequahtheincludthoseonIllinoisandTenkiller.TheGRDAis not a local organization, but rather a long-standing statewide ini tiative. Laura Townsend is a manager of marketing for the GRDA. “We have a 24-county service area,” saidTheTownsend.GRDAhas been in operation since its inception through the Oklahoma Leg islature in April 1935 as a means of con trolling hydroelectric operations, as well as flood control for much of Oklahoma’s Green Country. The rivers and lakes that make Tahle quah such a popular tourist destination are responsible generating revenue to the local economy. Because of this, GRDA is also associated with monitoring entities such as the float companies and other recreationally-based businesses along the Illinois River.
Tahlequah is known for many differ ent features, and among them are the numerous bodies of water dotting Green Country.Often
GRDA, other organizations help keep water bodies key to area enterprise, tourism
Agriculture & Outdoors, Fall 2022 • 9 for irrigation,” said Wallace. “The natural result is an avenue to mitigate flooding.”
He adds, “Don’t forget to stock up on some steel shot ammunition before theAseason.”hunting friend since college days, Danny Thies of Sapulpa, noted that teal “can be easy to decoy with the right set up and “Theylocation.”donot usually require large spreads to be successful,” he explains. “Bagging a bluewing teal can be a trophy all its own. This is what the early season is designed for. The bonus of a honker is also an added pursuit so always include one or two goose decoys. This will make your spread more attractive to water fowl.”Although I’m not much of a water fowler anymore, fall is my favorite time of year.
A view of Lake Tenkiller from the dam managed by GRDA.
The local water sources provide not only fun and the revenue tourism brings to the area, but also offer many needed resources for agricultural benefit.“I start off a few months before the season scout ing for good possible morning and eve ning feed areas along with secludedplac es that have enough water for ducks and geese to land,” he said. “I get out all my decoys and guns and start cleaning, mak ing sure my gear is ready to work when I need it the most. I also prepare my layout blinds, my boat and boat engine.”
10 • Fall 2022, Agriculture & Outdoors
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Squirrel, rabbit, or prairie dog hunters require a hunting license. Hogs are considered pests and hunting licenses are not required to hunt them, except on public lands; however, those who pursue feral swine during big game
Hunting season is quickly approach ing, and the Northeast Region of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Con servation will welcome all enthusiasts.
14 • Fall 2022, Agriculture & Outdoors Hunting seasons detailed
Deer muzzleloader hunters must ob tain a hunting license and a deer muzzle loader license for antlered or antlerless deer for each deer hunted. Gun hunters need a hunting license and a deer gun license for antlered or antlerless deer for each animal. Holiday antlerless licenses will also be issued for those with a li cense.Elkseason runs the same dates as deer season, and hunters will need a hunting license and an elk license for each elk hunted, in addition to written landowner permission. Antelope archery season runs from Oct. 1-14, and hunters will need a hunting and an antelope license, as well as written landowner permis sion. Gun hunting is Sept. 1-4 for either gender, 5-14 for doe only, and Nov. 26, 2022, to Jan. 15, 2023, for doe only. Bear archers will need a hunting li cense and bear license, which must be purchased prior to the start of archery season. Muzzleloaders need a hunting license and bear license, which must be purchased prior to muzzleloader season. An unfilled bear archery license will also be valid for muzzleloaders. Archery sea son is Oct. 1-16 and muzzleloader sea son is Oct. 22-30.
Deer hunting season runs from Oct. 1, 2022, to Jan. 15, 2023. Archers must ob tain a hunting license and a deer archery license for each deer hunted. Youth gun is open for youth 16-17. Youth younger than 16 are exempt from a license.
By BRIAN D. KING news@tahlequahdailypress.com
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16 • Fall 2022, Agriculture & Outdoors gun or muzzleloader seasons must have appropriate licensing. Quail and pheasant hunters require a hunting license only. Archers pursuing turkeys will require a hunting license and a fall turkey license, as well as fall gun hunters. In the spring, hunting licenses and spring turkey licens es will be required for each bird hunted, except for youth. Fall archery season is Oct. 1, 2022, to Jan. 15, 2023. Gun sea son is Oct. 29 to Nov. 18. Spring season is April 16 to May 16, 2023. Dove, rail, gallinule, woodcock, and common snipe hunters need a hunting license and a Harvest Information Pro gram permit. Dove season is Sept. 1 to Oct. 31 and Dec. 1-29. Woodcock sea son is Oct. 30 to Dec. 13. Rail season is Sept. 1 to Nov. 9. Snipe season is Oct. 1, 2022, to Jan 15, 2023. Gallinule season is Sept. 1 to Nov. 9. Teal, resident Canada goose, and wa terfowl hunters will need a hunting li cense and HIP permit, as well as a state waterfowl stamp and federal migratory bird stamp. Duck, mergansers, and coot season is Nov. 12-27 and Dec. 3, 2022, to Jan 29, 2023. Youth, veteran, and ac tive military waterfowl days are Nov. 5 and Feb. 4, 2023. Teal season is Sept. 10-25, Canada goose season is Sept. 10-19, white-front ed goose season is Nov. 5-27 and Dec. 3, 2022, to Feb. 5, 2023, and sandhill crane season is Oct. 22, 2022, to Jan. 22, 2023, west of I-35 only.
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TheGrand RiverDam Authorityunderstands this andthatiswhy our Scenic RiverOperationsTeamisatwork, ever yday,to protect,enhance and preser ve thesewaters. Notonlyisthatour mission, but also ourpassion. After all,welive, work andplayheretoo. For moreinformation about the Illinois River and other waters of GRDA, visit us at www.grda.com.
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