2018 Big Bucks

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2018 BIG BUCKS

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State, Federal Wildlife Agencies Work to Expand Hunting Opportunities

Courtesy of the Wildlife Department

Opportunities to hunt on federally managed lands in Oklahoma have been expanded after recent meetings between the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, prompted by a 2017 order from U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke seeking to improve wildlife management and conservation; to increase access to public lands for hunting, shooting and fishing; and to put new and greater emphasis on recruiting and retaining new sportsmen conservationists.

Federal sites in Oklahoma with greater hunting access now include the Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge, Sequoyah NWR and Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

“Through a great partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oklahoma is the first state in our region to offer these expanded opportunities, and we hope this is just the start of even

greater hunting and fishing opportunities on national wildlife refuges,” said J.D. Strong, Director of the Wildlife Department. “We are eager to continue working with the USFWS to seek out more circumstances where our sportsmen and women can use these fantastic areas to carry on our hunting and fishing traditions.”

USFWS Southwest Regional Director Amy Lueders said the successful effort between her agency and the Oklahoma Wildlife Department "will benefit various hunters. This expansion will also provide new economic opportunities for the local communities.”

Changes for 2018 include: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton has added an additional elk hunt and 70 cow harvest tags.

Sequoyah NWR near Vian has added acres to the refuge's deer hunting area

in addition to opening various refuge hunt units to the harvest of small game animals including gray and fox squirrels, cottontail and swamp rabbits, and opossums.

Deep Fork NWR near Okmulgee has expanded deer archery season, which will run from Oct. 29 to Nov. 30.

Further expansion of hunting opportunities at other federally managed areas in Oklahoma are expected to be implemented for the 2019-20 hunting seasons.

Oklahoma hunting license requirements apply on federally managed areas.

Some areas may require hunters to carry a signed federal permit that is available in hunting brochures at the federal areas. Special hunting rules that differ from statewide rules may apply on the federal areas. Hunters are urged to consult the federal area websites for details or call the refuge office with any questions about the expanded opportunities.

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Wildlife experts raise awareness of Chronic Wasting Disease in deer, elk

By Leilana McKindra / OSU

STILLWATER, Okla. – As another deer hunting season ramps up in Oklahoma, wildlife experts are raising awareness about an always fatal neurological disease that affects deer and elk.

Chronic Wasting Disease attacks the brain of cervids, or animals in the deer family, including white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk. There is no treatment for or vaccine against the disease.

While CWD has not been shown to cause disease in humans, disease experts advise caution as the possibility of transmission to humans has not been ruled out.

CWD is part of the prion family of diseases, which also includes bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, as well as variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, the human form of mad cow disease.

CWD has been detected in 23 states, including Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. It also has been detected in two Canadian provinces.

While CWD is not currently known to be present in Oklahoma, the disease has been detected in captive deer in Oklahoma in the past.

“Chronic Wasting Disease is not new, but there is continued lack of awareness with the public. There is also some misinformation out there that this disease isn’t a concern to deer or deer hunters. Neither of which is true,” said Dwayne Elmore, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist and Bollenback Chair in Wildlife Management. “While it has not yet impacted free-ranging deer in Oklahoma, it has affected surrounding states and poses a significant risk to our deer populations.”

Visible symptoms of CWD include, but are not limited to, stumbling, lack of coordination and drooping ears, but the disease has a long incubation period of a year or more. Those factors leave hunters with no certain way to tell if an animal is infected.

Oklahoma since the state has not detected CWD in wild deer. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has been monitoring for the disease since 1999 and will advise the public of any status changes.

“If an animal tests positive for CWD, do not consume the meat,” Elmore said.

“Also, limiting contact with spinal fluid and not consuming lymph, brain or spinal tissue is highly recommended.”

Wildlife biologists recommend specific deer carcass handling practices to help reduce the potential spread of the disease.

When possible, deer carcasses should be buried on the property where they were harvested. Remains also may be disposed of via regular household garbage collection that is transported to an approved, lined landfill. Or, if it is not possible to bury the carcass where it was harvested, leave the remains in place.

“One of the problems with the disease is the long incubation period. Related diseases in humans may go undetected for many years,” said Elmore, who stressed that hunters who harvest cervids from a known CWD area such as parts of Colorado and Wyoming need to have the animal tested.

Most states with CWD present offer testing, and many times it is done at no charge to the hunter. Additional information is available on the various states’ wildlife agency websites.

Testing is not currently recommended in

Carcasses should not be disposed of in ponds, lakes or waterways; by burning; or hauled to another property where it was not originally harvested.

“This is a concern for Oklahomans hunting out of the state in known CWD areas,” Elmore said. “For Oklahoma hunters hunting in the state, they should be aware and pay attention to the ODWC for news regarding the current situation. But, at present, there is no immediate cause for concern for deer harvested within the state.”

For more information about CWD, contact the nearest county Extension office or the ODWC.

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Wildlife Department Now Offering NRA Online Hunter Education Course to Teach Safe, Legal Hunting Courtesy of the Wildlife Department

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is partnering with the National Rifle Association to offer an online hunter education course to Oklahomans. The course replaces the Wildlife Department's previously offered online course.

Hunter education topics include firearms safety, wildlife conservation and identification, safe archery and more.

The classes help people become safe, legal and ethical hunters. The course is required for most hunters ages 10-30 who wish to hunt without a mentor present.

"This free course from the NRA will allow us to maintain high quality hunter education training at no cost to the Wildlife Department or our hunters,” said Lance Meek, hunter education coordinator for the Wildlife Department.

"We've always tried to make classes convenient for our hunters," Meek said. “The online class is great because it allows students to take the course at their own pace, even over the course of several days.”

The free hunter education course is available online on the Wildlife Department's website at www.wildlifedepartment.com/education. The same webpage also provides a schedule of classroom-taught hunter education courses led by certified instructors at locations across the state.

The online course also offers young students the benefit of involving parents in learning about safe hunting. "I love the idea of the kids sitting down with their parents to work through the hunter safety curriculum," Meek said. "Parents or mentors are a critical part of the process of becoming a hunter."

On the other hand, Meek said the inclass courses held throughout the state are a great opportunity to learn about hunting from a certified instructor in a structured setting.

Any Oklahoma resident 10 or older may complete the online course and print a hunter education certification card upon completion of the online final exam. Youths 9 and younger may take the course for knowledge but are not eligible for certification; instead, these youths may buy an apprentice-designated hunting license. Apprentice-designated licenses also may be used by anyone 30 or younger. Hunter education certification is not required for anyone 31 or older in Oklahoma.

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Archery Hunting for Deer, Turkey, Bear and Others Opened Oct. 1

Courtesy of the Wildlife Department

The 8.5-month-long wait is over for thou- a second consecutive harvest record for deer sands of hunters as archery hunting seasons archery season, reporting 29,094 deer haropened Monday, Oct. 1, for deer and several vested. other game animals.

Rainfall was not lacking over much of “This is an exciting time of year for hunt- Oklahoma during spring and summer, which ers, as it is the first time of the fall when they benefited wildlife, food sources and vegecan get into the woods and try to bag some tation. Deer could be more difficult to spot big game,” said Nels Rodefeld, chief of the with heavy cover. An abundance of natural Information and Education Division for the food sources might decrease deer activity Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conseraround feeders. Hunters are urged to scout vation. “Bowhunters must get closer to be before archery season opens so as to take successful, and that makes for more exciteadvantage of deer movement patterns. ment.”

Oklahoma has one of the more liberal Deer Archery Season — Oct. 1 to season bag limits nationwide for archery deer Jan. 15, 2019: Archery success continues to hunters, allowing six deer (only two of which improve in Oklahoma. Last year, hunters set may be bucks).

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And since turkey archery season is open too, it is common for many deer hunters to buy and carry a turkey license into the woods in case they get the chance to harvest a bird.

Black Bear Archery Season — Oct. 1 to Oct. 15: Last season, 39 bears were harvested by archers on public and private lands in Latimer, Le Flore, McCurtain and Pushmataha counties (the only areas where bear hunting is permitted). The 2017 total was a drop from 53 bears taken during archery season the previous year.

About one-fourth of the annual archery bear harvest usually comes from public lands.

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Archers wanting to hunt bear must buy a license before the first day of bear season.

Turkey Archery Season — Oct. 1 to Jan. 15, 2019: Fall turkey hunting brings different challenges than spring hunting. Since breeding season has passed, birds are not as eager to respond or come to a call. Hunters must adopt new techniques to be successful.

Scouting is always important for any hunting, but never more so than for a fall turkey hunt. Since birds are more silent and gathered in flocks instead of vocal and scattered throughout the habitat, a hunter must be able to pinpoint specific hunting locations rather than simply calling to locate a bird within an area.

Winter roost sites are often traditionally used year after year, and hunters would do well to begin scouting near these areas, fanning out to find feeding areas or loafing areas. Look for food sources such as acorns or feed fields, tracks, droppings and V-shaped scratch marks in forest floor leaves.

2018 BIG BUCKS

Some good techniques include conducting an ambush, watching travel lanes, and calling after flushing a flock.

Elk Archery Season-Private Lands — Oct. 1 to Jan. 15, 2019 (Except Special SW Zone): Last year, archers took 38 bulls and 37 cows from private lands in 12 counties.

Archers pursuing elk on private lands need to be aware of the seven elk-hunting zones in Oklahoma and the regulations for each of them.

Each zone has a specified number of elk that may be taken from that zone. When that number is reached, the zone closes to all elk hunting.

In the Special Southwest Zone (Caddo, Comanche and Kiowa counties), archery elk season runs from Oct. 6-10 and Dec. 8-12 and there is no zone quota for number of elk harvested.

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Also opening Oct. 1 was rabbit season, which will run through March 15, 2019.

All hunters need to be up-to-date on licenses and hunter education requirements, and familiar with all rules and regulations including hunter orange clothing requirements during big game firearms seasons, field tagging, E-Check and legal equipment. Seasons on public lands may vary from statewide season dates.

Licenses are sold online at wildlifedepartment.com/licensing.

For complete hunting season information and license requirements, consult the current Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing Regulations Guide found online at wildlifedepartment. com, in the free OK Hunting and Fishing mobile app for Apple or Android users, or in print across the state anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

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Things to Know: Hunting and Fishing licenses Courtesy of the Wildlife Department

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation receives no general state tax revenues and is funded entirely by sportsmen.

Every time you purchase a hunting or fishing license in Oklahoma, you are helping fund wildlife conservation in our state.

The majority of the Department’s money is obtained through the sale of licenses.

These monies go toward managing the fish and game species across the state.

When you provide habitat for one species, all species in the area benefit--from largemouth bass to turtles, from white-tailed deer to song birds--all species are helped.

Buying licenses has helped bring back the wild turkey to populations rivaling those found here around the turn of the 20th century. It has helped bring fish species to our state that our fathers could only dream of: striped bass, saugeye, trout and hybrid stripers (a cross between white bass and striped bass).

have to wait for your license in the mail. www.wildlifedepartment.com 2. License Dealer - There are over 700 license dealers spread across the state-from sporting goods stores to bait shops, from convenience stores to large discount centers.

Consult the official Oklahoma hunting and fishing regulations for license requirements and exemptions.

Military Licenses: - All active duty military personnel, along with their dependents, have the same benefits and requirements for licensing in Oklahoma.

- All resident and nonresident active duty military personnel, along with their dependents, can purchase any annual resident license issued by the ODWC.

How to purchase a license: 1. Online! There is a $3 convenience fee to use the online application. Residents and non-residents simply apply and print their license. You will not

- Nonresident active duty military personnel may buy a resident annual license even if they obtain a resident hunting, fishing, or trapping license issued by another state.

- Oklahoma residents living out of state who are on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces are no longer exempt from the purchase of a resident annual hunting license.

Fiscal Year Licenses: Sportsmen and women now have the option of purchasing an annual combination hunting and fishing license, which covers the calendar year of Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, or a fiscal year combination license, which covers the period of July 1 to June 30 of the following year.

- A resident fiscal-year combination hunting and fishing license is valid from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. This license costs $53, and is available to residents 18 years-of-age and older.

- A resident youth fiscal-year combination hunting and fishing license is valid from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. This license costs $19, and is available to residents 16 or 17 years-of-age.

12 • Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 3-4, 2018

2018 BIG BUCKS

Deer Hunting

Quail Hunting

Deer Archery: October 1, 2018 to January 15, 2019

Pheasant Hunting:

Deer Primitive Arms (Muzzleloading): October 27, 2018 to November 4, 2018

Migratory Birds:

Deer Gun: November 17, 2018 to December 2, 2018 Holiday Antlerless: December 21, 2018 to December 30, 2018

Elk Hunting Elk Archery: October 1, 2018 to January 15, 2019 Elk Primitive Arms (Muzzleloading): October 27, 2018 to November 4, 2018 Elk Gun: November 17, 2018 to December 2, 2018

Turkey Hunting Turkey Fall Archery: October 1, 2018 to January 15, 2019 Turkey Fall Gun: November 3, 2018 to November 16, 2018 Youth Spring Turkey: March 30, 2019 to March 31, 2019 Youth Spring Turkey (SE): April 20, 2019 to April 21, 2019 Spring Turkey: April 6, 2019 to May 6, 2019 Spring Turkey (SE): April 22, 2019 to May 6, 2019

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November 10, 2018 to February 15, 2019

December 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019

Rail, Snipe, Gallinule, Woodcock, September Teal, Special Resident Canada Geese Dove, Sandhill Cranes, Light Geese, Canada Geese, White-Fronted Geese, COLGS, Ducks, Coots, Mergansers & Youth Waterfowl seasons

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Hunting season safety This article appears in November Family magazine.

Shooting Sports Foundation.

Autumn marks the beginning of many hunting seasons, but whether you're aiming for Canadian goose or wild turkey, black bear or white-tailed deer, all hunters need to keep safety in mind. As they say: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

A five-year report from the U.S. Department of the Interior shows that 40 percent of the population 16 and older participated in wildlife-related activities in 2016, including hunting, fishing and wildlife watching. While hunting participation dropped by about 2 million participants from 2011 to 2016, it still remained strong at 11.5 million hunters.

"Before the start of every hunting season, it's good to review state hunting regulations, check your equipment, review safe gun handling when afield and remember that the hunt's not over until guns are unloaded and safely stored," said Bill Brassard, spokesman for the National

Hunting is a safe activity as long as safety is part of the conversation and all hunters understand proper precautions and responsible use of firearms, Brassard said.

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By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

Gun safety Safety comes first, said Gregg Powers, spokesman for Ducks Unlimited. To avoid hunting incidents, always follow these four basic gun safety rules.

"Treat every gun as if it is loaded.

Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot, and always be sure of your target and what is beyond," Powers said.

For many people hunting is a rich and multigenerational tradition, but young hunters need to be trained to build their

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confidence, said Mitch Strobl of Hunter-Ed.com.

"Being around firearms can be intimidating. The first thing a young hunter needs is to take a hunter safety course to learn all they need to know to have the confidence to enjoy hunting," Strobl said.

General tips To make the experience safe and enjoyable, take all variables into account. Be sure to dress for the weather, and bring all needed gear plus food and water.

"Know the weather. Be prepared for the experience," Strobl said. Carry a firstaid kit and be familiar with the area you want to hunt. Never go hunting without telling someone where you're going and when you expect to return.

Wearing blaze orange is not required in all 50 states but is usually advisable and recommended, Strobl said. Know what the state guidelines are. A flash of flourescent orange can be mistaken for the red of turkey feathers, Strobl said.

Falls In addition to gunshot wounds, falls from tree stands continue to be a common hunting accident, said Kimberly Patil, injury prevention and outreach coordinator with the adult trauma program at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Hunters should choose tree stands carefully, and use a fall arrest system or harness when climbing in or out of a tree.

Keeping three points of contact while climbing in or out of a tree stand — two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand at all times — can also prevent falls, Patil said.

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