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The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission established the 2006-07 antlerless deer season dates for this fall’s hunting seasons at their April meeting.
“Essentially the dates will remain the same as last year, with only minor calendar adjustments,” said Alan Peoples, wildlife chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “However, we did make one small change. After hearing from hunters in southeast Oklahoma (zone 10) we have moved the antlerless deer day in the middle of the regular gun season to a Saturday, rather than Sunday.”
The Commission also approved the dates and areas for the special antlerless deer seasons to be held the weekends before Christmas and New Year’s Day.
In other business, the Commission accepted a $3,750 donation from Sam Barrick. He, along with several other businessmen and landowners in Carter and Love counties, made the donation to the Wildlife Department. The funds will be used to purchase a variety of law enforcement equipment.
Also at their April meeting, Travis Schnaithman, state FFA secretary, presented the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation a plaque of appreciation for the Department’s contribution to the FFA sporting clays program. Ed Cunnius, Shotgun Training Education Program (STEP) coordinator, accepted the plaque on behalf of the Wildlife Department.
“There would be no FFA sporting clay events without Ed Cunnius and the STEP program,” Schnaithman told the Commission.
More than 400 school districts and over 1,000 students are involved in this innovative FFA school participation program.
The Wildlife Department’s STEP program offers seminars free of charge for groups of 25 or more people. Guns, ammunition and targets are provided through the program and there is a different seminar for every skill level. The STEP program has seven trailers located statewide fully equipped to conduct shooting seminars.
In other business, Assistant Director Richard Hatcher gave commissioners an update on bills in the Oklahoma state legislature, relating to fish and wildlife conservation. A daily update of the progress of those bills is available on the Department’s Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com/legislation.htm
The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Wildlife Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations sets policy for the Wildlife Department, and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
The next scheduled Commission meeting is May 1 at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium), at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City at 9:00 a.m.
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