11-09-2007, 08:10 PM
Contributions help support the Wildlife Department and Oklahoma's hungry
The 2006-07 Oklahoma deer season provided more than just recreation for hundreds of thousands of sportsmen statewide, it also provided 51,172 pounds of venison to help feed Oklahoma's hungry. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Hunters Against Hunger program provides a way for hunters to donate their deer to the needy, and funding comes from donations made by hunters and from conservation organizations, two of which recently donated nearly $20,000 to the program.<br />
At its November meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission accepted a donation of $4,000 from the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International (SCI) and $10,000 from NatureWorks, Inc. for the Hunters Against Hunger program.<br />
Hunters who legally harvest a deer can deliver their deer to a participating meat processor after checking it in at a hunter check station, and the processed meat is then distributed to local food pantries so that it can be provided to the hungry.<br />
"The Hunters Against Hunger program is a true example of cooperation among the Wildlife Department, sportsmen, local food pantries and the meat processing industry to provide food for hungry Oklahomans. Contributions from groups like SCI and NatureWorks are a big part of how we make the program happen. With over 50,000 pounds of venison donated by hunters last year alone, it's proving to be a helpful tool in helping those less fortunate," said Rhonda Hurst, coordinator for the Hunters Against Hunger program.<br />
"This is a great humanitarian program, and we're proud to have supported it from its inception," said Scott Holmes, current president of the Oklahoma Station Chapter.<br />
The Oklahoma Station Chapter of SCI also partners with the Wildlife Department to sponsor several other important programs. In the past, the organization has helped fund the purchase of an airboat used by the Wildlife Department on waterfowl surveys and other wetland management tasks, and they provided the Department with a 24-foot trailer for use in the Department's Shotgun Training Education Program (STEP). Additionally, the chapter purchased eight elk for introduction into an existing herd in southeast Oklahoma. The organization also sponsors the Department's annual youth essay contest, which gives youth the opportunity to share their feelings about Oklahoma's outdoors and the chance to win great prizes, including a guided pronghorn antelope hunt in New Mexico.<br />
NatureWorks, Inc. is a Tulsa-based nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to assisting in wildlife conservation efforts and wildlife education opportunities. Its annual Wildlife Art Show and Sale generates matching grants to assist in a variety of state wildlife conservation efforts. Along with the Hunters Against Hunger program, programs such as the Harold Stuart Waterfowl Refuge Unit within the Deep Fork Wildlife Management Area and the Grassy Slough WMA have benefited from NatureWorks' support.<br />
In addition to its donation to the Hunters Against Hunger program, NatureWorks, Inc. was acknowledged for other contributions of $32,200 - including $10,000 to be used for fish habitat work in northeast Oklahoma lakes, $15,000 for paddlefish conservation work at Grand Lake, a $1,200 grant to be awarded to the winning duck stamp artist and a $6,000 grant that will be matched by the National Wild Turkey Federation to purchase prescribed burning equipment for Spavinaw and Oologah Wildlife Management Areas.<br />
Also accepted at the meeting was a $6,000 donation from the Six Old Geezers, a Lake Texoma fishing resource group. The donation is earmarked for the purchase of an electrofishing boat for the South Central Region of the Department's fisheries division. The Six Old Geezers group has been organizing fund raisers - including an annual fish fry, salsa sales, guide trips, garage sales and more - for a number of years to help purchase equipment for managing the Lake Texoma fishery. The group also provides comprehensive Lake Texoma fishing resources ranging from guide services to places to stay on its Web site at sixoldgeezers.com, which has received about 1.5 million hits since its creation. The donation will be matched with Sport Fish Restoration funds. Donations from the Six Old Geezers, when matched with Sport fish Restoration dollars, have resulted in over $150,000 worth of fisheries management equipment for use at Lake Texoma.<br />
Paul Mauck, southcentral region fisheries supervisor for the Wildlife Department, has worked with Six Old Geezers over the years and credits them for some of the fisheries division's success.<br />
"It's wonderful to work with a group of sportsmen like this," Mauck said. "As a result of their effort, we have state of the art equipment to manage Texoma Lake."<br />
In other business, the Commission recognized Jeff Boxrucker, assistant chief of fisheries for the Wildlife Department, for 30 years of service. Boxrucker started his career at the Wildlife Department as a fisheries technician and also served as a biologist and senior biologist before assuming the role of assistant chief in June 2007.<br />
The Commission also heard a presentation from Finley & Cook, PLLC including the results of the Department's fiscal year 2007 annual financial audit. The independent audit, which also reviewed federal grant programs, revealed no findings.<br />
Finally, the Commission set the dates for 2008 Commission meetings, which are as follows: Jan. 7, Feb. 4, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 8, Oct. 6, Nov. 3 and Dec. 1.<br />
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.<br />
The next scheduled Commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 3 at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium), at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City.
The 2006-07 Oklahoma deer season provided more than just recreation for hundreds of thousands of sportsmen statewide, it also provided 51,172 pounds of venison to help feed Oklahoma's hungry. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Hunters Against Hunger program provides a way for hunters to donate their deer to the needy, and funding comes from donations made by hunters and from conservation organizations, two of which recently donated nearly $20,000 to the program.<br />
At its November meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission accepted a donation of $4,000 from the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International (SCI) and $10,000 from NatureWorks, Inc. for the Hunters Against Hunger program.<br />
Hunters who legally harvest a deer can deliver their deer to a participating meat processor after checking it in at a hunter check station, and the processed meat is then distributed to local food pantries so that it can be provided to the hungry.<br />
"The Hunters Against Hunger program is a true example of cooperation among the Wildlife Department, sportsmen, local food pantries and the meat processing industry to provide food for hungry Oklahomans. Contributions from groups like SCI and NatureWorks are a big part of how we make the program happen. With over 50,000 pounds of venison donated by hunters last year alone, it's proving to be a helpful tool in helping those less fortunate," said Rhonda Hurst, coordinator for the Hunters Against Hunger program.<br />
"This is a great humanitarian program, and we're proud to have supported it from its inception," said Scott Holmes, current president of the Oklahoma Station Chapter.<br />
The Oklahoma Station Chapter of SCI also partners with the Wildlife Department to sponsor several other important programs. In the past, the organization has helped fund the purchase of an airboat used by the Wildlife Department on waterfowl surveys and other wetland management tasks, and they provided the Department with a 24-foot trailer for use in the Department's Shotgun Training Education Program (STEP). Additionally, the chapter purchased eight elk for introduction into an existing herd in southeast Oklahoma. The organization also sponsors the Department's annual youth essay contest, which gives youth the opportunity to share their feelings about Oklahoma's outdoors and the chance to win great prizes, including a guided pronghorn antelope hunt in New Mexico.<br />
NatureWorks, Inc. is a Tulsa-based nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to assisting in wildlife conservation efforts and wildlife education opportunities. Its annual Wildlife Art Show and Sale generates matching grants to assist in a variety of state wildlife conservation efforts. Along with the Hunters Against Hunger program, programs such as the Harold Stuart Waterfowl Refuge Unit within the Deep Fork Wildlife Management Area and the Grassy Slough WMA have benefited from NatureWorks' support.<br />
In addition to its donation to the Hunters Against Hunger program, NatureWorks, Inc. was acknowledged for other contributions of $32,200 - including $10,000 to be used for fish habitat work in northeast Oklahoma lakes, $15,000 for paddlefish conservation work at Grand Lake, a $1,200 grant to be awarded to the winning duck stamp artist and a $6,000 grant that will be matched by the National Wild Turkey Federation to purchase prescribed burning equipment for Spavinaw and Oologah Wildlife Management Areas.<br />
Also accepted at the meeting was a $6,000 donation from the Six Old Geezers, a Lake Texoma fishing resource group. The donation is earmarked for the purchase of an electrofishing boat for the South Central Region of the Department's fisheries division. The Six Old Geezers group has been organizing fund raisers - including an annual fish fry, salsa sales, guide trips, garage sales and more - for a number of years to help purchase equipment for managing the Lake Texoma fishery. The group also provides comprehensive Lake Texoma fishing resources ranging from guide services to places to stay on its Web site at sixoldgeezers.com, which has received about 1.5 million hits since its creation. The donation will be matched with Sport Fish Restoration funds. Donations from the Six Old Geezers, when matched with Sport fish Restoration dollars, have resulted in over $150,000 worth of fisheries management equipment for use at Lake Texoma.<br />
Paul Mauck, southcentral region fisheries supervisor for the Wildlife Department, has worked with Six Old Geezers over the years and credits them for some of the fisheries division's success.<br />
"It's wonderful to work with a group of sportsmen like this," Mauck said. "As a result of their effort, we have state of the art equipment to manage Texoma Lake."<br />
In other business, the Commission recognized Jeff Boxrucker, assistant chief of fisheries for the Wildlife Department, for 30 years of service. Boxrucker started his career at the Wildlife Department as a fisheries technician and also served as a biologist and senior biologist before assuming the role of assistant chief in June 2007.<br />
The Commission also heard a presentation from Finley & Cook, PLLC including the results of the Department's fiscal year 2007 annual financial audit. The independent audit, which also reviewed federal grant programs, revealed no findings.<br />
Finally, the Commission set the dates for 2008 Commission meetings, which are as follows: Jan. 7, Feb. 4, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 8, Oct. 6, Nov. 3 and Dec. 1.<br />
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.<br />
The next scheduled Commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 3 at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium), at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City.