01-12-2007, 11:10 PM
A recent six-year study of hunting and fishing license sales in Oklahoma shows that the number of certified hunters is rising slightly and that participation in hunting and fishing activities continue to be popular Oklahoma pastimes.
Researchers took a detailed look into annual and lifetime license sales, annual license renewal rates, ages and household incomes of sportsmen and other factors. The study revealed that participation in hunting and fishing is steady, but that continued growth in the popularity of both sports is needed to keep up with the state's rising population.<br />
Greg Summers, fisheries research supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, presented the findings to the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission at its monthly meeting Jan. 8.<br />
"Participation in hunting and fishing is stable," Summers said. "Oklahoma has strong traditions, but we want to make sure as many Oklahomans as possible get involved in hunting and fishing and enjoy all that Oklahoma's outdoors have to offer. Conservation depends on it."<br />
In Oklahoma, about half the state's annual hunting and fishing license holders renew their licenses in consecutive years. While some do not hunt or fish in back-to-back years, annual license sales remain stable because other sportsmen come back into the sport after a year or more absence. The study shows that 43 percent of the total number of licensed resident anglers and 24 percent of licensed resident hunters are annual license holders. Despite a decrease in annual license sales over the years and sometimes inconsistent annual license renewal by sportsmen, Summers said lifetime and senior citizen license holders help keep participation steady. Oklahoma is one of the most stable among its neighboring states in per capita license sales. The study also shows that states such as Arkansas, Kansas and Texas also face stable numbers of participants in spite of growing populations.<br />
The Wildlife Department is working on ways to maintain and increase participation in hunting and fishing as a key to sound conservation. Department officials encourage hunters and anglers who have not been active in recent years to once again take to the outdoors, and they urge newcomers to stay involved. Officials also remind sportsmen of the value in hunting and fishing as a way to spend time with family and connect with the outdoors.<br />
"We're not selling fish and deer," said Greg Duffy, director of the Wildlife Department regarding license sales. "We're selling experiences. Spending time outdoors and sharing memories with your friends and family is what hunting and fishing is all about."<br />
Department officials plan to continue studying license sale trends in an effort to increase future participation in hunting and fishing and to encourage continued participation by young or new sportsmen.<br />
The Wildlife Department receives no general state tax revenues, and conservation in Oklahoma is funded by the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses by sportsmen, along with special federal excise taxes they pay on sporting goods.<br />
In other business, the Commission voted to accept $824,570 for a five-year oil and gas lease on the Atoka Wildlife Management Area in Atoka County.<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 set for 9 a.m. Feb. 5 at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium) located at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City.
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Wildlife technical advisory committee meets to review conservation projects<br />
Red-cockaded woodpeckers, big-eared bats, rich mountain salamanders, neosho mussels and other rare species as well as a wealth of much more common wildlife all make homes in the rich habitats of Oklahoma, and dedicated wildlife enthusiasts work all year long to ensure they each receive the conservation attention they need.<br />
About 55 wildlife enthusiasts met recently at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman to review the year's conservation accomplishments and to share information about various projects being funded by the State Wildlife Grant Program. The annual meeting served as a gathering of the nongame wildlife technical advisory committee, a group of recognized wildlife experts who lend expertise to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Wildlife Diversity Program. Committee members provide a wealth of knowledge about habitat, birds, mammals, fish, mussels, reptiles, amphibians and other species of wildlife.<br />
Committee members partner with Department officials to conduct a number of projects funded by the State Wildlife Grant Program that lead to greater knowledge and understanding of sound conservation.<br />
"Several wildlife enthusiasts are focusing on important conservation needs across Oklahoma, and the Wildlife Diversity Program benefits from their dedication and knowledge," said Julianne Hoagland, senior biologist for the Department's Wildlife Diversity Program and coordinator for the annual advisory committee meeting.<br />
The committee communicates all year long with Department officials concerning the Wildlife Diversity Program, but the formal meeting is held once a year to establish contacts, report accomplishments and learn about the various projects being conducted.<br />
"About 20 projects funded by the State Wildlife Grant Program were represented at this year's annual meeting," Hoagland said. "The annual meeting plays an important role in the Department's Wildlife Diversity Program through the sharing of information among committee members and State Wildlife Grant project investigators."<br />
Some of the presentations and projects discussed at the meeting were delivered and conducted by graduate students, professors and others whose projects receive funding from the State Wildlife Grant Program.<br />
The committee has been relied upon in the past by the Department to review technical information as well as to study maps for conservation purposes.<br />
To learn more about the Department's Wildlife Diversity Program, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
Researchers took a detailed look into annual and lifetime license sales, annual license renewal rates, ages and household incomes of sportsmen and other factors. The study revealed that participation in hunting and fishing is steady, but that continued growth in the popularity of both sports is needed to keep up with the state's rising population.<br />
Greg Summers, fisheries research supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, presented the findings to the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission at its monthly meeting Jan. 8.<br />
"Participation in hunting and fishing is stable," Summers said. "Oklahoma has strong traditions, but we want to make sure as many Oklahomans as possible get involved in hunting and fishing and enjoy all that Oklahoma's outdoors have to offer. Conservation depends on it."<br />
In Oklahoma, about half the state's annual hunting and fishing license holders renew their licenses in consecutive years. While some do not hunt or fish in back-to-back years, annual license sales remain stable because other sportsmen come back into the sport after a year or more absence. The study shows that 43 percent of the total number of licensed resident anglers and 24 percent of licensed resident hunters are annual license holders. Despite a decrease in annual license sales over the years and sometimes inconsistent annual license renewal by sportsmen, Summers said lifetime and senior citizen license holders help keep participation steady. Oklahoma is one of the most stable among its neighboring states in per capita license sales. The study also shows that states such as Arkansas, Kansas and Texas also face stable numbers of participants in spite of growing populations.<br />
The Wildlife Department is working on ways to maintain and increase participation in hunting and fishing as a key to sound conservation. Department officials encourage hunters and anglers who have not been active in recent years to once again take to the outdoors, and they urge newcomers to stay involved. Officials also remind sportsmen of the value in hunting and fishing as a way to spend time with family and connect with the outdoors.<br />
"We're not selling fish and deer," said Greg Duffy, director of the Wildlife Department regarding license sales. "We're selling experiences. Spending time outdoors and sharing memories with your friends and family is what hunting and fishing is all about."<br />
Department officials plan to continue studying license sale trends in an effort to increase future participation in hunting and fishing and to encourage continued participation by young or new sportsmen.<br />
The Wildlife Department receives no general state tax revenues, and conservation in Oklahoma is funded by the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses by sportsmen, along with special federal excise taxes they pay on sporting goods.<br />
In other business, the Commission voted to accept $824,570 for a five-year oil and gas lease on the Atoka Wildlife Management Area in Atoka County.<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 set for 9 a.m. Feb. 5 at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium) located at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City.
-30-
Wildlife technical advisory committee meets to review conservation projects<br />
Red-cockaded woodpeckers, big-eared bats, rich mountain salamanders, neosho mussels and other rare species as well as a wealth of much more common wildlife all make homes in the rich habitats of Oklahoma, and dedicated wildlife enthusiasts work all year long to ensure they each receive the conservation attention they need.<br />
About 55 wildlife enthusiasts met recently at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman to review the year's conservation accomplishments and to share information about various projects being funded by the State Wildlife Grant Program. The annual meeting served as a gathering of the nongame wildlife technical advisory committee, a group of recognized wildlife experts who lend expertise to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Wildlife Diversity Program. Committee members provide a wealth of knowledge about habitat, birds, mammals, fish, mussels, reptiles, amphibians and other species of wildlife.<br />
Committee members partner with Department officials to conduct a number of projects funded by the State Wildlife Grant Program that lead to greater knowledge and understanding of sound conservation.<br />
"Several wildlife enthusiasts are focusing on important conservation needs across Oklahoma, and the Wildlife Diversity Program benefits from their dedication and knowledge," said Julianne Hoagland, senior biologist for the Department's Wildlife Diversity Program and coordinator for the annual advisory committee meeting.<br />
The committee communicates all year long with Department officials concerning the Wildlife Diversity Program, but the formal meeting is held once a year to establish contacts, report accomplishments and learn about the various projects being conducted.<br />
"About 20 projects funded by the State Wildlife Grant Program were represented at this year's annual meeting," Hoagland said. "The annual meeting plays an important role in the Department's Wildlife Diversity Program through the sharing of information among committee members and State Wildlife Grant project investigators."<br />
Some of the presentations and projects discussed at the meeting were delivered and conducted by graduate students, professors and others whose projects receive funding from the State Wildlife Grant Program.<br />
The committee has been relied upon in the past by the Department to review technical information as well as to study maps for conservation purposes.<br />
To learn more about the Department's Wildlife Diversity Program, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.