blake
Life Member
NEWS!
NWTF Passes $1 Million In Oklahoma
It is only with the support of hunters, anglers and sportsmens organizations that the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is able to make wildlife conservation happen in Oklahoma. This year, one such group - the National Wild Turkey Federation - will exceed $1 million in expenditures in Oklahoma since 1985.
At its February meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission recognized $169,985 in recent grants from the NWTF.
The NWTF has been an invaluable partner to the Wildlife Department for many, many years, said Alan Peoples, wildlife chief for the Wildlife Department, adding that the grants cover about two years worth of conservation projects.
Accepting the recognition on behalf of the NWTF was Gary Purdy, senior regional director for the NWTF, and Mike Evans, Oklahoma state president of the NWTF.
According to Purdy, 2010 is going to be a year of celebration for the National Wild Turkey Federation.
In 2010, we will exceed $1 million in expenditures in Oklahoma, Purdy said.
Evans credited the NTWF membership across Oklahoma for the ability to provide the grants and said one of the reasons the organization chooses to support the Wildlife Department is because of the positive conservation results that come from the partnership.
Were just honored to be able to help with the Wildlife Department, Evans said.
The $1,010,000 that the National Wild Turkey Federation chapters in Oklahoma have raised since 1985 has been spent on wildlife habitat enhancements, land purchases, education, outreach and more within the state. NWTF chapters and cooperating partners across North America have raised and spent more than $306 million nationwide upholding hunting traditions and conserving nearly 14 million acres of wildlife habitat since 1985.
Funds donated by conservation organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation are often matched three to one by the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program, which is funded by sportsmen when they purchase certain hunting and fishing gear.
The NWTF grants during 2009 and 2010 fund a range of projects including, among others, $80,000 toward land acquisition in Oklahoma.
Projects supported and completed in 2009
* Land Acquistion for Drummond Flats Phase II
* Land Acquistion to expand Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
* Support for Oklahoma Archery in the Schools program
* Aerial ignition supplies for prescribed fire at Pushmataha WMA
* Clearing Eastern red cedar from around cottonwoods and clearing firebreaks through brush at Black Kettle National Grasslands
* Clearing ridgetops to create brood habitat and opening overgrown ponds at Spavinaw WMA
* Equipment time to prepare firebreaks for prescribed fire at McCurtain County Wilderness Area
* Paying 50 percent of cost to repair disc used for firebreaks and food plots at Hickory Creek WMA
* Paying 50 percent of cost to purchase new ATV for prescribed fire-use for central region
* Aerial ignition supplies for prescribed fire at Pushmataha WMA
* Clearing overgrown firebreak on boundary to allow burning of additional 1000 acres at Tishomingo Wildlife Management Unit
* Sending NWTF technical rep to NWTF convention
Along with those projects completed in 2009, the grants also include several projects approved for 2010 that have not yet been completed, including the following:
* Sending NWTF technical representatives and the Game Warden of the Year from the Wildlife Department to the NWTF convention and sending technical representatives from the Wildlife Department to technical committee meetings
* Providing support for the Oklahoma Archery in the Schools program
* Clearing ridgetops to create brood habitat and opening overgrown ponds at Spavinaw WMA
* Supplying Aerial ignition supplies for prescribed fire at Pushmataha WMA
* Equipment time to prepare firebreaks for prescribed fire at McCurtain County Wilderness Area
* Paying 50 percent of the cost of a new seed drill and herbicide for firebreak maintenance at Lexington WMA
* Closed canopy reduction to improve nesting and brood rearing habitat at Cookson WMA
* Clearing large Eastern red cedar to allow for more effective prescribed fire at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area
* Constructing a pavilion for outreach and other events at James Collins WMA
In other business, the Commission approved funds for the fisheries division to convert to a system of automated data collection at the Departments Paddlefish Research and Processing Center in northeast Oklahoma. According to Barry Bolton, fisheries chief for the Wildlife Department, an automated system will shorten check-in time for anglers and streamline efficiency in gathering important biological data at the center.
The Commission also addressed Wildlife Department retirement issues, including increasing the budget to fund the required employer contribution to the retirement plan based on a fiscal year 2009 valuation report, reaffirming the appointment of the Commission Retirement Committee and authorizing the Department to retain an independent third party selected by the Retirement/Finance Committee to review and evaluate the Departments retirement plan.
Additionally, the Commission recognized Jim Burroughs, east-central region fisheries supervisor, for 20 years of service to the Wildlife Department.
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 set for 9 a.m. March 1, 2010, at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium), located at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City.
This post is for informational purposes only.
NWTF Passes $1 Million In Oklahoma
It is only with the support of hunters, anglers and sportsmens organizations that the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is able to make wildlife conservation happen in Oklahoma. This year, one such group - the National Wild Turkey Federation - will exceed $1 million in expenditures in Oklahoma since 1985.
At its February meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission recognized $169,985 in recent grants from the NWTF.
The NWTF has been an invaluable partner to the Wildlife Department for many, many years, said Alan Peoples, wildlife chief for the Wildlife Department, adding that the grants cover about two years worth of conservation projects.
Accepting the recognition on behalf of the NWTF was Gary Purdy, senior regional director for the NWTF, and Mike Evans, Oklahoma state president of the NWTF.
According to Purdy, 2010 is going to be a year of celebration for the National Wild Turkey Federation.
In 2010, we will exceed $1 million in expenditures in Oklahoma, Purdy said.
Evans credited the NTWF membership across Oklahoma for the ability to provide the grants and said one of the reasons the organization chooses to support the Wildlife Department is because of the positive conservation results that come from the partnership.
Were just honored to be able to help with the Wildlife Department, Evans said.
The $1,010,000 that the National Wild Turkey Federation chapters in Oklahoma have raised since 1985 has been spent on wildlife habitat enhancements, land purchases, education, outreach and more within the state. NWTF chapters and cooperating partners across North America have raised and spent more than $306 million nationwide upholding hunting traditions and conserving nearly 14 million acres of wildlife habitat since 1985.
Funds donated by conservation organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation are often matched three to one by the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program, which is funded by sportsmen when they purchase certain hunting and fishing gear.
The NWTF grants during 2009 and 2010 fund a range of projects including, among others, $80,000 toward land acquisition in Oklahoma.
Projects supported and completed in 2009
* Land Acquistion for Drummond Flats Phase II
* Land Acquistion to expand Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
* Support for Oklahoma Archery in the Schools program
* Aerial ignition supplies for prescribed fire at Pushmataha WMA
* Clearing Eastern red cedar from around cottonwoods and clearing firebreaks through brush at Black Kettle National Grasslands
* Clearing ridgetops to create brood habitat and opening overgrown ponds at Spavinaw WMA
* Equipment time to prepare firebreaks for prescribed fire at McCurtain County Wilderness Area
* Paying 50 percent of cost to repair disc used for firebreaks and food plots at Hickory Creek WMA
* Paying 50 percent of cost to purchase new ATV for prescribed fire-use for central region
* Aerial ignition supplies for prescribed fire at Pushmataha WMA
* Clearing overgrown firebreak on boundary to allow burning of additional 1000 acres at Tishomingo Wildlife Management Unit
* Sending NWTF technical rep to NWTF convention
Along with those projects completed in 2009, the grants also include several projects approved for 2010 that have not yet been completed, including the following:
* Sending NWTF technical representatives and the Game Warden of the Year from the Wildlife Department to the NWTF convention and sending technical representatives from the Wildlife Department to technical committee meetings
* Providing support for the Oklahoma Archery in the Schools program
* Clearing ridgetops to create brood habitat and opening overgrown ponds at Spavinaw WMA
* Supplying Aerial ignition supplies for prescribed fire at Pushmataha WMA
* Equipment time to prepare firebreaks for prescribed fire at McCurtain County Wilderness Area
* Paying 50 percent of the cost of a new seed drill and herbicide for firebreak maintenance at Lexington WMA
* Closed canopy reduction to improve nesting and brood rearing habitat at Cookson WMA
* Clearing large Eastern red cedar to allow for more effective prescribed fire at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area
* Constructing a pavilion for outreach and other events at James Collins WMA
In other business, the Commission approved funds for the fisheries division to convert to a system of automated data collection at the Departments Paddlefish Research and Processing Center in northeast Oklahoma. According to Barry Bolton, fisheries chief for the Wildlife Department, an automated system will shorten check-in time for anglers and streamline efficiency in gathering important biological data at the center.
The Commission also addressed Wildlife Department retirement issues, including increasing the budget to fund the required employer contribution to the retirement plan based on a fiscal year 2009 valuation report, reaffirming the appointment of the Commission Retirement Committee and authorizing the Department to retain an independent third party selected by the Retirement/Finance Committee to review and evaluate the Departments retirement plan.
Additionally, the Commission recognized Jim Burroughs, east-central region fisheries supervisor, for 20 years of service to the Wildlife Department.
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 set for 9 a.m. March 1, 2010, at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium), located at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City.
This post is for informational purposes only.