By Rocky Anderson
OK, here we are the day after the big college football championship game and you are either relishing your team’s victory or feeling the agony of defeat so I present you with this question, what difference did the outcome of that game really have on your life personally? Seriously I myself have gotten all worked up about such games as if my future depended upon the outcome, only to realize I never received my championship ring in the mail. Don’t get me wrong, I love watching sports, but I assure you there are far more important issues that can have a definite effect on your life — for example, the news I am about to share with you.
It has been brought to my attention there may be winds of change on the horizon pertaining to new hunting and fishing regulation proposals. I obtained some information I will share, however, I strongly suggest hunters and fisherman mark their calendar and attend a public hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Muskogee Public Library, 801 W. Okmulgee.
This meeting is being conducted by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to collect input from the public. Sportsmen are encouraged to attend and voice their opinions on proposals, which range from changes in size limits on blue catfish to opening an archery season on pronghorn antelope in portions of the panhandle.
With an estimated population of as many as 500 black bears in southeast Oklahoma, one set of proposals would establish a black bear season in Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain and Pushmataha counties. Under the proposal, black bear season would open with deer archery season and run through deer muzzleloader season. Hunters would be required to report black bear harvests, and the total season harvest would be limited to 20 black bears. The use of dogs would be prohibited. Baiting would be prohibited on public land. A black bear hunting license would need to be approved by the Legislature before the season is implemented.
Just like with black bears in southeast Oklahoma, the Panhandle’s antelope population is growing thus another new opportunity for sportsmen is outlined in a proposal to open a 14-day September archery season for pronghorn antelope in Cimarron County and that portion of Texas County west of Oklahoma 136. Licenses would be sold over-the-counter.
Regarding upland game, one proposal would allow flexibility to adjust pheasant bag limits each year based on the population, which would allow for improved pheasant management capabilities and increased hunting opportunity in years of high pheasant numbers. That means continued, consistent success for our hunters.
Along with the above mentioned there are additional proposals being considered that could present benefits and limitations to your hunting and fishing for example they are considering creating a private lands elk season in northeast Oklahoma, including Sequoyah, Muskogee, Adair, Cherokee, Delaware and Mayes counties.
There is talk of restricting firearms to rim fire and shotgun with pellets only at Fort Gibson WRP and for you anglers, they are going to be talking about allowing cast netting for shad in the Lower Illinois River designated trout areas from the south boundary of the Marval trout camp downstream to the U.S. 64 bridge, adding seining and minnow traps to the list of legal means for collecting bait for personal use and adding certain turtle species to the list of prohibited species for commercial turtle harvest.
Again, the closest local meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday at Muskogee Public Library. For a list of other statewide meetings go to wildlifedepartment.com.
