Phil Lilley

Glad you´re doing well, Terry. Hopefully I´ll bring back some of this warm weather with us when we return.

John, call Lisa at the office at 1 800 284 2196. When <i left we still have several rooms open on the 1st. I´ll take care of the rest when I get back.

Taking the family to Cancun for a week. I'm sitting in the lobby of the Hilton next to the airport in St Louis- may be the last time I log in for awhile... may be not. If they have internet access where we're going, I'll give you all updates. If not, you'll have to wait till 12/24. BTY- if you read my blog, I mentioned my #2 daughter may be engaged soon- Jimmy asked her tonight. He just couldn't wait. She just flew in from England where she's been in school since September. So I know who will be goo-goo eyed the whole trip. And yes the lad is going. I'm not planning on fishing, for those who are wondering. But if I get an ok and time, I'd like to try my hand at the bones... never done it. Blessings!

I will bring a generator- no problem.

I'll bring something... Looks like this has become a full day event. Very nice. I can bring a generator- it sounds like you're going to need one- unless they have power to the shelter now. If no one knows, I can ask the hatchery people. I can also bring extra tables and chairs. I'll go down and blow the area and clean it up a bit on the 31st.

For Immediate Release: December 14, 2006 A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation News Contacts: Michael Bergin or Micah Holmes (405) 521-3856 Web site: www.wildlifedepartment.com Deer hunters shatter harvest record - more hunting opportunities still available Wildlife Department schedules public hearings Wildlife Department announces winner of 2007 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp competition 2006 Youth writing competition winners announced Outdoor Calendar Fishing Report Waterfowl Report Deer hunters shatter harvest record - more hunting opportunities still available Oklahoma deer hunters have already achieved a record harvest for the state in 2006 - 104,000 and counting - but their opportunities to take deer are far from being over. The state's special antlerless deer season is just around the corner. Scheduled for Dec. 22-24 and Dec. 29-31, these opportunities allow hunters to harvest does outside their combined season limit. According to Mike Shaw, wildlife research supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, hunters across the state have already harvested 104,346 deer in 2006, surpassing the previous record of 102,100 deer taken in 2000. That total stands to increase with the remainder of archery and special antlerless seasons still to go. Shaw said other factors will raise the numbers as well, such as final counts from controlled hunts and Deer Management Assistance Program cooperators. Shaw said a number of circumstances have led to the record harvest, such as the good hunting weather and peak rutting times that fell right in line with this year's rifle season. But even with the record numbers, Shaw encourages hunters to participate in the special three-day antlerless hunts. "We need to really focus on increasing the number of antlerless deer harvested, especially in areas that have less desirable buck-to-doe ratios," Shaw said. "And participating in the special antlerless deer season would be an excellent way to do that." The first three-day period of the special antlerless season will be limited to the northcentral and northwestern portions of the state, excluding most of the panhandle. The second three-day period will be open for hunting in the same areas as the first part of the season, but also in most of the remainder of the state. The panhandle will again be excluded, as will the far southeastern counties. For a map of Oklahoma's antlerless deer hunt zones and to see which counties will be open for the special season, hunters should refer to page 14 of the "2006-07 Oklahoma Hunting Guide." To participate in the special antlerless deer season, hunters must possess a special antlerless deer gun license as well as an annual hunting license and a fishing and hunting legacy permit. Resident lifetime hunting or combination license holders are exempt from purchasing these licenses. In addition, hunters participating in the special antlerless deer season must comply with the hunter orange requirements set forth for the regular deer gun season. Archery hunters and those hunting most other species in open special antlerless zones must wear either a hunter orange hat or upper garment while hunting. To learn more about this year's special antlerless deer season, refer to the "2006-07 Oklahoma Hunting Guide" or log on to www.wildlifedepartment.com. -30- Wildlife Department schedules public hearings The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will be holding public hearings across the state Jan. 8 and 9 to collect input on a number of proposed hunting and fishing regulation changes. Citizens are encouraged to attend and voice their opinions on a broad list of proposals covering everything from deer hunting to trout fishing. Several of the proposals involve adjustments to deer bag limits and hunting regulations, among them a proposal to reduce the state's combined annual antlered deer limit from three to two. Also on the table is a proposal to establish an Experimental Quality Deer Management Unit in southwest Oklahoma. The proposed combined annual deer bag limit for the unit would include no more than one antlered deer. Additionally, a proposal has been made to allow the harvest of a buck along with a doe during the youth gun season, resulting in a youth gun season bag limit of one antlered and one antlerless deer. Some of the proposed changes slated for discussion could allow for increased opportunities to harvest game, such as a proposal to allow the harvest of river otters in certain counties. Mike Shaw, wildlife research supervisor for the Wildlife Department, said the hearings provide an important part in the process of getting input from Oklahoma hunters and anglers regarding our state's game and fish regulations. "We always endeavor to do what's best for our state's wildlife and habitat as well as the people who enjoy them. These public hearings give us a way to gather valuable input from those in our state who are often most interested in the well-being of Oklahoma's wildlife," Shaw said. Regulation changes typically originate from proposals by Department staff and citizens, and selected proposals advance toward further consideration. After first being considered by a review committee of Wildlife Department personnel, recommendations are scheduled for public hearings, where citizens have the opportunity to comment on proposed regulation changes. Public comments and recommendations are then brought before the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Wildlife Department's governing board. The Commission can then make decisions to accept, amend or reject the recommendations. Those unable to attend the hearings are encouraged to send their comments by mail to: Attn: Proposed hunting and fishing regulation changes - Wildlife Department, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. All comments are weighted equally whether received in writing or delivered at the public hearings. The following is a list of public hearing dates, times and locations: Date: January 8, 2007 Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Durant - State Fish Hatchery, 2021 Caddo Hwy Lawton - Lawton Public Library, 110 SW 4th St. Okmulgee - East Central Electric, Public Meeting Room, 2001 South Wood Drive (Hwy 75) Date: January 8, 2007 Time: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Muskogee - Northeastern State University Campus Auditorium, 2400 West Shawnee Date: January 9, 2007 Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Ada - Pontotoc County Vo-Tech Center, 601 W. 33rd Street (Wildlife Hearing Only) Altus - Altus Public Library, 421 N. Hudson St. Broken Bow - Broken Bow Public Library, 404 N. Broadway Enid - Central Fire Station, 410 West Garriott Oklahoma City - Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, 1801 N. Lincoln Blvd., Auditorium Tishomingo - Tishomingo Community Center, Fairgrounds, 816 E. 6th (Fisheries Hearing Only) Tulsa - Tulsa Technology Center Riverside Campus, Alliance and Conference Center Building, 801 E. 91st St., Aud. Rm A150 Date: January 9, 2007 Time: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Sallisaw - Indian Capital Vo-Tech, North Meeting Room, 401 Houser Ave. -30- Wildlife Department announces winner of 2007 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp competition Jeffrey Hoff of Jamestown, N.D., was selected as the winner of the 2007 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp competition held Dec. 8 at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's central office in Oklahoma City. His painting portraying two redheads will be featured on the state's 2007 waterfowl stamp. The Oklahoma waterfowl stamp program was started as an effort to ensure quality habitat in the Sooner State for migrating ducks and geese. It was started in 1980 and showcases the artwork of some of the nation's most talented wildlife artists. "It feels great when you can win a contest like this and help conservation," said Hoff, 35. A waterfowl hunter himself, Hoff discovered his interest in painting about eight years ago, mostly by accident. Hoff enrolled for college courses too late to get into the engineering coursework he had planned, and as a result, only one class was available for him to take - a painting class. He signed up and developed a new talent. Since then Hoff has enjoyed painting several species of North American wildlife and has competed throughout the years in more than one duck stamp competition across the nation. He received inspiration for this year's winning portrait from a photograph he had taken in a slough. Purchased by both hunters and collectors, the stamps help fund various waterfowl conservation projects around the state. Alan Stacey, wetland habitat biologist for the Wildlife Department, said the program has helped purchase close to 13,000 acres of wetlands and has advanced efforts to enhance, create, renovate and maintain thousands of acres of critical waterfowl habitat. Wetland development units such as Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area in southwest Oklahoma and the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area in McCurtain County have reaped benefits from the duck stamp program. Stacey said further wetland restoration and renovation work is planned for the future at a number of wildlife management areas across the state. Four honorable mentions were named in the 2007 competition. They were: Hoyt Smith, Tulsa, Okla.; Edward Suthoff, Gardiner, Mont.; Russ Duerksen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Daniel Allard, Columbus, Ohio. -30- ****Photo***** Editor's note: Below is a link for an accompanying photo that is 300 DPI and intended for newspaper publication. The ending link is .jpg for the photo. The photo will open in your browser. If you have a pc you should be able to right click, save picture as, choose the file type you want to save as and click save. The other way is on file in toolbar, save picture as, choosing the file type you want to save as and click save. Images can be viewed with the article at http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/wl_news.htm. http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/newsrele...6/duckstamp.jpg Caption: Jeffrey Hoff's painting of two redheads took first place in the 2007 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp competition. 2006 Youth writing competition winners announced The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International recently announced the results of an annual youth writing competition focused on Oklahoma's hunting heritage. "As always, reading these essays was a pleasure. Oklahoma's youth have again demonstrated a strong connection to their hunting heritage," said Colin Berg, education supervisor for the Wildlife Department. Winners in the ages 11-14 category were Jesse Martin of Coweta and Courtney Ratliff of Sapulpa. Winners in the ages 15-17 category were Darrick Tyler Brown of Wister and Hannah Carroll of Tryon. "The winners in the senior age category will receive an all-expenses-paid antelope hunt in New Mexico," said Berg. "The younger winners receive a scholarship to the YO Ranch Apprentice Hunter Program in Texas." Students were not the only ones to receive an award. Ed Kennedy, federal grant coordinator for Eufaula Schools, was awarded the Conservation Scholarship. The honor includes an all-expenses-paid scholarship for an eight-day conservation education school at Safari Club International's American Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS) at Granite Ranch near Jackson, Wyoming. The youth writing competition is designed to promote America's hunting heritage among Oklahoma's youth. It provides them an opportunity to express the importance of hunting in their lives and to affirm their commitment to carrying on the hunting tradition. Students use the essays or short stories to relive memorable hunts, to explain why hunting is important to them and to recognize mentors who have influenced them to grow as hunters. "The most important thing we can do to continue our hunting heritage is to get youth involved," said Berg. The Wildlife Department and the Oklahoma Station of the Safari Club International will submit the winning essays to the National Youth Writing Contest held annually by the Outdoor Writers Association of America. -30- Age group: 11-14 Male Jesse Martin, Coweta Grade: 8th Age: 13 School: Coweta Junior High Teacher: Robert Clements (Science 7th, 8th, 9th) The Hunting Heritage I didn't know my father. I guess your wondering what knowing my father has to do with hunting. Just give me a few minutes and I'll explain. In July of this year, my sister was contacted through her My Space by a man asking questions about my mother and grandparents. Of course she was worried. Who would have that much personal information about my family? After a week of correspondence, my sister discovered that she was talking to my father; my father, who I had never met and didn't know much about. When my mother told me my father wanted to talk to me, I was really angry. I'm thirteen and as far as I knew he had never wanted to see me. I soon discovered that he had looked for me years earlier and was sent away by my grandfather. It still took me a while to get over my anger. Eventually we started to talk, and in August of this year I met my father face-to-face for the first time. What this has to do with hunting and sharing the heritage is this. Our conversations were stilted at first, but through the normal course of things we started to find things in common, things like hunting. I was raised in a single parent home and my mother doesn't hunt, but I was interested and have a fascination with hunting and weaponry. My father likes to hunt and goes every year, and I have never been. Hunting gave us a way to open up and begin learning about each other. My father is a narcotics officer with the sheriff's department in Putnam County, Georgia. His favorite recreational activity is hunting. In August we met in person for the first time and in that weekend formed a close bond by spending time at Bass Pro, talking about hunts he has been on, and planning a hunting trip of our own. My father has been hunting for years. He told me about his first hunting experience and how fun it was to get his first kill. He also told me how he got his limit in the first weekend he went hunting and had to wait for a year to hunt deer again. He said he learned some patience from that experience. When school started I discovered that I was in the outdoor sportsman class that I forgot I signed up for. I'm still not sure I did. I found out that we were doing hunter education and learning to shoot a bow and would be getting our hunter education card. I have never been so excited about going to school and learning something that I think I can use outside of school and that will also give me more in common with my father. My trip is planned. I have a ticket to fly to Atlanta, Georgia, on November 19, 2006. We are going hunting for three days, and I get to meet the rest of my family. I'm excited about going hunting. I hope to get my first deer on my first trip with my father. Age group: 11-14 Female Courtney Ratliff, Sapulpa Grade: 7th Age: 12 School: home-schooled Teacher: Anne Ratliff Hunting: Sharing the Heritage It was a warm July day and the voice at the other end of the phone was Dad. Normally he calls to talk to Mom, but today he asked for me. "Guess what. You were drawn in for a youth deer hunt on October 8th and 9th. You can shoot either a doe or a buck." When I hung up with Dad, I ran to tell Mom and my two younger sisters the good news. I was so excited. I could hardly wait to hunt with Dad. In September, Dad told my sisters and I that Nana and Papa had bought us our Christmas present. I wondered what they could have bought us so early in the year. I was so surprised when Dad told us that it was a Remington 243. I finally had a gun that I could call my own. Papa was now sharing the heritage of hunting with me. "Courtney, it is time to get up." My eyes fluttered open as I woke up and realized that today is October 8th, the first day of my youth hunt. I didn't want to get out from under my covers, but I knew it was 4:15 a.m. and I had better get moving. I dragged myself into my camo and ate breakfast with Dad. I said goodbye to Mom as she gave us our lunch, wished me luck and we drove off. As we checked in, I was getting excited. My anticipation increased as we drove to the place Dad had scouted. Under the cover of darkness, we walked into the woods and set up our blind. As the sun came up, it began to give life to the forest around us. I could now see how good this spot really was. There were trees all around us. There were rich brown acorns as wide as my thumb and an inch long covering the ground. I could just picture a deer coming from every direction! Boom! We heard the first gun shot off in the distance, and we knew the deer were moving. We heard about eight more shots after that, but nothing came our direction. Eventually we got up and started to walk around looking for deer. As we walked out of the woods, we came to an area of brush, which was shoulder high or taller. At the edge of this area Dad said, "Look, that must be the bedding place for deer." When I looked, I could picture a doe there with her fawn lying at her side asleep. As we walked, we followed a path not even ten inches wide. We knew it was the path the deer took, but I couldn't imagine how the deer could make such a small path. When we came to an open field, we walked along the edge, keeping our eyes out for deer. Then Dad stopped and pointed to a place in the dirt where a buck had rubbed his antlers on the ground and licked the branch hanging over the spot. He called it a scrape and a licking branch. It was so cool to think that a buck had been there just last night and left his markings. When we saw a scrape as big as my arms held in a circle, Dad said he would love to see the buck that made that one. I marveled how God made the deer. Nature certainly reflects God's handiwork. After that, we picked up and headed back to camp. That afternoon we went back into the woods. We chose to set up along the side of a clearing by a big pile of trees. Even though there was a branch right in front of me, leaning at a diagonal, we decided that I could see well enough around it to shoot in almost any direction the deer would come from. It was warm because we were in the sun, but the occasional breeze made it bearable. We waited for four hours as the sun went down behind the pile of trees behind us. I enjoyed watching the monarch butterflies circling the yellow flowers in front of me. Before we knew it, it was forty-five minutes until dark. Dad said that I would shoot a deer in the next 20 minutes. I had my doubts because he had been telling me that for the past four hours. I had given up hope. But, as it turned out he was right. We had fifteen minutes of shooting light left when Dad grabbed me. My heart skipped a beat and adrenalin started racing through my body as I caught the excitement in his voice as he whispered, "There, right there." He pulled me to his side of the branch so I could see the two does walking along the opposite side of the clearing, eating. I carefully got my gun off the stand and in position. I lined up and waited as they stepped away from each other. Boom! As I pulled the trigger, everything was in slow motion. I saw the explosion at the end of the barrel as it lit up the scope in the dimming light. I watched as she fell. When the other deer ran off, I carefully approached my trophy with Dad right behind me. My dream had come true. She had dropped with one shot. I was so excited. We field dressed her and loaded her into the back of the Suburban. At check-in she weighed fifty-six pounds. When we pulled into camp, Mom had the video camera running. My sisters were so excited to see what I had gotten. After taking pictures, we took her to the processor. Those steaks and hamburgers sure do taste good. I am so glad that Dad loves me enough to share the heritage of hunting with me. And who knows, maybe someday I will be able to share that same heritage with my children too. Age group: 15-17 Male Darrick Tyler Brown, Wister Grade: 10th Age: 15 School: Wister High School Teacher: John P. McAlester (Math, Okla. Hist., Boys Athletics 6th, 7th and High School) Hunting: Sharing the Heritage Hunting has been a part of life on earth since time began. At first, hunting was a means of survival and every bit of the animal was used. Food, clothing, and shelter were supplied by nature. Although hunting is still a large part of survival in some parts of the world, progress has allowed many of us to enjoy it as a hobby. As a hobby, hunting can be a sport that includes many generations. From grandparents to young children, men and women alike enjoy hunting as a way to relax and spend time together as a family. Trips are planned for certain times, and specific places are chosen as hunting trips are planned and anticipated. Family and friends can get together to share ideas, experiences, and knowledge while enjoying nature and sport. Young children can share in these times and learn from their own experiences and experiences of those around them. Adults can pass on values such as patience, self-reliance and responsibility to a younger generation. In a world where almost everything is instantly available, patience can be difficult to master. Setting goals and waiting for the outcome is a personal thing, but can be accomplished more easily when someone with experience guides the way. Learning how to think through and solve a problem can also be a valuable skill. Responsibility, or being accountable for our actions, is also a character trait that is valued today. The skills required for hunting take time, patience and practice to develop. To excel at a sport or to gain enough knowledge to enjoy it requires the same characteristics. Guidance from others and the passing on of experience and information is an invaluable source of help to beginning hunters. Hunting can also teach a person respect, dignity and the knowledge of conservation. Conservation practices can result from hunting, and these concerns along with a love of nature can be passed down to younger generations who will be responsible for keeping the hunting tradition alive for future generations. Hunting requires and develops many skills. The rewards are tremendous. Keeping hunting traditions alive allows people of all ages to share their time and their knowledge. The benefits are felt not only by the people involved, but also by the environment through responsible hunting and respect of others. Age group: 15-17 Female Hannah Carroll, Tryon Grade: 11th Age: 17 School: Perkins-Tryon Teacher: Stacey Winters (English 11th) Hunting: Sharing the Heritage I was sitting in the woods biting my nails; the next thing I knew, a huge 10-point buck stepped out in front of me. My heart was racing as I pulled my gun up. This is what the thrill of hunting is about. It is such an exciting sport and provides so much more than just killing game. No matter what season it is, hunting is my passion, and I love it. Whenever I am out in the woods, I realize I am connecting to the heritage in the past, maintaining the heritage within my family, and hoping to build a heritage in the future. Hunting has been a part of our country for many years. In the past, people hunted mainly for the source of food. They didn't have stores to provide them with food. Hunting is how they survived. In today's society, hunting is still very important for survival, the survival of animal species. All across the nation, parents are now teaching their children that hunting isn't just about killing the game; it is a way to conserve the wildlife populations. Without hunting, there would be an overpopulation of many game animals, and it would cause many problems for both human and animal populations. On a personal level, hunting is a very important aspect to my family. It brings us all together, and we are able to share many fun times and experiences. It has been a family tradition for many years. My great-grandfather passed it down to my grandfather, who passed it down to my father, and now I am learning from him. I love it when we all get together and share stories around the fire. Every spring, my two brothers, dad, and myself head out west to Arnett, Oklahoma, for a weeklong turkey hunt. Each time my dad takes me out into the woods I learn something new. I am very thankful that my father introduced hunting to me. To me it is more about the complete experience than killing anything. There have been many times when I have come home empty-handed, but still having gained valuable experiences. I love just to be in the woods and everything that nature provides; I love waking up early in the mornings before sunrise and getting in my stand or hearing that gobbler before he flies off the roost. I hope to carry my passion of this sport to my family someday. I love thinking about the value of hunting from the past, in the present, and I hope in my future. When I carry this tradition on to my family, I hope to add something new to this old tradition. I am one of the growing numbers of female hunters. Most people assume hunting is a male sport, but I hope to change that perception. I know I have gained many memories and experiences that will last me for a lifetime. I plan to continue this heritage with my family. OUTDOOR CALENDAR DECEMBER 19: Hunter Education Home Study, Sportsman's Warehouse, OKC; 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (405) 302-4800. 21: Late Season Whitetails/Herd Management at the Broken Arrow Bass Pro Shop. Join Bass Pro RedHead Pro Staffer Heath Herje at 7 p.m. in our Seminar Room for a workshop on Late Season Whitetails/Herd Management. For more information contact the store at (918) 355-7600. 22-24 & 29-31: Deer - Special Antlerless Season. Open only in certain area. Be sure to consult the "2006-2007 Oklahoma Hunting Guide." 23: "Last Minute Bird Treats." The program is for all ages and runs from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Help the birds by making bird treats to hang in your yard or to give as a last minute gift. Fee: $3 for general public and $1 for members of the Friends of Oxley. Please register at least two days in advance. For more information or to register contact Oxley Nature Center, Tulsa, OK, 918-669-6644 or oxley@ci.tulsa.ok.us. 30: Eagle Watch at Crow's Secret Nature Center at Lake Thunderbird State Park, Norman. Migrating eagles are visiting the park. We meet at the nature center to talk about these majestic birds before leaving on a caravan tour of the lake to search for them. The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information contact Julie Tarver at (405) 321-4633. 30: "Geocaching for Beginners." The program is for ages 12 and up and runs from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Borrow one of our GPS receivers, or bring your own (with fresh batteries and the owner's manual). We'll punch in coordinates and go hunting hidden "treasure" in this worldwide scavenger hunt. Fee: $20 for general public and $15 for members of the Friends of Oxley. Please register at least two days in advance. For more information or to register, contact Oxley Nature Center, Tulsa, OK, 918-669-6644 or oxley@ci.tulsa.ok.us. 30: Eagle Watch at Crow's Secret Nature Center at Lake Thunderbird State Park Norman. Migrating eagles are visiting the park. Meet at the nature center at 9 a.m. for a caravan tour of the lake to search for eagles. Contact park naturalist at (405) 321-4633. For a complete listing of upcoming outdoor activities and events, go to wildlifedepartment.com and check out the Outdoor Calendar. FISHING REPORT FOR DECEMBER 13, 2006 CENTRAL Hefner: Channel catfish being caught on cut shad and worms. Crappie being caught on jigs off dam and around rocks. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. NORTHEAST Birch: Elevation 3 1/4 ft. below normal and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 25 ft. or deeper around brush piles. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County. Eucha: Elevation 7 ft. below normal, water 48 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush and structure. Largemouth bass fair on plastic baits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Grand: Elevation below normal and clear. Crappie biting fair using minnows and jigs at 12-15 ft. around brush piles. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County. Greenleaf: Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits along shoreline and riprap. Channel catfish fair on cut bait and stinkbait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12-18 ft. around brush structure and fishing dock. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. Kaw: Crappie fair on minnows around brush piles at 16-20 ft. Report submitted by Marshall Reigh, game warden stationed in Kay and Grant counties. Oologah: Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water in the lower 50's and clear. Crappie fair on jigs around brush piles at 20-25 ft. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County. Skiatook: Elevation 12 ft. below normal, water 50's and clear. Crappie fair on small to medium minnows at 10-30 ft. around docks, bridges and other structures. Remainder of fishing poor. Report submitted by Greenwood Fishing Center. Sooner: White bass and striped bass hybrids good on sassy shad and topwaters in the discharge channel. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County. Spavinaw: Elevation 3 1/2 ft. above normal, water 44 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around dam area. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Tenkiller: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 50 and clear. Smallmouth bass fair around brush piles at 15-20 ft. on soft bass jigs. Crappie good around docks on tube jigs at 15-25 ft. and around brush at 15-20 ft. on tube jigs. Sunfish fair around docks on worms at 10-20 ft. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. Webbers Falls: Elevation 1 ft. below normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on jig and worm along riprap and around brush structure. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 8-15 ft. around brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. NORTHWEST Canton: Elevation 6 ft. below normal. Crappie good on minnows and jigs near deep brush. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair trolling crankbaits. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County. SOUTHEAST Blue River: Elevation normal, water 46 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on minnows and flies. Channel catfish fair on liver and worms. Trout good on power bait, super dupers, rooster tails and meal worms. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area. Broken Bow: Water murky. Bass good off points on salt craws, jig heads and soft plastics. Catfish good on trotlines and juglines bait with cut bait or sunfish. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Eufaula: Elevation 2 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass and white bass slow. Blue catfish fair on shad at 4-10 ft. on the flats. Crappie good on minnows or jigs at 8-20 ft. around brush piles and boat docks. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County. Hugo: Elevation 6 ft. above normal, water 57 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Crappie fair on live minnows. Blue catfish fair on cut bait and liver. Report submitted by Wendell Smalling, game warden stationed in Choctaw County. Konawa: Elevation normal, water 52 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits at 15 ft. in the discharge channel. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County. McGee Creek: Elevation normal, water 48 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic lures at 12-25 ft. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County. Lower Mountain Fork River: The powerhouse stopped releasing water a couple of days ago. Elevation below normal, water mid-50's and clear. Insects hatching lately are black caddis, blue winged olives (mayfly) and midges. Good flies have been emerges, (caddis, mayfly, and midges) and nymphs bumped along the bottom. Imitations and various streamers are working well. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop. Pine Creek: Elevation above normal, water murky. Bass good on crankbaits in deep water. Catfish fair on cut shad on juglines. No crappie reports are available. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Robert S. Kerr: Elevation above normal, water 48 and murky. Largemouth bass slow at 8-10 ft. using plastic baits fishing the rock or riprap areas. Crappie fair at 12 ft. using minnows fishing the old creek channels. White bass slow at 10 ft. using jigs fishing below Webbers Falls and Kerr dams. Blue catfish good at 5-10 ft. using fresh cut shad fishing from the bank on windy points. Flathead catfish fair at 20-30 ft. using live bait on trotlines and juglines. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County. Sardis Lake: Crappie good along structure on minnows and jigs and off bridges. Largemouth bass fair on shallow running crankbaits and spinnerbaits running shallow. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County. Texoma: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 58 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair on plastic baits at 10-20 ft. in creek channels. Striped and white bass fair on live bait and sassy shad at 10-20 ft. at Soldier Creek and the Islands. Channel and blue catfish fair on cut shad at 10-15 ft. Washita River arm. Crappie fair on minnows at 5-10 ft. in Kansas and upper Rock creeks. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County. Wister: Elevation 9 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and plastic baits, Crappie excellent on minnows and jigs below the dam. Catfish fair on trotlines and juglines. Channel catfish good on cut shad. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County. SOUTHWEST Foss: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 55. Striped bass hybrids good in deep water on slabs. White bass good. Crappie good around docks. Catfish fair on stinkbait. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House. Ft. Cobb: Elevation 2 1/2 ft. below normal. Catfish slow to fair on cut baits. Report submitted by James Edwards Jr., game warden station in Caddo County. WATERFOWL REPORT FOR DECEMBER 13, 2006 For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com NORTHWEST Canton: Lake level is 5.96 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is poor. Water level has dropped below all vegetation along the shoreline due to water release. Winter wheat plantings are still in poor condition with a few fields improving to fair. Duck numbers are low, with most ducks leaving to find better forage. Goose numbers are moderate, with mostly Canadas, and a few Snow geese as well. Most geese are feeding on the fields southwest to southeast of the lake. A few sandhill cranes are using the area to roost. Very little migration movement into and through the area has been observed within the few days. The boat ramp west of Canton WMA headquarters is not usable due to low water levels. Ft. Supply: Lake level is 2.1 ft. below normal. Habitat conditions around the lake are poor, with lots of open shoreline. Local wheat crops are fair to poor. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Area bird movement has been low as of recent. Area ponds and sloughs are mostly dry, and some boat ramps are closed due to low lake levels. Hunting activity is low with no reports of success. SOUTHWEST Ft. Cobb: Lake level is 2.40 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is poor due to lake level. Winter wheat is good, with some peanut residue left in fields. Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are good. Large numbers of mallards and geese have recently arrived at the lake. Hackberry: Refuge reservoir is approximately 3.0 ft. below conservation pool, with around 1,000 plus acres of wetland units flooded. Habitat conditions are good, with Johnson grass, wild millet, milo, and sunflower. Duck numbers are good, with good numbers of mallard, green-winged teal, and pintail. Goose numbers are good. Waterfowl numbers steadily increasing with each frontal passage. Sandhill crane season on Hackberry Flat WMA runs through Jan. 28, 2007. Hackberry Flat WRP is closed to all activity from October 15 to January 31. Mtn. Park: Lake elevation is 9.43 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is very poor due to lake level. Winter wheat is good on WMA and surrounding area. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are good. Large number of Canada geese with some Snow geese using the area. Waurika: Lake level is 5.36 ft. below conservation pool. Lake habitat condition is poor, with most vegetation above the lake level. Winter wheat in and around the area is in good condition. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Some flooding of southern units of the WDU is currently in progress. NORTHEAST Copan: Lake level is 2.2 ft. below normal. Lake level is not flooding terrestrial vegetation. Soybeans and wheat in ag fields on WMA. Beans are cut, with wheat is up. Duck numbers are fair, with about 750 observed. Goose numbers are low. A significant migration has been noted in the last week. Eufaula: Lake level is 1.93 ft. below normal. Current habitat condition is fair to good. Vegetation is very good to excellent on the mudflats and suitable lake shore. Very little farming in the area. Duck numbers are fair. No geese observed. No significant bird movements have been observed. Ft. Gibson: Lake level is 0.98 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyardgrass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo, and wheat in the area. Duck numbers are fair, with slow bird movement. Goose numbers are low. Hulah: Lake level is 1.8 ft. below normal. Lake level is not flooding terrestrial vegetation. Soybeans and wheat in ag fields on WMA. Beans are now cut. Duck numbers are low, with about 150 ducks observed. Goose numbers are low. Some significant migration has occurred in the last week. Kaw: Lake level is 0.72 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is excellent, with millet and natural food available. Duck numbers are high. Goose numbers are high. Recent cold fronts have enhanced migration. Good numbers of mallards present. Keystone: Lake level is 2.8 ft. below normal. Habitat conditions are poor. Habitat condition is fair-good on Cottonwood Creak WDU. Almost no other vegetation is flooded on the lake. Habitat potential is fair on the mudflats, sloughs, potholes, and lower elevation. Both duck and goose numbers are low, but ducks numbers are fair at Cottonwood Creek WDU. Birds continue to move south due to poor condition. Some of the sloughs have water in them, but water level in the sloughs is not up to vegetation line. Webbers Falls: Lake level is 2.68 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyardgrass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo and wheat in the area. Duck numbers are fair, with slow movement. Goose numbers are low. SOUTHEAST Hugo: Lake level is 5.1 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair to good, with Japanese millet, sedges, and other native vegetation in the area. Duck numbers are very good. Goose numbers are good, with a very good number of snows. Large movement of birds in the area as of recent, with a very good number of mallards, gadwalls, and teal. Grassy Slough: Water in borrow areas only. Habitat condition is fair, with some wild forage. Duck numbers are poor. Goose numbers are poor. There are approximately 300 birds in the area, which are mostly mallard. Red Slough: Most wetland units are dry except for borrow areas. Unit #21 is 80% full, unit #27A is 25% full, southeast part of unit #38 is flooded, and Teal Lake is 60% full. Habitat conditions are good with milo and Japanese millet. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are poor. Some bird movement with cold front last week. Texoma: Lake level is 3.95 ft. below normal. Habitat conditions are good, with smart weed, barnyard grass, and nutsedge in the area. Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are poor. No new waterfowl movement due to stable weather. Wister: Lake level is 7.40 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair, with sedges, smartweed, and barnyard grass present. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. No signs of bird movement into area.

Father, guide the surgeon's hands and give him wisdom to best perform this procedure on Terry. Strengthen him and Cindy. Let them look to You as their healer. In Jesus' Name.

I might suggest a search here- use the keyword 'walleye' and you'll find quite a bit of information. The forum is only a year old so it's limited. Walleye is much further down the list of game fish in these parts as you know but Table Rock and Bull Shoals, as well as Greers Ferry have good populations. Welcome.

Not this month- I don't think. It's the same every December.

It's hard to keep up every little project I start, including this blog. Sorry about that. I figured you guys get tired of reading my posts on the forum anyhow... Way too much to bore you with tonight. I have to pack for Cancun anyhow. Yes- we are taking the family to Cancun for a week. Leaving tomorrow to St Louis and on to MX Saturday. We've never done anything like this. The closest is driving to Sarasota where Marsha's sis lives with their family. We have stayed at a condo there on the beach but it was still visiting relatives. We'er taking all 4 kids, Sara's bow Josh and Megan's soon-to-be fiancee Jimmy. I say soon to be cause he plans on asking her on the trip. No one is supposed to know so don't say anything. We're going snorkling and beaching and sightseeing... don't know if I'll wet a line or not. Not a priority. Gearing up for winter has kept us busy. Buying a couple of motors, making sure everything's ready for the big fishing season. Remodeled a couple of units. Adding another public bathroom. Not sure what else Curtis has planned. Just had a week's planning session with Jim for the Alaska season coming up. It's alot of fun planning a new venture like this. We've been trying to figure out what we're going to do with the cabins- build new ones, remodle old ones- buy new boats and motors- add a REAL toilet!! Big time! We booked the place almost full while he was here. The price and what we offer is almost a no brainer for those who want to go to Alaska on-the-cheap. Everytime I hear Jim tell someone about the fishing, I find myself just as excited as the potential client gets. did you know Naknek has the largest sockeye migration in the world? 4.5 million salmon run past our camp. And it has the largest resident rainbows in the world- up to 24 pounds. And again, some of the best fishing is in front of our camp. We are trying to decide what we are going to do with the cabin I'm remodeling when I'm gone- basically the months of July and August. Thinking about renting it out by the night and renting my boat out by the day. I mentioned toilets... it's a big thing up there to have real toilets. The tundra doesn't lend itself to septic tanks. Looking to install one that burns the waste or turns it into compost. Not sure about a kitchen... food attracts bears. Christmas- I hope you don't get lost in the past pace of the season. Try to slow down and ponder what is important. God, family, friends, health... most of are blessed beyond belief. Those who are struggling- it's a time to reach out for help and learn from mistakes. God's grace is new every morning for those who believe.

I saw this reel yesterday- it's a very nice reel. Doesn't have a scratch on it- perfect.

Like I said- the feds stocked a ton of rainbows the last couple of weeks. Numbers- I have no idea. But we are supposed to get about 25,000 this month. I think it's doubled or tripled and all are from Neosho- my guess. I have also seen a decline in the number and quality of rainbows from Fall Creek up- including Rocking Chair. I believe it's due to lack of generation and thus lack of food and growth. It's not a short-term problem and it won't be a short-term fix. We need rain. We need cold weather!

Chalky water is glacier runoff. And some say it isn't cold in Alaska... Light red box circles our lakes.

I believe the stocking numbers for each month were off because low water conditions messed up when trout were ready to be released- proper size and all. I think there were less numbers of rainbows stocked in the summer months and more in the winter. This month I know we got alot more than we were supposed to, but Chris Vitello said we would get the 700,000 rainbows we were supposed to for the year. Thanks my guess. This survey was taken the last of August and is taken that time of year each year. They did say that most of the time there's generation on the day they take it and they always are able to boat up past the MDC boat ramp to shock fish. But this year they did not generate and the water wasn't high enough to get their shock boat past the ramp- so that skewed the numbers on big fish above Fall Creek- that makes sense. But I still believe we had less trout and smaller trout above FC than in any year since '97- guides agree. Survey agrees. Browns- again, if they have an early migration, the numbers can change. But I think there are more and bigger browns this year than last... so I think the survey is correct.

http://ozarkanglers.com/taneycomo/2006_survey.php

It's frozen once over night back in the 80's but when the water started the next morning it broke up. Very, very seldom.

I guess- it's the same water. Maybe a bit different temp. Mike Kruse always told me it was the water temp, not generation.

http://www.ozarkflyfishers.org/pages/newsl...2/nl_y06m12.pdf

Heard a story about someone catching crappie in pole timber on bluff banks 5-15 ft deep the last week. Minnows and jigs. Getting this 3rd hand- have no time to try it myself. If you go, give us a report.

We only have a few reservations this weekend. I don't like to see rooms go unused. For this weekend only and any days between now and December 21, 2006 - Singles - $19 per night 2 bedrooms off lake - $29 per night Lake front 2-3-4 bedrooms - 60% off regular rate... http://lilleyslanding.com/rooms.php for rates 2 night minimum please on any reservations Stalls free Boat Rental 50% off, gas not included Call 1-800-284-2196 for reservations.

If you're wading, generation almost kills fishing for you. Depending on how much water is running, you can fish around the outlets or along some banks but it's difficult at best. Get a boat for best fishing results.

If you don't want to wade around crowds, go down to Rocking Chair or the boat ramp- from the boat ramp wade up or downstream to KOA. There's usually not as many people down there. But there's no reason not to walk in around the outlets and see what the crowds look like up there. Sometimes there's not that many people, esp in the middle of the day or evenings.

20 inch... sending you an email.

Browns on the White successfully spawn and replentish the river. Brown do not successfully spawn in Taneycomo so there's no reason to protect the spawn season. Rainbows spawn in Taneycomo mainly in January and February but some spawn as late as May. When rainbows are raised in a hatchery, their biological time clocks are screwed up because the way they are raise. They are raised in varied water temps to stunt growth or to speed growth, depending on when they are sceduled to be released. So they really don't know when to spawn... but most do in the winter. Why? Not sure. The White- I honestly don't know. I'll let someone else answer that.

http://ozarkanglers.com/troutcam.php I turned the camera to the north out away from the building and am picking up alot more light. The water isn't as clear and as the lake turns, the water will become even more silty. But for now, there's a few trout- one big brown and a few chubs swimming around. OK- as I sit here looking, I see a sucker and a blue gill... so there's more varieties than I though.