Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

[Phil Lilley]

For Immediate Release:

January 5, 2007

A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

News Contacts: Michael Bergin or Micah Holmes (405) 521-3856

Web site: www.wildlifedepartment.com

Southeast Oklahoma wildlife management area featured in national calendar

Outdoor Oklahoma" magazine seeks reader's photos for special issue

Outdoor Calendar

Fishing Report

Waterfowl Report

Southeast Oklahoma wildlife management area featured in national calendar

Oklahoma's own Red Slough Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is featured in a national calendar displaying 12 of the continent's premier wildlife viewing destinations.

Watchable Wildlife, Inc. created the 2007 calendar in cooperation with the American Bald Eagle Foundation to showcase some of the best locations in North America for observing wildlife. The March page of the calendar features a scenic image of Red Slough WMA. Watchable Wildlife, Inc. calls the wildlife management area a "premier birdwatching area" and a "top waterfowl hunting destination."

Red Slough WMA covers 7,800 acres in McCurtain County in southeast Oklahoma, just six miles south of Haworth. Over the past several years, wildlife biologists have made extensive efforts to restore over 1,500 acres of hardwoods that once flourished on the former rice farm. The area also includes thousands of acres of moist soil management units and open water habitat for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl.

"Though still a work in progress, these areas are being restored once again to bottomland hardwoods and quality habitat that can be enjoyed by both wildlife and people," said Mike Smith, Wildlife Department biologist at Red Slough WMA.

The calendar says Red Slough WMA is home "to over 288 species of birds." Other species spotted on the area include river otters, bald eagles and American alligators.

Though wildlife-viewing opportunities abound at Red Slough, wildlife watchers are not the only ones with something to enjoy. The area is also home to healthy populations of deer, turkey, small game, furbearers, dove and waterfowl. For complete hunting regulations at Red Slough WMA, see the "2006-07 Oklahoma Hunting Guide."

Red Slough is managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

To purchase the 2007 Watchable Wildlife calendar, log on to watchablewildlife.org. To learn more about Red Slough WMA, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.

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"Outdoor Oklahoma" magazine seeks reader's photos for special issue

Readers of "Outdoor Oklahoma" magazine have an opportunity to see their own photography published this year in the magazine's annual Readers' Photography Showcase. Submissions are being accepted until March 31, 2007.

The special July/August issue gives both professional and amateur photographers the chance to have their digital photos displayed in a magazine that consistently receives national recognition for its photography.

According to Nels Rodefeld, "Outdoor Oklahoma" editor, this year's showcase marks the first year the magazine will be accepting only digital photograph submissions for the Readers' Photography Showcase.

"The Readers' Photography Showcase is always one of our favorite issues because of the wide range of images that are submitted by readers from all across the state," Rodefeld said. "There are all kinds of landscapes, sunsets and wildlife species in Oklahoma that make for stunning photographs, and it is great to see our reader's getting out and enjoying it all. It's rewarding to share those images with our readers each year in this special issue."

Rodefeld said that although reader submissions usually include a variety of subjects, the magazine has been focusing on "faces in the outdoors" to show hunters, anglers, kids and other outdoor enthusiasts enjoying the outdoors.

"We are encouraging readers to submit outstanding photos of Oklahoma sportsman taking part in the outdoors," Rodefeld said. "The smile on a young deer hunter's face or two veteran anglers sharing a friendship and a love for fishing really captures what enjoying our state's outdoors is all about."

Each participant may submit up to five digital images. Each submission must include a description of the photo, including the location taken, names and hometowns of subjects and what it took to get just the right shot. Photos should be in sharp focus, and images should be at least 300 dpi (dots per inch). The canvas size should be about 8 inches by 11 inches. Slides and print images will not be accepted.

Hopeful photographers can mail a disk to: "Outdoor Oklahoma" magazine, ?Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation, ? P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. Readers may also e-mail their entries to photoshowcase@odwc.state.ok.us.

Individuals can subscribe to "Outdoor Oklahoma" by calling 1-800-777-0019. Subscriptions are just $10 for one year, $18 for two years, or $25 for three years. You can also subscribe over the Internet by logging on to the Department's Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com.

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OUTDOOR CALENDAR

JANUARY

7: In Search of Eagles at the Wichita Mountains. This interpretive programs for the general public in the afternoon. The program will begin at the refuge headquarters at 1:30 p.m. and will last approximately two and a half to three hours. Due to the length of the program, all children must be at least eight years old. There will be a $5 per person reservation fee collected at check-in. Reservations can be made Dec. 18 from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. by calling (580) 429-3222.

8 & 9: Public Hearings held across the state by Wildlife Department regarding proposals for hunting and fishing regulation changes. For exact locations, times and agendas, log on to the Department's Web site at http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/2007_pub...g_locations.htm

9 & 11: Hunter Education: South Intermediate High School (601 S. Main), Broken Arrow; 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.; (918) 259-4580.

13: Dutch Oven Cooking for Beginners at Crow's Secret Nature Center at Lake Thunderbird State Park, Norman. Join the naturalist at the nature center to learn how to cook outdoors in a Dutch oven just like the pioneers did in the old west. There is an $8 fee per person and you must be registered by Jan. 10. Contact Julie Morris at (405) 321-4633 for registration and entry fees.

13-14: In Search of Eagles at the Wichita Mountains. This interpretive program is for the general public. The program will begin at the refuge headquarters at 1:30 p.m. and will last approximately two and a half to three hours. Due to the length of the program, all children must be at least eight years old. There will be a $5 per person reservation fee collected at check-in. Reservations can be made Dec. 18 from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. by calling (580) 429-3222.

13 & 20: Project WILD for college credit at Tulsa Community College (West Campus), Tulsa. Class runs from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. both days. For more information or to enroll call SPICE Program at (918) 595-8126.

15, 16 & 18: Hunter Education: Bass Pro Shop (101 Bass Pro Dr.), Broken Arrow; 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.; (918) 355-7600, ask for promotion manager.

20: The Lake Arcadia Tournament will take place at the Spring Creek Ramp. Sign up will begin at 7 a.m. Start time is 8 a.m. Weigh in starts at 2 p.m. The lake charges $6 per vehicle for entrance into the park and $6 per boat. Entry Fee is $50. Big Fish Jackpot is additional $10 for those who feel lucky or just plain confident. Additional information can be found at http://www.catfishangler.com/chapters/node/82. Contact Mike Strawn for questions at (405) 601-0770 or (405) 417-1635.

FISHING REPORT FOR JANUARY 3, 2007

CENTRAL

Hefner: Crappie are being caught on jigs around the dam and rocks. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Overholser: Crappie are being caught on jigs around docks and rocks. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County.

Thunderbird: Elevation 9 ft. below normal and clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs on structure at 7-10 ft. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

NORTHEAST

Birch: Elevation 3 1/4 ft. below normal water in the 50s and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush piles. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County.

Eucha: Elevation 3 1/2 ft., water 45 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush and structure at 18-20 ft. Largemouth bass fair on plastic baits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Ft. Gibson: Elevation 2 ft. above normal and rising, water 42 and muddy. Channel catfish good on creeks where water is flowing and in flooded grass. Report submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Wagoner and Muskogee counties.

Grand: Elevation below normal and clear. Crappie fair to good using minnow and jigs at 12 ft. Catfish fair to good at 20 ft. using cut shad on juglines and rod and reel. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Spavinaw: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 46 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around dam area. Largemouth bass fair on plastic baits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Tenkiller: Elevation 1/3 ft. above normal, water 49. Crappie fair around brush at 15-25 ft. on tube jigs and good around docks at 15-20 ft. on minnows or tube jigs. Sunfish good in docks on worm-tipped jigs at 10-20 ft. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.

NORTHWEST

Canton: Elevation 6 ft. below normal. Crappie good on minnows and jigs near brush. White bass, striped bass hybrid and walleye fair on jigs along dam and on slabs near underwater islands. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County.

Ft. Supply: Elevation 2 1/4 ft. below normal. Crappie slow to fair around marina and boat docks. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Harper County.

SOUTHEAST

Arbuckle: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 49 and stained. Crappie good on drop-offs using spoons and Guy Sandy dock. White bass excellent under gulls and on creek drop-offs. Bass fair to slow on drop shot and jig and pig. Report submitted by Jack Melton.

Broken Bow: Elevation is rising. Largemouth and smallmouth bass good in the mouths of creeks on jigs and crankbaits. Catfish good on juglines baited with sunfish or cut bait. Crappie fair in the upper end of the lake around structure on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Eufaula: Elevation normal and murky. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass slow. Blue catfish fair on shad at 10-30 ft. drifting the flats. Crappie good on minnows or jigs at 10-25 ft. around boat docks. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Hugo: Elevation 9 ft. above normal, water 51 and murky. Largemouth bass fair spinnerbaits. Crappie fair live on minnows. Blue catfish fair on cut bait and liver. Report submitted by Wendell Smalling, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.

Konawa: Elevation normal, water 50 and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and plastic worms at 15 ft. off points and in the discharge channel. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver at 15 ft. in the discharge channel. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: The fishing is generally good. The fishing last week was very good until the rain hit. This caused the river to muddy up and create some very difficult fishing conditions on the river downstream from Bee Creek. Zone 1: recently stocked, fishing was very good. Zone 2: muddy and fishing poorly. Zone 3: muddy/poor conditions. Best flies have been very small dry flies, Griffith's gnat, adult caddis flies, and a multitude of emerges. The lake has risen several feet and the powerhouse may release water at any time. Be very careful if you are fishing zones 2 or 3. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Pine Creek: Elevation above normal, water clear. Bass excellent on crankbaits around points and good on Texas-rigged centipede worms. Crappie and walleye good below the dam. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: Elevation above normal, water 46 and murky. Largemouth bass slow at 8-10 ft. using plastic baits fishing the deeper water in the riprap and rocky areas. Crappie fair at 8-10 ft. using minnows fishing the old creek channels. White bass slow at 10 ft. using jigs fishing below the dams. Blue catfish fair at 5-15 ft. using fresh cut bait and worms fishing the fresh water flowing into the lake. 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 3 ft. below normal, water 54 and semi-clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair on plastic baits at 15-20 ft. deep along riprap. Striped and white bass fair on live and cut shad at 15-20 ft. near the islands and good bank fishing off long points. Channel and blue catfish fair on cut shad at 10-15 ft. deep above the highway 70 bridge and bank fishing is good. Crappie fair on small minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. near underwater brush and fish attractors. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: Elevation 6 1/2 ft. above normal and murky. Crappie excellent on minnows and jigs below the dam. Channel catfish very good on cut shad below the dam. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County.

SOUTHWEST

Ft. Cobb: Elevation 2 1/4 ft. below normal. Crappie slow to fair around marina and boat docks; Report submitted by James Edwards Jr., game warden station in Caddo County.

WATERFOWL REPORT FOR JANUARY 3, 2007

For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com.

NORTHWEST

Canton: Lake level is 5.60 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 fair condition and improving with recent rains. Duck numbers are low to moderate, with most ducks leaving to find better forage. Goose numbers are high, with mostly Canadas, and a few Snow geese as well. Hunting activity is low in the area. The boat ramp west of Canton WMA headquarters is not usable due to low water levels.

Ft. Supply: Lake level is 1.0 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. Movement in the area has been slow. Hunting activity is low, with no reports of success. Area ponds and sloughs are mostly dry, and some boat ramps are closed due to low lake levels.

SOUTHWEST

Ft. Cobb: Lake level is 2.21 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is poor due to lake level. Winter wheat is good, with small amount of peanut residue in the field. Duck numbers are good, with mostly mallards. Goose numbers are good. Hunting activity is high, with good success.

Mtn. Park: Lake elevation is 9.28 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, with a large number of Snow geese mixed in. Hunting activity is low, with no reports of success.

NORTHEAST

Copan: Lake level is 2.01 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 low. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is fair, with fair success. No significant migrations have been noted in the last week.

Eufaula: Lake level is 1.50 ft. below normal. Current habitat condition is good to excellent. Vegetation is very good to excellent on the mudflats and suitable lake shore. Very little farming in the area. Duck numbers are fair. Few geese observed in the area. No significant bird movements have been observed. Hunting activity is moderate, with variable success.

Ft. Gibson: Lake level is 2.75 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyard grass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo, and wheat in the area. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Some bird movement has been seen in the area. Hunting activity is high, with moderate success.

Hulah: Lake level is 2.23 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. Goose numbers are low. No significant migrations have been noted in the last week. Hunting activity is low, with low success.

Kaw: Lake level is 0.61 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is good, with millet and natural food available. Duck numbers are fair, with mostly mallard's and green-winged teal. Goose numbers are fair. Bird movement is slow at the moment, but expected to pick up with approaching cold fronts. Hunting activity in the area is moderate with good success.

Keystone: Lake level is 1.3 ft. below normal. Habitat conditions are poor. Habitat condition is fair-good on Cottonwood Creak WDU. Very little 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. Hunting activity is moderate, with low success. Duck numbers have decreased recently due to hunting pressure and low quality habitat. Some of the sloughs now have some water in them. The water level in the sloughs is not up the vegetation line. 3 mile slough is 20% full. Lake level needs to be normal for fair habitat and one foot above normal for good habitat.

Webbers Falls: Lake level is 2.03 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyard grass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo and wheat in the area. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Some bird movement in the area. Hunting activity is high, with moderate success.

SOUTHEAST

Hugo: Lake level is 9.65 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair to good, with Japanese millet, sedges, and other native vegetation in the area. Ponds in the area are filling up. Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are good, with Canada's mixed with light geese.

Little River NWR: Water levels are good. Food conditions are good. Duck numbers: gadwall 260; mallard 220; wood duck 125; ring-neck 75. No geese were observed on the area.

Texoma: Lake level is 2.28 ft. below normal. Habitat conditions are good, with smart weed, barnyard grass, and nutsedge in the area. Duck numbers are poor. Goose numbers are poor. No new waterfowl movement due to fair weather. Hunting activity is moderate, with poor success.

Wister: Lake level is 9.21 ft. above normal. Duck numbers: mallard 75; gadwall 30; wigeon 10, shoveller 20, wood duck 30, redhead 20, scaup 20, ringneck 20, bufflehead 4, ruddy 6. No geese observed.