INDIANA FEB 16 1957 Oklahoma GAME - FISH FEBRUARY, 1957

*"*. J*'- .•/•':'-. ."-: • -l'-\ PUBLISHED MONTHLY Published Monthly By The OKLAHOMA GAME AND.. FISH DEPARTMENT Room 118, State Capitol Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

For Hunters, Fishermen, Trappers, Naturalists and Wildlife Conservationists. One dollar, fifty cents per year STATE Single copy 15 cents Circulation, this issue 12,000 OKLAHOMA Second class mail privileges authorized at Oklahoma City, Okla.

JUANITA MAHAFFEY Editor TOM JESSEE MRS. LULA PROCTOR Staff Writer-Photographer Circulation Manager

Page Lore and Legend of G. Hog . 3 4 WtXlfr and tfiE -JuLTzntij-±Lxtri ^LzaLiLaiuit Lion in Oklahoma—Past 6 Dollars and Sense in This FOR THE NEXT four to five months the Oklahoma Legislature will be in session. Business of Fishing 9 Oklahoma Game and Fish News will, as in the past, keep its readers informed as National Wildlife Week 11 accurately as, possible through this monthly publication of legislation introduced, Gun Accidents—Can They pending, or enacted, relating to wildlife, hunting and fishing in our state. Our readers 12 should realize, however, that it is not always possible to keep up to date with 20 legislation through once-a-month reviews. The daily metropolitan newspapers are your They Work for Wildlife 21 best source of information. 22 23 During the first week of the Legislature, which convened January 8, several bills were introduced which relate to game and fish. They are: Winter Birds Back Cover SENATE BILL 4, January 8, by Senator Walt Allen of Chickasha, vitalizing the VOLUME XIII No. 2 Constitutional Amendment voted by Oklahomans last July 3, creating a Wildlife Conservation Commission and Department. Passed by the Senate January 29. COVER HOUSE BILL 503, January 9, by Rep. Noble R. Stewart, Sallisaw, a companion BURROWING OWL, Photograph courtesy of bill to S.B. 4. Iowa Conservationist by Jim Sherman. HOUSE BILL 5 27, January 9, by Rep. John T. Levergood, Shawnee, relating to commercial game propagation licenses and bonds. HOUSE BILL 5 28, January 9, by Rep. Clint G. Livingston, Marietta, prohibiting commercial fishing. HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 502, January 9, by Rep. Clarence Sweeney, Clinton, adopting a statement of basic principles and proposed water policy. This is not COMMISSIONERS primarily a game and fish resolution but should be important to all conservationists. Raymond Lucas, Spiro Chairman It is evident that game and fish matters are not to be regarded lightly by the George Schultz, Medford Vice-Chairman 26th Legislature, for this year the committees on game and fish in both Senate and James W. McMahan, Okemah Secretary House are larger than usual. Both committees are listed below: Maurice Finklea, Warner--. ~. Member SENATE COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISH: Chairman, Walt Allen, Chickasha, Louis Burtschi, Chickasha.—. Member Grady County; Vice Chairman, Stanley Coppock, Cleo Springs, Major County; Mem­ Rev. C. C. Morgan, Fairfax Member bers, Roy C. Boecher, Kingfisher, Kingfisher County; Keith Cartwright, Durant, Bryan L.A.W. Vincent, Arnett _. Member County; Buck Dendy, Pryor, Mayes County; Leon B. Field, Texhoma, Texas Dan Tankersley, Oklahoma City Member Gov. Raymond Gary Ex-Officio Member County; Bruce L. Frazier, Sulphur, Murray County; J. R. Hall, Jr., Miami, Ottawa County, Clem M. Hamilton, Heavener, LeFlore County; Hugh M. Sandlin, Holden­ ville, Hughes County; and Basil R. Wilson, Mangum, Greer County. ADMINSTRATIVE STAFF HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISH: Chairman, Charley Long, Apache, Dave Ware Director Caddo County; Vice Chairman, Lou Allard, Drumright, Creek County; Members, Mutt Standefer- Assistant Directorr Jack Bliss, Tahlequah, Cherokee County; Jack Bohr, Watonga, Blaine County; J. E. Alph Stanphill Game Bouse, Laverne, Harper County; Bernard E. Calkins, Tulsa, Tulsa County; Buck John King _ .—Fisheries Cartwright, Wewoka, Seminole County; Ed Cole, Okmulgee, Okmulgee County; Carl O. L. Curtis Federal-Aid G. Etling. Boise City, Cimarron County; J. B. Graybill, Leedey, Dewey County; Bob Cloyse Bond Information-Education Hargrave, Clayton, Pushmataha County; Delbert Inman, Coalgate, Coal County; Claude Goin Enforcement Virgil Jumper, Idabel, McCurtain County; A. J. Lance, Alex, Grady County; A. R. Coble Gambill Office Manager Larason, Fargo, Ellis County; Clint G. Livingston, Marietta, Love County; Otis Munson, Nowata, Nowata County; Charles J. Norris, Tishomingo, Johnston County; Permission to reprint is granted provided proper credit is given. Oklahoma pictures and contributions Robert Price, Lone Grove, Carter County; Bob Rives, Holdenville, Hughes County; are welcome and will be published when possible. Russell Ruby, Harold D. Smith, both of Muskogee. Muskogee County; Otto Strickland, Address communications to Oklahoma Game and Fish Department, Oklahoma City, Okla. Atoka, Atoka County; Virgil B. Tinker, Fairfax, Osage County; and Tom Traw, Arkoma, LeFlore County. In his opening address at the joint session of the 26 th Legislature, Governor Gary made this statement: "It is my recommendation that you vitalize, at the earliest possible date, the constitutional amendment adopted last July creating a wildlife and Member conservation commission to replace the present game and fish commission. When you of vitalize this constitutional amendment it becomes a law. The game and fish commission International Council of will then operate as a non-political commission, and sportsmen of the state will feel Industrial Editors much better toward the game and fish organization in this state." . . . J.M. "I A with his powerful forearms and using the sharp edged incisors against anything blocking the way. • (v: ...'I'. Regardless of where he digs the den, the safety con­ 1 /! i scious woodchuck will provide three or four emergency exits. The front door is about a foot in diameter and just inside, the main tunnel narrows to four or five inches. The entrance tunnel may vary from 10 to 40 feet long. At intervals there are wide spots that enable the dweller to do a quick about face in case of danger. The woodchuck doesn't like to be cramped for space in his earthy hacienda. His house includes several bed­ rooms which branch off the main tunnel. At the end of these "bedroom" tunnels the chuck may install a grass mattress or he may rough it and sleep on the bare earth. Most of the woodchuck's activities are carried on in LORE ^LEGEND 4 G. Hoo daytime, though in early spring he may embark upon a midnight stroll. He eats three times a day. Before coming out of the den he frequently gives a low whistle, then sits HE LEGEND of Ground Hog Day supposedly originat­ and listens. This is often followed by a querulous call ed among negro slaves. Each year on February 2, le­ T that fades slowly, leaving the human listener at a loss gend has it that he glances out his front door to see if as to its direction. Because of this whistle, the French his shadow is there. Seeing his shadow sends him back dubbed the woodchuck "whistle pig". to sleep through another six weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, then winter is said to be over. How does the woodchuck benefit man? He provides dens for other animals such as the skunk, opossum, rab­ The woodchuck (Marmota monax) is found in Ok­ bit, fox and weasel. He furnishes sport for riflemen. The lahoma only in the extreme northeast corner of the state. This obese sleepy-head makes his burrows in open grass­ hide makes usable leather for various small items such as lands as well as in the woods, denning in hollow trees and shoe strings. When properly prepared, woodchuck meat is rock ledges. The woods variety never gets as fat as the highly desirable for the table. Before cooking, the small red meadow dweller who has an easier life of it. musk glands must be removed from the inner sides of the Casual observers see in the woodchuck a short, stocky upper front legs. And the meat should be soaked for several animal 18-26 inches in length, with a typical rodent head hours in salt water, Then it must be parboiled, and roasted, and short flattened tail. The general color is brown, wash­ fried or made into stew. ed with grayish or reddish tones and frequently frosted In Oklahoma there are not enough woodchucks to with white, shading to a paler brown on the belly. cause mention of them in the game laws. Very few states Weights of individuals may vary from five to 10 pounds. give them protection since they are viewed as a nuisance The teeth are heavy chisel affairs well suited both for defense and offense and removing rocks and roots. to grain crops, hay and gardens. The chuck can climb trees on the double when avoiding danger or seeking food such as sassafras leaves or other foliage. Also he is pretty good at the short distance sprint when covering ground between a potential enemy and that almost impregnable fortress, his den. In early spring, dates varying according to locality, the male comes forth from his den, hungry and with thoughts of love. If green food is available he eats and sets out on his nuptial journey. If food is not available, he starts out anyway. Many obstacles stand in his path. Coyotes, foxes, hawks and owls like to eat "chuck" meat. Farmers will shoot the gluttonous vegetarian on sight. The young average four in number. They are naked, pink, wrinkled and weigh only about an ounce each at birth. They are blind and helpless until about four weeks of age. Then they scramble to the den opening and begin nibbling on green plants. Although a rather lazy fellow in most respects, the woodchuck really goes all out to build himself a comfy, cozy home underground. Occasionally he will den in a natural crevice in a hollow log, rock ledge or in the ground. WOODCHUCK feasts on a mushroom. In Oklahoma you'll find him As a rule, however, he constructs his own home, digging only in the northeast corner of the state . . . H. M. Lambert photo.

Page 3 i F% $SP***...

? »•< UiSr* / ^.

:

' •••Ir • ' . • : :: : : ;; ; •<* *VHW*.«»> * *liiiMiM__i_HwiiiW____i .Sjiljspi

••• THESE DUCKS were shot "out of season" by Bill Maugans. They are Shovellers, commonly called Spoonbills. The drake is green, chestnut and white, while the hen is drab like the mallard hen. The specialized bill is designed to sift mud and water to secure food in aquatic vegetation. Camera exposure was 1/500th of a second at f4.5 with a yellow filter and Plus-X film. • It's Year Round Open Season When You're SHOOTING WITH A CAMERA

BY BILL MAUGANS Radio Station WBBU Ponca City, Oklahoma

• OW WOULD YOU LIKE to hunt ducks in April, quail a good many wildlife pictures because of its lens and -•-"•in June; pheasant in August? Impossible? Unsport­ shutter limitations, but it will get about as manv as it ing? Anti-conservation? Absolutely none of these! I hunt­ will miss. If you would like to double your hunting fun ed Shoveller (spoonbill) ducks in Kay County on March it may be necessary for you to invest in a small camera. 5 last year. My shot was witnessed by several game con­ Now unlike a shotgun, this camera will shoot a good servationists and not one of them objected as I brought many more things than game birds and clay targets. As up my weapon and made one of the cleanest shots of my you learn to use your camera (and it's much easier than life. You can do the same thing at slight expense and learning to use a shotgun), you will find many applica­ while doing so promote conservation, have hundreds of tions for it. For instance, I regard myself as a sort of thrills and retain the finest trophies you have ever had. average gunner-photographer. My camera has supplement­ The only difference in this type of hunting and "in ed my shooting with the following: season" hunting is that you substitute a camera for a shotgun. Now don't run away just because you have al­ A fine set of color hunting prints mounted between ways thought wildlife photography is complicated. On each gun on my rack. the contrary, it is only as complicated as you wish to An 8x10 mounted color shot of my first pheasant make it. It is true that your home box camera will miss and my favorite shotgun.

Page 4 A thick album of black-and-white hunting, trap and LAKE SYSTEM TO EXPAND skeet shooting prints showing all my friends. THE STATE Game and Fish Commission planned at And the finest trophies I ever expect to own—bril­ its early January meeting to add to its system of public liant pictures of many kinds of Oklahoma game. lakes throughout the state. Dave Ware, director of the game and fish department, was authorized to acquire, by All this plus the usual family album. I make 4x5 condemnation or purchase, 10 privately owned acres sur­ inch black-and-white prints at a cost of about seven rounding Bar-Dew Lake near Bartlesville. The lake, own­ cents each with the local photo shop doing the processing. ed jointly by the cities of Bartlesville and Dewey, is being My camera has gained me more hunting companions than turned over to the state without cost. my shooting ever will and it has provided many hours In addition two public lake sites in north and south of pleasure in re-living every major bird hunt in which ends of Pushmataha County are being surveyed, and I have been privileged to participate. another in Cimarron County, west end of the Oklahoma Panhandle, is being considered. Another public lake is When I'm telling an out-of-town friend about one under construction in Seminole County. of the fine dove hunting locations in north central Okla­ homa, I always drag out the album and say, "Now this is Tony's north field where the doves are thick almost RARE VISITOR every September." "Well, how in the world did you get that swell picture of the dove?" is the question that always comes. Then my visitor spends the next few minutes looking over the album and making me very proud with his comments. These pictures tell more in one glance than a thousand words about my adventures afield. And each of those hunts is stopped, preserved, for any time I want to look and remember. Getting back to the use of the camera in the field. I would suggest that you buy a 35 millimeter camera with a good fast lens f3.5 or better and a shutter with speeds to two-hundredths of a second or faster. These are cheaper than the big camera, and the finest is priced less than the average pump shotgun. With the small camera you can shoot black-and-white, color prints or slides, and economically too. Go by the instruction booklet in learning to use your camera and you can't go wrong. The farmer is always cooperative with the photo­ grapher and I have yet to be turned down in requesting to "shoot" the ducks on a pond or the prairie chickens that are seen once in awhile. The farmer will always welcome you back if you mail him an extra print of the game on his farm with a letter thanking him (this al­ ways helps come next hunting season, too). THE SNOWY OWL pictured here is a rare visitor in Oklahoma. When the hunting seasons are on, your companions It comes from the Arctic region and seldom invades the south. The one was captured in early December, 1956, by Jim Pingleton, rail­ will say, "Oh, No!" when you present them with their road conductor at the U. S. Naval Ammunition depot, south of McAlester. Holding the owl in the photo is Jack Dixon, quarterman shooting stance on quail. But note how, on the next time at the depot. afield, they always say, "Be sure to bring along your Some snowy owls are pure white, though the reddish or grayish- brown fleckings you see on the feathers of the one pictured here camera." They have shown that quail hunting picture are common, particularly on the young owls and the females of any age. Snowy owls occasionally have been found as far south as around. Georgia and California. Principle food of the snowy owl in the far north is the lemming, Soon you will come to realize that it's just as much a small rodent of cyclic abundance. In years when the lemmings are scarce, it is said that the snowy owls extend their range southward fun to sneak up on a pond of greenwing teal and shoot in search of food. These owls may feed upon small birds or even domestic fowl when other food is scarce. It is understandable that them with your camera as it is to shoot them with your the one pictured above sought out an area where wildlife of many gun. When this happens, my friend, you will cease to types is abundant, such as the U. S. Naval Ammunition depot, where intensive game management has been practiced for more than a become a meat hunter and start on your way to becoming decade. Fay Hardin, government. trapper of predatory animals on the area, has found three snowy owls on the depot area during the a game conservationist. past 3 Vz -years. . . . U. S. Navy Photo by E. N. Martel.

Page 5 ——™—i^— ^— IBMi^^ CAPTIVE MOUNTAIN LION was photographed at Oklahoma City's Lincoln Park Zoo by Wallace Hughes.

LION in OKLAHOMA--Past and Present BY ARTHUR F. HALLORAM Wildlife Management Biologist United States Fish and Wildlife Service

when the first settlers were moving the Mexican Border and farther M. HE HOT SUN dropped into the in. The history books have dealt with south, the jaguar is known as el tigre Southern Plains. A saddled horse, their strife and struggles, but what and the mountain lion is simply call­ "ground tied", drooped in front of of that great native American cat, ed leon. the house. At supper neighbors talked the mountain lion? Stanley P. Young and E. A. of cattle and rain. Night took over. The lasting interest in this lean- Goldman have collected a superb ser­ Without warning a piercing scream bodied flesh eater is shown by the ies of stories about the puma. The cut the night. The startled horse variety of its names. This big cat has records from the past century related "rared" back, wheeled, and flat ran been called puma, painter, panther, in the following paragraphs can be into the darkness. All that heard cougar, catamount, and mountain found in their fascinating book. The knew that a big cat was on the prowl. lion. All of these titles apply to the Puma, Mysterious American Cat. Thus, an oldtimer told of a panther tawny-backed, long-tailed deer killer During the fall of 1845. the scream down the branch. The time, Lnuvvn in the books as Felix concolor. Army explorer, Lt. J. W. Albert, the turn of the century; the place, Perhaps one of the reasons for the jumped a cougar in what is now southwestern Oklahoma. many names is found in the tremen­ Roger Mills County. On the seventh Today, a panther scream in Okla­ dous inter-continental range of the of May, 1852, another explorer, homa is on the way out—a sound animal •— from British Columbia Marcy, mentions that a lion was kill­ of the wilds now seldom heard. As south to the Horn. It prowls and ed in southwestern Oklahoma on one man and his civilization forges ahead, yowls from snow covered "high of the "branches of Cache Creek". to what we do not know, the sounds country" on the Continental Divide Young and Goldman also quote from of the past disappear and are hardly to the hot steamy jungles of the an 1899 book by J. R. Mead, stating remembered. How many people to­ American tropics. With the exception that mountain lions were common day, for instance, would recognize of the jaguar, the puma is the largest along the southern line of Kansas, the sharp, monotonous chip-chip- of the New World cat tribe. The but more common in what is now the chip of stone against stone as a primi­ jaguar is heavier bodied, with spots State of Oklahoma. He adds, "Its tive warrior fashioned himself a stone and roseates of black and dark brown habitat was along the timbered battle axe? But let us return in our but shorter than a lion. Where the streams and the prairies and hills ad­ thoughts to Oklahoma Indian days two occur in the same country along jacent".

Page 6 The mountain lion competed "He made a plaster cast of one of D. C. does not contain a skull or with the pioneers for food. The early the tracks and the first real evidence hide of an Oklahoma mountain lion. settlers ate venison and beef and so that the mountain lion had returned Many reports are heard of big did the puma. One or the other had to Oklahoma was placed on record. strange animal tracks in various parts to give, and the lion faded back. The "Dr. Bryan Glass, ASM College of Oklahoma. These may or may not veteran retired Forest Ranger of the mammalogist, lists the mountain lion be lion. The widely-read Oklahoma Wichitas, Earl Drummond, recently as 'practically extirpated in Oklahoma related that in 1905 a mountain lion City Times columnist, R. G. Miller, but occasional individuals occur in was killed in Comanche County. He in his November 29, 1956 "Smok­ the more sparsely populated parts of also recalled that the last big cat ing Room" tells a good story along "evidence" in the Wichita Mountains the state'." this line. was in 1912 when he "heard one Just recently I visited Dr. Glass holler". at his combination laboratory and "Out in Mountain View we find This "holler" of the puma has office. He is collecting, with the help that Warren Gish owns a Great Dane caused endless campfire talk. For of his many students, old and new named Baby, the big dog being years and years outdoorsmen claimed records of Oklahoma's mammals. known to everybody in that vicinity. that a mountain lion would scream. Sometimes the dog is used for meri­ Paper-weighted desk men said no. Recently he received a mountain lion torious purposes. A neighbor from Finally, a few years ago, a party of skull found in a Cimarron County north of town came in and wanted scientists on a collecting trip in cave. This old skull, picked up in northern Mexico saw and heard a 1938 by Tom and Ava Jones of Mr. Gish to take Baby to the country lion scream. That settled the prob­ Kenton, is the only Oklahoma lion to see if the dog could track down an lem! skull known to science. Even the U. animal whose tracks had been seen In this connection, I always re­ S. National Museum in Washington, (Please turn the page) member the knowing smile of the great lion hunter, Jay Bruce. I had asked him about the night-long cater­ PLASTER CAST of mountain lion track found in 1953 by Game Department Biologist George Merrifield in Blaine County is here photographed in actual size. Two other recent reports of wauling that resulted when two mountain lion observations in Delaware and McCurtain Counties have been made to the State mountain lion cubs were held captive Game and Fish Department, but unfortunately the observers lack pictorial or other proof. in a garage at the Brush Creek Ranger Station in the Sierra Nevadas of California. Mama Lion wanted her kittens back. Again, while on a tour of the San Diego Zoo, we heard the piercing screeches of a big cat that restlessly paced its cage and called repeatedly. These experiences recalled myster­ ious king-size cries from the brush- lands of the Mother Lode country and the rocky timber-covered ridges of Colorado's western slope. Times have changed. Twenty or thirty years ago anyone who claimed he heard a panther scream was con­ sidered a little "teched". Today it is of great interest. Inquiries at both the State Game Department and the office of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service at Oklahoma City have failed to reveal records of Oklahoma-taken mountain lions by their hunters. There is evidence, however, that the painter may still be found in the wilder sections of the state. The Oc­ tober, 1954, number of Oklahoma Game and Fish News carried a report of the 1953 discovery of a lion track by George Merrifield, a game depart­ ment biologist. To quote the record,

Page 7 MOUNTAIN LION i^m MOUNTAIN LION SKULL from a Cimarron Couty cave was picked up in 1938 by Tom and now and then. He took the Great Ava Jones of Kenton . . . Photo by Dr. Bryan P. Glass, Oklahoma A&M College. Dane out there. The dog spotted the animal's tracks and sniffed. The foot­ prints had been made by Baby, who does some rural prowling at times." It is easy to see that if anyone actually brings in an Oklahoma mountain lion, it will be news. If you are rummaging through the back room and come across an old lion hide complete with skull and record of its Oklahoma capture, many will be interested to hear of your find. Perhaps then, rare hunting and adventure await you in deer-stocked timbered hills and bottomlands—or in the bottom of that old attic trunk. In either case, good luck!

Page 8 DOLLARS and SENSE In This Business of Fishing

BY ROBERT M. JENKINS, Director Oklahoma Fishery Research Laboratory

HE FRIDAY AFTERNOON exodus from the big cities compared to a national average of 18 per cent, and a T is in full swing. Cars stream east out of Tulsa toward regional (Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana) average Grand, Fort Gibson and Spavinaw Lakes. A fleet of boats of 22 per cent. Visitors from neighboring states added on trailers sails from Oklahoma City on courses to Lakes 66,414 to swell the ranks of anglers to slightly more than Texoma, Tenkiller and Murray. Outboard motors clamped one-half million. Seventy-four per cent of these anglers on pickup tailgates and cane poles protruding from station wagons mark the trail of sport fishermen departing from (371,000) were males, 26 per cent were females (130,- Muskogee, Enid, Lawton, Ardmore, and all the other 360). towns and villages across the state. Oklahoma families in ever-increasing numbers are TABLE 1. Number of Fishermen in Oklahoma in 1955 headed outdoors to play in an escape from business and Resident fishermen Number social pressures, and the economic impact of this movement to the lakes and streams is eye-popping! Before the week­ 12-15 years old 44,720 end is over they will have spent over $500,000 in the 16-64 years old 362,110 (licensed) pursuit of black bass, white bass, crappie, and catfish Over 65 years old 28,120 which abound in the increasing number of waters of the Non-resident fishermen 66,414 (licensed) Sooner state. TOTAL 501,364 It has long been known that sport fishing is economi­ TOTAL LICENSED 428,524 cally important in modern America as attested by the millions of fishing licenses sold annually, the burgeoning Total expenditures of these 501,364 fishermen in membership in sportsmen's clubs, and sales of fishing 1955 amounted to $34,460,000 or $68.70 per fisherman. tackle, but until recently no one knew just how important. In comparison 203,773 small-game and waterfowl hunters An article in the November, 1956, Oklahoma Game and spent $50.30 each, for a gross expenditure of $10,250,000. Fish News, presenting the results of a fishing and hunting survey, clearly answered this question on a nationwide basis Deer hunters spent an additional $660,000, so that each of and underlined the importance of providing adequate fish the 1,350 deer killed that year represented an expenditure and game for the outdoorsman. of $488. The total fishing and hunting bill in Oklahoma But what is the economic importance of fishing in in 1955 reached an astounding $45,370,000 which is Oklahoma? How many fish are caught yearly, and what equivalent to the gross value of natural gas produced in the per cent of the available crop is included in this annual state in the same year! It was equal to the money derived harvest? To solve these riddles, reference was made to the from all spectator sports and motion pictures, combined. national survey of fishing and hunting by Crossley, S-D It represents about 1 % per cent of the total annual Surveys, Inc., and to individual state studies conducted individual income. It includes an outside source of revenue, in Iowa, Alabama and Tennessee, in order to obtain ac­ as out-of-state fishermen spent approximately $3,500,000 curate estimates of spending in Oklahoma. The Bureau of Business Research at Oklahoma University furnished during their visits to the state. information concerning the 1955 population and compara­ Estimates of fishing expenditures (Table 2) were tive gross expenditures of industries in the state. Facts and conservative. Transportation, lodging, food and refresh­ figures concerning fish populations and harvest-rate were ment costs were not included unless they were incurred on obtained from Oklahoma Fishery Research Laboratory a trip made primarily to go fishing. No expenses of general reports and data adapted from creel censuses conducted on vacations where fishing was only a partial objective were Fort Gibson, Tenkiller, Spavinaw and smaller lakes. The summation of these combined statistics which follows em­ counted, and the thousands of skiing and surf-boarding en­ phatically underlines fishing's importance in this state. thusiasts were excluded. Meal costs were assessed at 31- cents, as only that portion in excess of average home cost There were an estimated 2,307,000 persons residing was included. Auto transportation was computed at 3J/£- in Oklahoma in 1955. Of this number, 434,950, or 19 per cent of all men, women'and children fished during cents per mile, and if two or more persons traveled together, the year! One person in four (24.7 per cent) over 12 years the cost was divided accordingly. of age engaged in this time-honored spprt (Table 1), (Please turn the page)

Page 9 DOLLARS and SENSE In This Business of Fishing (Continued from preceding page)

TABLE 2. Expenditures of Fishermen in Oklahoma in 1955 There are approximately 450,000 surface acres of water in Oklahoma in non-drought years, including all Total Average per Expenditure Item Spent Fisherman lakes and streams. From the above facts and figures it is concluded that about 29 pounds of sport fish were har­ ' Equipment: vested per surface acre (in Oklahoma), amounting to an Specific fishing equipment (Rods, reels, artificial lures, tackle boxes, etc.) $ 5,200,000 $10.35 annual gross fishery value of $75 per acre of water, which General equipment (Outboard motors, is above the value of most farm crops produced. boats, trailers, clothing, camp equipment, etc.) 6,300,000 12.56 Fishing is big business and will continue to increase Trip expenditures: in economic importance, but no fisherman would attempt Food 3,100,000 6.18 to put a price tag on the enjoyment he receives from reeling Lodging 2,300,000 4.60 in a belligerent bass or cavorting catfish. The real rewards Auto transportation 6,200,000 12.37 of outdoor relaxation are immeasurable, and are available Misc. items (Live bait, boat and motor at bargain basement rates in comparison with other forms rentals, lake fees, minor accessories, etc.) 1 0,100,000 20.14 of recreation. In view of impending shorter work-weeks and more leisure hours available for fishing, it behooves State License fees 830,000 1.65 those charged with the conservation and utilization of All other expenditures (magazines, club dues, etc.) 430,000 0.85 sport fish to redouble their efforts in the task of provid­ ing more and better fishing. TOTAL $34,460,000 $68.70

The average fisherman spent 10 days during the year Konawa Hunter Bags a Surprise on a lake or stream bank attempting to outwit the fish— JIMMY PHILLIPS, 19, of Konawa, displays an "almost albino" and persisted in his attempt for 5.2 hours during each skunk which he shot during the recent season on furbearing animals. day. This represents 5,000,000 man-days or 26,000,000 The skunk was unusually large, but the size was of secondary fisherman-hours expended in pursuing the state's most interest. Its buff coloring in place of the usual black was what at­ popular outdoor sport. According to detailed creel censuses, fishermen caught an average of one fish every 80 minutes, or one pound of fish every two hours. Applying these figures to the fishing effort expended, it is estimated that anglers hauled in almost 20,000,000 fish weighing 13,000,000 pounds from staTe waters last year. Therefore, Mr. Average Fisher­ man caught 40 fish, weighing 26 pounds, in 52 hours during 1955, at a gross cost of $1.75 per fish, or $2.64 per pound. From checking hundreds of fishermen's stringers it has been determined that the fish most frequently sought and caught are crappie, followed by sunfish, white bass, channel catfish, black bass (largemouth, spotted and small­ mouth combined), and the coarse or rough fishes (Table 3). In terms of meat on the table, crappie also led the field, with coarse fish, white bass, channel catfish, black bass, and sunfish following in order of importance, al­ though not necessarily in order of palatability preference.

TABLE 3. Estimated Relative Number and Weight of Various Fishes Caught by Anglers in Oklahoma.

Percent of Total Species Average wt. Number Weight in pounds

Black Basses 10 15 1.1 White bass 15 20 0.8 Crappie 35 25 0.4 tracted Jimmy and all who viewed it after the kill. The animal's Sunfish (bream. perch) 20 5 0.2 white stripe was abbreviated, leaving the fur almost entirely tan color over the entire body. Jimmy plans to tan the hide. Channel catfish 10 15 1.0 Albinism occurs at times, though infrequently, in all forms of Coarse fish (flathead catfish, animal life. The true albino is pure white with pink eyes, totally lack­ drum, carp, buffalo, others) 10 20 1.4 ing in color pigment in skin, hair and eyes. Semi-albinos are often more interesting than pure albinos because of the odd patterns they Average 0.65 create . . . Shawnee News-Star photo by Bob Mathews.

Page 1 0 NATIONAL WILDLIFE W1K SET March 17-23

HE 1957 OBSERVANCE of Na­ T tional Wildlife Week, sponsored annually since 1938 by the National Wildlife Federation and affiliated groups, has been set for March 17- 23. Ernest Swift, the Federation's executive director, has announced that Walt Disney, creator of the "True Life Adventure" nature films, will again serve as honorary national chairman. Cloyse Bond, Information-Edu­ cation division chief of the State Game and Fish Department, will serve as Oklahoma state chairman. National Wildlife Week was start­ ed in 1938 when President Franklin

D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation BRUSH PI LES—When trees are trimmed or thinned out, the by-product is a brushpile. Some calling upon all citizens to study property owners burn these, but many small mammals and a number of birds benefit from wildlife problems and "to work with such brushy homes. Of course, a brushpile in the middle of a field might not be too successful one accord" for conservation and res­ because rabbits and other animals do not like to risk crossing unprotected open places. Build toration. It has become an annual the brushpile near a hedgerow (which is a natural "wildlife street") or at the edge of the woods. A thatch or pile of branches on an elevated framework of iron pipes has proven educational and publicity campaign successful as a quail roost because most mammals cannot climb the pipes. Ordinary brushpiles spearheaded by the Federation and take only a few minutes to build, but their value to small game and birds lasts for years . . . other organized conservation groups. National Wildlife Federation Photo. Swift said the purpose is "to get more people thinking about their vital stake in the wise use of natural resources". around a particular conservation The Federation has prepared liter­ The theme this year will be problem. Last year it was the plight ature and press, radio and television "Homes for Wildlife", stressing the of endangered species like the nearly- releases explaining how wildlife habitat needs of America's many extinct whooping crane, the rare Key homes can be restored or created species. Americans will be told how deer, the retreating prairie chicken through conservation projects. Free soil erosion, overgrazing, unwise drainage, forest fires, water pollution and other beleagured forms. In 1955 materials on the Wildlife Week theme and other abuses have destroyed the value of disappearing marshes can be secured by writing to the Na­ natural habitat and depleted wild was stressed in an effort to halt un­ tional Wildlife Federation, 232 Car­ game populations. wise drainage. The 1954 theme was roll Street, N.W., Washington 12, Each year the campaign is built water pollution control. D.C.

Page 1 1 GUN ACCIDENTS-#** 7%

BY JUANITA MAHAFFEY

A HUNTER popped a partridge on a hill; they may be worth. These are the does the figure compare with other It made a great-to-do, and then was still. It seems {when later on his bag he spied), result of actual field interviews by years? It was the guide! state game rangers through the year A. There were 149, divided almost One shot a squirrel in a nearby wood— with gun accident victims, victims' exactly half and half in the hunting A pretty shot, offhand, ft'om where he families, doctors, undertakers, sher­ and non-hunting categories. Seventy- stood. It wore, they said, a shooting hat of brown, iffs, shooters, and witnesses, Reports five occurred in the hunting field or And lived in town! are filed annually with the National while victims were going to and from And one dispatched a rabbit for his haul Rifle Association in Washington, D. the hunt. The other 74 happened in That later proved to measure six feet tall; And, lest you think I'm handing you a myth, C. as an aid to its nationwide poll of the home, in automobiles (but not Its name was Smith! hunting accidents, their causes, and while conveying hunters), and in Another nimrod slew the champion fox. how they may be prevented. many instances while guns were be­ He glimpsed him lurking in among the rocks. Answered below are some of the ing cleaned, loaded or unloaded. One rapid shot—it never spoke or moved, pertinent questions that gun handlers, Some resulted from small children The inquest proved. instructors, firearms dealers and others playing with forbidden firearms A cautious man espied a gleam of brown; may find useful. If they prove helpful without knowledge of parents who Was it a deer, or Jones, a friend from town? in saving lives, limbs, eyes, and un­ had left loaded guns within reach of And, while he pondered on the river's rim, dertakers' and doctors' bills in 1957, the child. The figure compares to Jones potted him! then our year-long efforts to run 210 (97 hunting, 113 non-hunting) HIS OLD POEM, its'author un­ down facts, figures and circumstances the preceding year, the largest number T known, appeared in the Phila­ will have paid off. of gun casualties for any single year delphia Ledger in 1909. It proves Q. How many gun accidents occurr­ on record in this state. that hunting safety is by no means ed in Oklahoma in 1956, and how Q. How many people were killed a new problem. Yet, if statistics were available for those earlier years, there OKLAHOMA GUN ACCIDENTS-1956 is no doubt that the number of casualties with firearms, both hunt­ Hunting Non-Hunting Total Number of accidents 75 74 149 ing and non-hunting, have increased Number of Fatalities 17 20 37 with the number of hunters and gun Number maimed 9 3 12 Number self-inflicted 43 34 77 handlers. Sex of victims 72M—3F 63M—11F 135M —14F What can we do about it? Many Sex of shooters 75M 68M—6F .. 143M- 6F Small bore .22 rifle involved 40 24 64 states, including Oklahoma, have in­ High-power rifle involved 4 4 stituted educational training pro­ Shotgun involved 20 14 34 Hand gun involved 10 29 39 grams and/or passed laws to quell the Bow-and-arrow invloved 1 1 rising number of accidents with fire­ BB gun involved — 1 1 Occurred in January 7 11 18 arms. Oklahoma, early in 1956, Occurred in February 7 8 15 through a cooperative program shared Occurred in March 4 9 13 Occurred in April 1 8 9 by several departments of state gov­ Occurred in May 8 4 12 ernment under planning with the Occurred in June 1 10 11 Occured in July 3 2 5 National Rifle Association, began Occurred in August 2 1 3 adult training in proper handling of Occurred in September 5 8 13 Occurred in October 7 2 9 firearms. Adult trainees, in turn, were Occurred in November 16 — 6 22 equipped to lead youth classes in their Occurred in December 14 5 19 Shooters aged 1-12 2 (2.7%) 7 (9.46%) 9 ( 6.1%) respective communities. Shooters aged 13-19 38 (50.7%) 28 (37.8%) 66 ( 44.3 % ) Thus far Oklahoma has no laws Shooters aged 20-29 10 (13.3%) 9 (12.2%) 19 12.8%) Shooters aged 30-39 5 (6.7%) . 5 (6.7%) . 10 6.7%) relating to gun safety. Statistics kept Shooters aged 40-49 3 (4%) __._ 2 (2.7%) . 5 3.4%) by the Oklahoma Game and Fish De­ Shooters aged 50-59 4 (5.3%) . 1 (1.35%) 5 3.4%) Shooters aged 60-69 9 (12.2%) 2 1.35%) partment, it is believed, might be Shooters aged 70-79 1 (1.3%) . 6 (8%) .... 3 2%) helpful in writing such laws. Cer­ Victims aged 1-12 9 (12.2%) 13 (17.6 % ) 22 ( 14.8%) Victims aged 13-19 38 (50.7%) 28 (37.8%) 66 44.3 % ) 9 tainly such data are helpful in know­ Victims aged 20-29 10 (1 3.3 % ) (12.2%) 19 12.8%) 6 Victims aged 30-39 5 (6.7%) . (8%) ___. 11 7.4%) ing where to place the emphasis in 1 Victims aged 40-49 3 (4%) ____ (1.4%) . 4 2.7%) 2 education and training programs. Victims aged 50-59 5 (6.7%) . (2.7%) . 7 4.7%) 1 (1.35%) Boxed in the lower part of this Victims aged 60-69 — 1 0.7%) Victims aged 70-79 — 2 (2.7%) . 2 1.35%) page the statistics for the 12 months Age average of shooters— 23 24 23.5 of 1956 are arranged for whatever Age-average of victims 22 22 22

Page 12 A STATE-WIDE PROGRAM A* voided? TO TEACH SAFE GUN HAND LING HAS bSEN STARTED

accidentally by guns in Oklahoma the past year? A. Thirty-seven, including 17 hunters and 20 in non-hunting mis­ iWfcrfiter&fefciGiiSB haps. Another 12 victims were maim­ PLANNED 6Y WE NATIONAL RlFLE ed—that is, they suffered losses of ASSOCIATION ~TEAO.ES we RIGHT * fingers, toes, hands, arms, eyes, or WAV TO HANDLE 6UNS~ WILL HELP CUT XX5WN ON were crippled. The other more for­ SAFETY AND HUNTING ACCIDENTS SPORTSMANSHIP ARS tunate victims survived without EMPHASIZED ~AIOT permanent injury or handicap, but MARKSMANSHIP- ONLY 0.1 SHOTS ARE the combined time they spent in doc­ FIRGD IN THE WHOLE tor's offices and hospital beds, runs COURSE into weeks and months. Q. Is any one type of gun more GUNS AND HUNTING ARE AN AMERICAN HERITAGE • dangerous than others? AND SAFETY ~ A. Apparently so, from reviewing SPORTSMANSHIP -~ AND COURTESY ARE PARTS the records over the years. The "in­ OF THAT nocent" little .22 rifle (usually in HERITAGE' the hands of novice young hunters). TH0U6H IT 19 is far in the lead as the most lethal. DESIGNED FOR Last year in our state there were 64 YOUNGSTERS " accidents caused by .22 rifles mis­ ADULTS "ESPECIALLY PARENTS ^ ARE URGED firing; 39 in which pistols caused in­ TO ATTEND jury or death; 34 involving shot­ 3f9Arw guns, and 4 injuries by hi-powered —From the Ohio Conservation Bulletin rifles. One report of an injury from a toy BB gun came in, though it is hunting furbearing animals; and one vehicle with loaded gun, 7; climbing believed that the State Game and Fish victim was shooting frogs. through fences with loaded gun, 5; Department does not learn of all the Q. How does the Game and Fish clubbing game or cover with gun, 5; accidents that occur from this type Department find out about gun acci­ weapon fell from holster or insecure of gun. dents? stance, 4; loading and unloading, 4; Q. What ages are the people who A. Primarily through its press- ricochet or stray bullet, 4; victim are most careless with guns? clipping service which includes all mistaken for game, 3; victim covered A. Teen-aged youths always have Oklahoma newspaper articles relating by shooter swinging on game, 3; led in the several years we have kept to gun accidents (murder and suicide defective gun, 2; climbing embank­ statistics in Oklahoma. Take a look excepted). No such service is infalli­ ment, 2; victim out of sight of shoot­ at the table and you'll see that nearly ble, however, and there may be minor er, 1; horseplay, "didn't know it was 50 per cent of both shooters and vic­ accidents that do not get into print. loaded", 1. Now you know the com­ tims fall in the 13-19 year age group. Every Oklahoman can aid by report­ mon careless practices to avoid for Pre-teen agers, too, have an alarming ing any gun accident, however slight, very few hunting accidents are un­ number of gun accidents each year. that comes to his attention. If some­ avoidable. Most of them result from This should clearly indicate where one in this state is injured or killed careless gunners who simply do not our field of training in safe gun by gunfire (or by bow-and-arrow, use proper precaution. Training in handling should lie. since this too is a hunting weapon), safe gun handling would wipe out Q. Are records kept on types of the Game and Fish Department would more than 99 per cent of the so-called game hunted where hunting accidents like to know about it. Only through hunting accidents. have occurred? carefully kept records can we know if Q. If Oklahoma adopts gun-safety we are making progress with our gun A. Yes. During 1956 the Game laws, what should such laws prohibit safety educational work. and Fish Department was able to ob­ or provide? tain this information in 64 of the Q. What are some common causes A. First, a thorough study of laws 75 hunting accidents. Thirty of the of hunting accidents? in other states would be in order, for accidents occurred while victim was A. Here they are, listed in the order then we could profit from their ex­ rabbit hunting; 16 while squirrel of frequency during the past year: periences. Wisconsin's law prohibit­ hunting; five occurred in deer hunt­ accidental discharge, 15; shooter ing the carrying of loaded rifles and ing; four in duck hunting; two each stumbled and fell, 13; trigger caught shotguns in automobiles, it seems to in quail and dove hunting; four in on brush or other object, 7; riding in (Please turn the page)

Page 13 tem of organizing and training is firearms. We have the know-how GUN ACCIDENTS (Cont'd) available to any state who would like from the 1956 adult training. It's up to pattern aft&r -it. Some states have us, would prevent many accidents to the adult trainees now to go ahead laws providing severe penalties for here, as it has in that state. Enforce­ full force imparting their knowledge- wounding or slaying a fellow hunter ment officers, however, must be given to the youngsters. When gun safety accidentally; some revoke hunting the power of search to make such a is taught to every boy and girl in licenses of careless shooters. law workable. California's law re­ every community of our state, then, quiring youth training in gun safety The number of hunting accidents and then only can we conscientiously before a boy (or girl) may be issued can be reduced in Oklahoma, laws or send our youngsters into Oklahoma his or her first hunting license, has no laws, if we step up our youth fields for the fullest enjoyment of proved a good one. That state's sys­ training program in safe handling of the sport of hunting.

the Plains crop-prospects are done for the year. As of Tulsa Youth Receives November, 1956, the Southern Plains in particular were Expert Rifleman Award still gripped in the worst drouth in history, with prospects gloomy for 1957; dust storms already are blowing, al­ CURTIS PARKS, 14, of 724 College Street,'Tulsa, though the "dust season" does not usually begin until recently received the Expert Rifleman Award from the February or March. National Rifle Association of America. The rural poulation of Great Plains counties totaled Curtis is a member of 3,400,000 in 1930, only about 2,800,00 in 1950. and Boy Scout Troop 37 con­ has probably declined since . . . From The National Union sisting of about 50 mem­ Farmer. bers. They practice each Wednesday night, shoot­ ing 30 rounds of ammuni­ tion each. This is, how­ Game Project Leader Honored ever, only part of the By Soil Conservation Award practice Curtis gets for he FOREMAN CARLILE, Vian, project leader in the state loves the sports of hunting game and fish department's northeast Oklahoma deer and fishing and spends survey, is one wildlife worker who believes that soil and most of his spare time at wildlife conservation and management are inseparable. one or the other. He hopes Carlile puts his belief to practical use by serving as a ; to attain the rank of dis­ j member of the local board of soil conservation supervisors tinguished rifleman in the in his home county, Sequoyah. next two years. Honoring him for 15 Troop 37 is sponsored years' service in this ca­ Curtis Parks by the University Avenue pacity, the Oklahoma Methodist Church of Tulsa. C. A. Lytle, a member of this Bankers Association on church and an employee of the Shell Oil Company, is the January 14 presented Car­ instructor and is doing a fine job for the youngsters of lile a special framed award the church. at the annual meeting and banquet of the Oklahoma Association of Soil Con­ Facts About The Great Plains servation Districts in Ok­ THE TRUE Great Plains occupy parts of 10 states lahoma City. and more than 500,000 square miles, or more than one- The Oklahoma Bank­ sixth of the United States. The total population of the 10 ers Association since 1942 states is 19 millions as of 1955. But only about 6 million has given some 5,000 a- of these people live in the true Great Plains areas, and less wards also to district co- than 3 million of these live in the rural areas of the Plains. Foreman Carlile operators who have com­ The Plains run from the 98th Meridan, West to the pleted contracts with the soil conservation service by better-watered high ground near the Rockies; some people establishing conservation practices on their farms. Carlile say to the 4,500 altitude level. They include about two- was the recipient of one of these awards in 1946. thirds of Montana, North and South Dakota, Nebraska A January 9, 1957, letter to Carlile from George H. and Texas; about half of Kansas and Oklahoma, smaller C. Green, Chairman of the Agricultural Committee, and areas of Eastern Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. Charles L. Fuson, Executive Secretary, of the Oklahoma The common characteristic of the Plains is that they Bankers Association, notifying him of his 1957 award get 20 inches or less of rainfall yearly, on the average, and stated: "You are to be congratulated on your many years that this average fluctuates wildly. If much of it did not of service on your local board. We feel that in a large fall in the growing season, from April to July, the Plains measure agricultural production and income is tied directly would be true desert. As it is, a relatively-small deficiency to the maintenance and improvement of our soil by the in water can come at the worst times, and when it does establishment of conservation practices on farms."

Page 14 Rangers Prosecute 1,529 Cases In 1956 ARRESTS and prosecutions by state game rangers for hunting and fishing law violations during the year 1956 totaled 1,529. Convictions were ob­ tained in 84.39 per cent of the cases, records of the department at year's end disclosed. Fines totaling $32,569.95 were paid by 1,331 of the persons pro­ secuted, and court costs were assesed in 1,412 cases, totaling $14,696.40. The department receives one-half of the fine moneys, but none of the court costs. The other one-half of fine moneys goes to the county in which an arrest is made and the case prosecuted. A total of 121 defend­ ants were dismissed, acquitted, or pa­ roled by the courts. Both the number of arrests and per cent of convictions were lower than the preceding three years. In 1955 there were 1,714 arrests with 88.34 per cent convicted; in 1954 there were 1,611 with a 92.31 con­ viction percentage; in 1953 the rang­ ers made 1,691 arrests; in 1952 a total of 1,514; and in 1951, a total of 1,526. In 1956 September saw the largest Crow Makes Attractive Pet number of prosecutions in a single JAMES CROCKETT, 9-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Crockett, Altus, is pictured month—213. January was low with here with his pet crow, Blackie. James put Blackie through his paces in preparation for Altus's annual pet and bicycle parade held on a Saturday just before Christmas. 61. As a rule the State Game and Fish Department discourages the holding of wildlife in captivity as pets, but this is not true of crows. The birds often make adorable pets, and each Average amount paid by the 1,331 one taken out of the wild means one less trouble-maker for the farmer and his crops. James has had Blackie about four years. The bird was taken as a nestling with one individuals who were penalized by other crow. The second one died. Blackie has learned to say "Hi, Blackie", and "Watcha fines was $24.49, while the average doing", and it's plain to see that the Altus lad is proud of his fine feathered pet . . Altus Times-Democrat photo by Bill Schlemeyer. court cost assessment was $10.40. The types of violations for which the rangers made illness. Five new rangers were hired. As the year ended their arrests followed a familiar pattern. Far in the lead there were 99 rangers in the enforcement disivison. in­ was the charge of fishing without license, 567. An addi­ cluding two airplane pilots and four pollution-control tional 269 persons were charged similarly for hunting officers. Also during the past year the ranger supervisor without license. There were 169 prosecutions for stream system was discarded and seven men who had served in pollution cases which gained third place on the list of violations. In addition there was a total of 270 hunting supervisory capacity were transferred to district ranger illegalities as compared to 179 fishing law infractions. status. Installation of two-way radio communication in During the year 1956 a total of 108 men worked on rangers' automobiles was begun in 1956 and will continue enforcement in the Oklahoma Game and Fish Department, as a three-year project (cooperative with Civil Defense), although not all were employed the full 12 months. A until all are thus equipped. Two airplanes were continued few, such as refuge managers, spend only a small part of in use throughout the year, and will so continue in 1957, their time on enforcement. Seven rangers left the service, three by dismissal, two by resignation, two because of as an aid to game law enforcement.

Page 1 5 STRICTLY FOR the birds—specifically, Ponca City Sportsmen, Junior Riflemen quail, is the latest project of Ponca City's Junior Rifle Association, five of whom are Cooperate to Feed Hungry Birds shown here filling sacks with wheat for sports­ men to distribute where quail and other game birds are having a hard time finding enough to eat this winter. Left to right in the picture are Larry Craw­ ford, Jack Pakton, Kent Malone, Kenneth Smith and Richard Kurtz. Adult sportsmen who started the project are D. E. Spencer and C. M. MeVay of Ponca City. About midway of the hunting season, McVay commented one day to Spencer on the scarcity of quail food this winter. Spencer, who runs the grain elevator, noted that he had a lot of leftover wheat that was going to waste. So McVay got in touch with Willard Mote and Bill Maugans, leaders of the Junior Rifle Association, a Community Chest organization sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police. Morris Adams, of Quality Market, provided a quantity of paper sacks. Junior Riflemen spent a Saturday filling and sealing the sacks of wheat, 2 pounds each. McVay, a pilot as well as a sporting goods dealer, has used some of the wheat sacks as "bombs" to burst and spread the grain where quail coveys live. Other sporting goods stores handed out the sacks to hunters to scatter during the last two weeks of quail season. Junior Riflemen are scattering the wheat in likely spots this month and next. And that's how one livewire northern Okla­ homa community is cooperating on helping the quail through the winter of 1956-57 . . . Ponca City News Photo.

Popular Oklahoma Conservationist Is Nash Conservation Award Recipient LEON J. "T-Bone" McDonald, Stillwater, was a- Colorado and Oklahoma. His lectures are illustrated with mong 10 professional conservation workers in the United color slides showing causes of erosion and application of States who last month received the 1956 Nash Conserva­ corrective treatment. The program in which Oklahoma tion Awards. Official announcement of the awards was Bankers Association has presented achievement certificates made in early January by George Romney, president of to more than 5,000 Oklahoma conservation farmers is American Motors Corporation, Detroit. McDonald's idea. He also was instrumental in getting na­ The 10 recipients, selected as typifying America's tional publicity for Oklahoma's now famous "Sandstone thousands of conscientious, dedicated professional conser­ Creek project", and has helped many other statewide pro­ vationists, each received $500 and a bronze plaque. In jects promoting soil conservation. addition, plaques were awarded to 10 non-professional conservationists, whose contributions to the conservation HIGH HOPES ARE HELD FOR of natural renewable resources (soil, water, forest, fish and OOlP NEWEST 6AME &IRD-* wildlife) were made as acts of good citizenship. THE COTURNIX QUAIL The 20 award winners were selected by a committee IT LIKES PASTURES AND SHORT GRASS LANDS ~ of distinguished conservationists from nominations sub­ IS A PROLIFIC Bee LAYER —DOES NOT mitted by officials of state, federal and private conserva­ COMPETE WITH BOB- WHITES FOR HABITAT^ tion agencies. AND IS RATED A FAST Leon J. McDonald, known far and wide as T-Bone FLIER because of an exceptional interest he acquired in that cut of steak while a track team member at Oklahoma A&M years ago, is assistant state conservationist for the Soil Conservation Service with headquarters in Stillwater. NATIVE BOBWHITES WEI6H 6-3 OUNCES AND MEASURE COTURNIX QUAIL, Officially, Nash Motors announced that the award 10 INCHES- "HOLD" WELL. THE SMALLER QOTURNIX IN FACT'- THEY was given McDonald "for his outstanding work in spread­ NEI6H 4 OUNCES AND SIT SO TIGHT IT MEASURE 8 INCHES- IS HARD TO FIND ing information about soil conservation, through speaking THEM INITHOUT THE HELP OF engagements, brochures and magazine articles. Altogether A DOG< McDonald has addressed more than 500,000 people at THESE BIRDS SELDOM nearly 2,000 meetings, and has demonstrated unusual GATHER. IN FLOCKS USUALLY ARE ability to work with all classes of people in furthering the FOUND IN cause of soil conservation." PAIRS- During 1956, McDonald spoke in Iowa, Missouri,

Nebraska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, South Dakota, —From the Ohio Conservation Bulletin

Page 16 Deer Kill Total For '56 Season cational literature to be distributed in connection with Now Final the Federation's 1957 National Wildlife Week campaign. The Wildlife Week observance, scheduled March 17-23, OKLAHOMA DEER HUNTERS bagged a total of 1,938 will be built around the theme of "Homes for Wildlife". deer during the November, 1956, season, it has now been In addition to explaining the vital role of habitat manage­ established by game technicians of the state game and ment in wildlife conservation, the booklet lists nine fish department. Sixteen of this total were killed by bow "courses of action" through which citizens can help save, hunters. restore or create wildlife homes. The figure represents an increase of 593 over the 1955 season when 1,344 deer were taken, and the 1956 Single copies are available without charge, extra season's kill also was the largest one on record in Okla­ copies at nominal cost. Order from The National Wildlife homa. Federation, 232 Carroll St., N.W., Washington 12, D.C. Orville "Cy" Curtis, federal-aid coordinator in the state game and fish department, announced several interest­ ing facts concerning the deer herd in general, following compilation of data collected by the hunter check stations Inola Bow Hunter Bags A Fox from over the state. He said that there was a decrease in number of external parasites found on deer killed the past season and that the deer were "generally in good condi­ tion". A comparison of weights of the first 100 deer killed from the important two ranges •— southeast and northeast Oklahoma — showed the average hog-dressed weight of deer in the northeast to be 109.47 pounds, and in the southeast 93.8 pounds. Deer killed in the sparsely wooded sections weighed more than those taken in heavily wooded areas. A sample economic survey of hunters showed that the average Oklahoma deer hunter in the 1956 season spent $47, while out-of-state hunters coming into this state averaged $119 each. Twenty-two out-of-state hunters, including four bow hunters, killed deer. Twenty-eight women reported kills also. The largest whitetailed deer in the state's history was killed near Grove (see pages 12-13, Oklahoma Game and Fish News, January, 1957). It weighed 188 pounds hog- dressed. In Cimarron County, the only one in Oklahoma inhabited by mule deer, a 201-pound (field dressed) mule deer was the largest one taken there among a total of 37 legal kills in the country. Top deer hunting counties were McCurtain where 313 deer were taken; Pushmataha with 236; Cherokee, 221; and Atoka, 220. Counties showing a noticeable de­ crease in number of deer taken were Muskogee and Mayes. In all but six other counties, the 1956 deer kiil was larger than in 1955, or equally as good. A total of 25,397 hunters participated in the 1956 deer hunt.

DON VAUGHT of Inola is shown here with a fox which he New Educational Booklet Offered bagged with bow-and-arrow in the early part of the fur season last December. Vaught was hunting on Bull Creek east of Inola THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE Federation has an­ when he put an arrow through the back of the male fox at a dis­ nounced publication of a new educational booklet entitled tance of 30-40 feet. "Habitat Improvement, Key to Game Abundance". The Bow hunting is becoming increasingly popular in Oklahoma. 24-page illustrated booklet was written by Werner O. Na- While this type of sport is primarily connected with the annual archery deer season in northeast Oklahoma, many enthusiasts find gel, senior wildlife biologist of the Missouri Conservation other interesting targets throughout the year. In addition to fur­ Commission. Nagel is recognized as one of the leading bearers (including fox) in the two month season each December authorities and better writers in the wildlife management and January, there are rabbits and nongame fish the year around; field. and waterfowl and dove in season, since the federal regulations allow bow hunting on these migratory game birds . . . Claremore Daily The booklet was prepared as the basic piece of edu- Progress photo, courtesy of Carl Thomas, New Editor.

Page 17 1957 Federal Duck Stamp Chosen Federal dove hunting regulations are based upon A TEMPERA watercolor featuring two American changes in dove populations as determined by a "call eider ducks flying over the surf has been chosen as the count" made over several hundred routes each spring. Be­ design for the 1957 Migratory Bird Hunting stamp. Jack­ cause of the growing importance of the dove as a game son Miles Abbott of New Alexandria, Virginia, is the bird, the Fish and Wildlife Service is improving its tech­ artist who drew the winning design for the eighth annual niques in making the annual census, and during the past "duck stamp" competition. This will be the 24th stamp year the nestling banding program, which provides migra­ to be issued in the Federal duck stamp series. Stamps are tion data, was greatly expanded. sold at U. S. Post Offices at $2 each and are required, in addition to state hunting license, of all hunters of migratory waterfowl who are 16 years old or older. O.U. Football Players Enjoy A Hunt SIXTEEN University of Oklahoma football players went quail hunting December 15 near Guymon and two of Dove Is America's Leading Game Bird them proved they were fast enough to catch the birds with HUNTERS OF 29 States harvested nearly 19 million their bare hands. End Bob Timberlake and quarterback mourning doves during the 1955 open season. This in­ Jim Harris foresook their guns long enough to outrun formation was recently compiled by the U. S. Fish and coveys of the birds along the Beaver river northeast of Wildlife Service from replies to questionaires sent to each Guymon. Each caught a live quail. of the States having an open season on mourning doves. The players included Bo Bolinger, Kurt and Robert Since the dove is a migratory bird, it is subject to hunting Burris, of previous Oklahoma teams, and Tommy Mc­ regulations issued by the Secretary of the Interior. Donald, Bob Harrison, Ross Coyle, Lynn Burris, Ken Individual State laws and regulations relating to the Northcutt, Doyle Jennings, Carl Dodd, Clendon Thomas, harvest of this bird are drafted within the framework of Robert Derrick, John Bell, Billy Pricer, Harris and Tim­ the Federal rules. There are also some States which do not consider the mourning dove a game bird. They do not have berlake. open seasons. The quail hunting, which also proved very successful Texas, with a harvest of 4,172,000 doves, heads the for those with guns, was followed by a duck hunting ex­ compilation made by the Service. California was second pedition in the afternoon. Four local airplane owners with 2,571,500; Georgia, third with 2,000,000; Florida served as scouts for the duck hunting. They flew about fourth with 1,550,000 and Alabama and Mississippi the sprawling Nash ranch until they located flights of next with 1,000,000 each. ducks, then airlifted the hunters within gun range. In point of numbers taken the dove is the leading One of the hosts for the Panhandle outing was Leo American game bird, Fish and Wildlife Service officials re­ Winters, secretary of the State Election Board who operates port. They point out that in 1955, a good year, the harvest of all species of ducks was 12,250,000 birds, near­ a ranch near Guymon. Winters instructed the players in ly six million less than the total harvest of doves. Only gun safety with the final admonition, "If you have to two States reported decreases in dove kill in 1955. shoot someone, be sure he's a senior." . . . United Press.

Commercial Fisherman Destroy Gar

A TEMPLE, OKLAHOMA commercial fisher­ man. Bob Gunn, is pictured at left with a big haul of gar fish taken from Cache Creek south­ west of his town in December. The largest of the lot weighed an even 25 pounds.

In the words of Charles M. Cooper, publisher of The Temple Tribune, who supplied the pic­ ture, "The picture may serve to show the sportsmen just one phase of the benefits of commercial fishing. Most sportsmen don't know that the commercial boys don't catch 50 pound catfish every day. Commercial value of the gar is almost nil. Bob says he might possibly be able to sell one for a buck or maybe 50-cents, but usually winds up giving them away or ... throwing them away. All but five of the rascals

'• '••' ••>•• :v*&$ pictured were caught in one night's netting."

Page 1 8 and served as court evidence in a case prosecuted by Acton. The Beaver Pelt Confiscated defendant paid a $25 fine and costs, but might have been fined as high as $200 under the Oklahoma law which fully protects the BEAVER WERE more plentiful than usual along the Arkansas paddle-tailed furbearers. River in northern Oklahoma this winter because so many of the Beaver have never recovered to anything like the.numbers they smaller creeks where these animals normally live were dry. once totaled in Oklahoma, but were believed to be increasing general­ The pelt pictured here in the hands of Ranger P. A. "Preach" ly over the state a few years ago when a statewide survey was made. Acton, Ponca City, came from an illegally killed beaver in the area, The drouth in recent years, however, has probably taken its toll of these semi-aquatic animals. If the State Game and Fish Commission ever sees fit to open the season on beaver, it probably would have to be on a limited-area, limited-harvest basis. Meantime, when beavers become numerous to the nuisance point as they sometimes do in isolated instances, rangers or other wildlife field workers live- trap and move them to new areas, usually on game refuges . . . Ponca City News photo.

Nation's Capital Host To 22nd North American Wildlife Conference GATHERED IN Washington, D. C. March 4-6, 1957, for the 22nd North American Wildlife Conference will be many hundreds of the continent's foremost natural re­ sources authorities, outdoor writers, and sportsmen. Spon­ sored annually in a major American city by the Wildlife Management Institute, these large international conserva­ tion meetings are attended by persons from nearly all the States, the provinces of Canada, Alaska, and Mexico. All sessions and associated meetings of the Conference will be held in the Statler Hotel. Built around the general theme, "Conservation is Everyone's Business", are three general and six technical sessions covering many phases of soil, water, wildlife, and forest management and restoration. Nearly 60 speak­ ers will focus attention on the continent's most pressing natural resources issues as well as on the latest research finding and management developments. All sessions of the three-day meeting are open to the public without charge.

Send *)tt If out ScdU&Ufitiw

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One year—12 issues $1.50 Two years—24 issues $3.00 Three years—36 issues $4.00

II iiiiniiiii mi IIIIIII TEAR OFF HERE AND USE AS ORDER BLANK •••• iiiniiMiiiiiMiiti«Miiinniii

OKLAHOMA GAME & FISH NEWS State Capitol, Oklahoma City 5, Oklahoma

Enclosed find $_ for subscriptions as follows: To avoid errors please PRINT all names and addresses

NAME (Please Print)

ADDRESS (Give St., Rt., or Box Number & Postal Zone) JbJ6^ & -tfumrtJU'' • •

Page 19 CONVICTION RECORD, GAME AND FISH LAW VIOLATIONS, DECEMBER, 1956

County County In Which Defendant Address Charged With Amt. Fine, In Which Defendant Addr Charged With Amt. Fine,. Arrested Court Costs Arrested Court Costs

Adair Harvey Merdith Baron Fish'g without lie $10, $8 cc Hughes R. G. Scott Seminole Pollution, Case 2639... . $100, $20.40 cc Atoka John Phillips Wewoka Poss'n doe deer meat $50, $8 cc Jefferson Jake Hammon — Dallas, Tex Pollution, Case 5278... $21.70 cc " Oscar Phillips Wewoka Poss'n doe deer $50, $8 cc Kay Newell Johnson Ponca City Kill'g beaver (no " K. D. Cole Wewoka Poss'n illeg. deer____ $50, $8 cc open season) $25, $8.50 cc Joe Don Cole ..Wewoka Poss'n illeg. deer $50, $8 cc Donald Fisher Ponca City Hunt'g without lie. — $10, $8.50 cc Beckham J. D. Tilley Elk City. Hunt'g w/o perm $10, $10 cc Leonord Oil Co Blackwell -Pollution, Case 17372. $100, $12.85 cc Wm. Keller .__ Elk City... .Hunt'g w/o perm $10, $10 cc Kingfisher Willis Baker Okla. City Hunt'g w/o perm. John Fuchs Elk City Potshooting quail $15, $10 cc Case No. 3311 $10, $10.25 cc Bryan H. L. Williams _ Hendrix Hunt'g without lie $10, $3.50 cc Willis Baker Okla. City Hunt'g w/o perm. " Robt. Ramsey. Hendrix Hunt'g without lie $3.50 cc Case No. 3312 $10, $10.25 cc " Howard Beardan Kingston Nett'g fish w/o lie $25, $8.50 cc Willis Baker — Okla. City Hunt'g w/o perm. " Howard Beardan Kingston Nett'g closed season $25, $8.50 cc Case No. 3310 $10, $12.51 cc " Glen Harris Hayworth Shoot'g ducks with Virgil Homier Dover Shoot'g from road $10, $8.50 cc unplugged gun $10, $10 cc John M. Duffy Dover Shoot'g from road $10, $8.50 cc " Don Smith IdabeL— -Shoot'g ducks with Kiowa Lon Parrish Altus - Hunt'g without lie. $9.50 cc unplugged gun $5 cc $10, $8.50 cc L. L. Losenberry. Dill City Fish'g without lie $10, $8.50 cc LeFlore Horace Brown Poteau Hunt'g without lie. Manual Brown Poteau Hunt'g without lie $10, $8.50 cc Caddo Joseph Kerce Okla. City --Hunt'g without lie.- $10, $10.05 cc E. Moore. .Spiro. —.Hunt'g without lie. $10, $10 cc Alvin Sharp. Albert Hunt'g w/o perm $10, $11.20 cc Delbert Adams Albert.. Hunt'g w/o perm --$10, $11.20 cc Love Ralph Flanagan Marietta Unlawful fish netting - - $8 cc Norman Dorsey Albert Hunt'g w/o perm $10, $11.20 cc Ralph Flanagan. -Marietta Tak'g game fish unlawfully . $8 cc Carter S. C. Clifton.. Duncan _. Poss'n light 8. rifle $50, $10 cc Major in deer area — Arthur Welish — Enid Hunt'g w/o perm.. . $10, $10 cc Irl Nichols — Duncan Pollution $22 cc J. B. Broch Enid Hunt'g w/o perm. - . $10, $10 cc Jarvis Harley- -Duncan Poss'n light & rifle McCurtain Eulon Williams Glover Hunt'g without lie $10, $10.50 cc in deer area .$50, $10 cc Murray J. P. Allen. Dougherty Hunt'g w/o perm. Roy Speaks Elmore City _ Hunt'g deer with $10, $5 cc prohibited firearms. —$10, $9 cc Muskogee Fred Henery... -Seminole- Hunt'g deer with pro­ hibited firearm . $26.50, $8.50 cc Choctaw Olmer Hamby — Hugo — Netting game fish $25, $10 cc G. W. Smith Seminole Hunt'g deer with pro­ Voy Harmon Hugo— Netting game fish $25, $10 cc hibited firearm . $50, $8.50 cc Cleese Haynes - Hugo Use of illeg. fish net. $10, $10 cc Noble Chas. Tomlin Ponca City. Hunt'g without lie . $10, $7 cc Cimarron Julian Zumwalt- Boise City — Hunt'g w/o perm $10, $5 cc Joe Cain Perry Hunt'g without lie. . $10, $7.50 cc Lawrence Vannoy—-Boise City Hunt'g w/o perm $10, $5 cc -$10, Larry Butler —Boise City.- Hunt'g w/o perm. $10, $5 cc Nowata Thos. T. Walton Bartlesville Hunt'g without lie — $10 cc Bob West Bartlesville Hunt'g w/o perm -$10, $10.50 cc Cleveland T. J. Raines Okla. City -Shoot'g from pub. rd $25, $12.20 cc Bob Sieport Bartlesville -Hunt'g w/o perm -$10, $10.50 cc Gulf Oil Corp.— Tulsa - Salt water pollution Bill Marshall Bartlesville— Hunt'g w/o perm -$10, (Case No. 6952) $100, $22.40 cc $10.50 cc Gulf Oil Corp Tulsa - -Oil Pollution, Okfuskee Francis Moore- Boley Hunt'g without lie $10, $6.50 cc Case No. 6997 $100, $23 cc Oklahoma Clyde Purd Okla. City Shoot'g from highway- - $10, $10 cc Continental Oil Co.Okla. City Pollution Case No. 7004 ... $100, $21.30 cc Eddie Chedwick —Okla. City.- .Hunt'g without lie $10, $10 cc Geo. Wimberly Okla. City— Train'g bird dog with Mathis Mack —Okla. City Hunt'g without lie $10, $10 cc shotgun on prohibited Grant Venters. Okla. City — Hunt'g without lie. $10, $10 cc quail hunting day $10, $8 cc Bob Egge Okla. City.- Hunt'g without lie - $10, C .E. Henthorn Okla. City Fish'g without lie $10, $8 cc $10 cc Ottawa Ike Lacy Miami Shoot'g from road . $10, $10 cc .Hunt'g without lie $10, $10 cc Comanche W. D. Bishop Walters Merl Sparlin Wyandotte- Poss'n beaver pelt— $25, $10 cc Bernie Agee Lawton Hunt'g without lie $10, $10 cc Ike Lacy Miami- — Potshooting quail $25, $10 cc " Anton Diez - San Antonio -Hunt'g without lie. $10, $10 cc Payne M. W. Brown Cushing Hunt'g without lie " F. D. Mills —Elgin Hunt'g without lie. - $10, $10 cc $25, $8.75 cc Craig Al Hays Chetopa Shoot'g from pub. road- $10, $10 cc Pittsburg Donald Dunn. Ashland Hunt'g deer clsd. seas.- $100, $10 cc " Fred Marble- Salina Hunt'g without lie. $10 cc Lee Kitchens —- McAlester Hunt'g deer clsd. seas.- $100, $10 cc Delaware Murl McKinley Maysville, Ark Poss'n raccoon clsd. seas.— $7.50 cc W. C. Anderson McAlester.- —Hunt'g without lie $10, $10 cc Dewey Geo. Gleason — El Reno Trespassing $10, $8.50 cc Pottawatom Warren L. Lee Shidler Hunt'g quail clsd seas.. $25, $10 cc " Albert Campbell Seiling Trespassing $10, $8.50 cc Stephens Beetice L. Hight Duncan Hunt'g without lie $10, $9 cc Garvin A. V. Norsill Davis Hunt'g without lie $10, $9 cc J. E. Jackson Duncan — Pollution M. W. Baker Okla. City Kill'g dove clsd. seas $25, $10 cc $17.30 cc Grady Roscoe Ruppe Okla. City.- Hunt'g without lie $10, $9 cc Tulsa Jas. J. Gillard. Tulsa .Hunt'g without lie. $25, $15.30 cc " Angelo Williams—-Chickasha Hunt'g quail on Wagoner Wayne W. McGuan Muskogee Hunt'g without lie $10, $7.50 cc prohibited day $10, $9 cc Washita Ray A. Eliewer Cordell ._ Hunt'g quail clsd. seas. $25, $6.75 cc " Dick Wiedeman Chickasha Hunt'g quail on C. L. McGraw — Cordell- Hunt'g quail clsd. seas. $25, $6.75 cc prohibited day $10, $9 cc Herschel Clift Elk City Hunt'g quail clsd. seas. $25, $9 cc " Tenn Transmission —Lawton Pollution, Case 5214 $18 cc " Doyl Roach Ckla. City Illegal hunting - $10, $9 cc Woods Dean Moser, Jr Medicine Lodge, " Jim Saylor- _ ^lanchard Hunt'g without lie. $10, $9 cc Kansas— - Hunt'g w/o perm $10, $10.50 cc Greer J. King —Mangum -Hunt'g without lie. $10, $8.50 cc Max Moser Carmen— Hunt'g w/o perm $10, $10.50 cc Haskell Alonzo Shirley Stigler— Hunt'g without lie Forfeited Glen D. George Aline- _ Hunt'g without lie. $10, $10.50 cc $10 bond Woodward Dewayne Walden —Woodward— -Hunt'g w/o perm $10, $10.50 cc

Federal Game Manage­ ment Agent Appointed at Muskogee

JACK RANDALL of Lamed, Kansas, recently appointed federal game management agent at Muskogee is seated at left in the photograph at left. Forrest E. Clark, the state game and fish department's pollution control ranger for north­ east Oklahoma, also of Muskogee, talks over game and fish affairs with Randall in the pic­ ture.

Randall of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service shares federal game law enforcement duties in the state with A. D. Goodwin, Oklahoma City, who for a long time was the only U. S. game management agent in Oklahoma.

The new agent at Muskogee is experienced in outdoor life, having spent eight years with the Kansas Fish and Game Department. He is 31, a veteran of World War II, and attended Utah State College prior to joining the Kansas department. Randall's home in Muskogee will be at 2210 Chandler Street . . Muskogee Daily Phoenix photo.

Page 20 m. LAYTON TAYLOR began work as a state game ranger in Sequoyah County, July 15, 1955, and now re­ THEY WORK FOR places Ranger W. E. (Ed) Winfrey, Vian, who retired January 1, 1957. Andy Calloway of Vian also shares the WILDLIFE ranger work in this county. The country Taylor > patrols is mountainous ^AFORD C. Scott, ex-sheriff of Blaine County, was and crossed by the Arkan­ appointed as game ranger in that northwest Oklahoma sas and Illinois Rivers, county on February 8, 1955. Since that date he has put and with Tenkiller Lake thrown in for good meas- f •gn^'-—.. his peace officer's training to good use curtailing game law ure for the fishermen. violations. •HHMH|: Bom in Cleveland Born at Akins, Ok- dJ8m County, Oklahoma, Scott lahoma, Taylor has spent in later years moved to a his life in Sequoyah Coun­ ty. He served with the BB____-I_L_ "\ farm near Wynnewood, armed forces during World and then in 1920 moved War II and then returned to Blaine County. For a- home to work for the while he operated a grain Wheeler Lumber Com- llSi elevator, and then owned pany at Sallisaw for a Ranger Clayton Taylor a filling station and garage period of eight years preceding his ranger appointment. in Greenfield. In 1935 he Deer hunting was good in Sequoyah County in the was elected sheriff and 1956 season with most of the deer being taken around served until 1955 at which the state game refuge area near Marble City. time he was employed by Taylor makes his home in Sallisaw with his wife, the State Game and Fish Jerene, and daughters, Rebecca, 14, and Judy, 10 years Ranger R. C. Scott Department. old. In Scott's patrol area there are several fishing lakes of importance including Canton, Roman Nose State Park (two lakes), and also the North and South Canadian rivers. ELBERT ROZELL was employed by the State Game Fish Department September 1, 1955, to patrol Chero­ Scott makes his home in Watonga with his wife. He P kee County in eastern Oklahoma. Two other state game belongs to the Canton Sportsman Club and the Masonic rangers, Billie Ballew of Tahlequah and Joe Lamons of Lodge. Cookson Route, Park Hill, share the patrol duties in this Ranger D. H. McClanahan of Canton shares the county. game and fish patrol work with Scott in Blaine County. The country Rozell patrols includes some of the best scenery in Okla­ Deer Moved To New Areas homa as well as some of the finest hunting and OKLAHOMA'S stepped-up 1957 campaign to further fishing. For fishermen improve deer hunting in the Sooner State is moving for­ there are streams such as ward with a trapping project now being carried out by '.» the Illinois River, Caney the state game and fish department in the Wichita Moun­ Creek and Barren Fork, tains Wildlife refuge near Lawton. The U. S. Fish and plus Tenkiller and Fort Wildlife Service has given the state department permission Gibson Lakes. Cherokee to remove 200 whitetailed deer from the refuge and the County ranked third a- department has asked the federal agency for an additional mong the state's 77 in 150. number of deer killed dur­ Trapping and transplanting the animals to new areas ing the November, 1956, is in charge of game and fish employee Bernard Randall. Ranger Delbert Rozell Season. The deer are being released in the Ouachita National Forest Rozell was born at Welling, Oklahoma, and grew up in southeast Oklahoma, and in a 12,000-acre area in Cad­ in that part of the state, He has worked as a dozer operator, do county near Binger where land owners have agreed to in road construction, and at one time owned a store. Dur­ protect the whitetails. Deer will also be liberated in other ing World War II he served more than three years in the state areas where there is potential deer range, now un­ South Pacific in the army. occupied or in need of new stock. The project got under­ Rozell makes his home in Welling with his wife, way last November 30. Vera, and two sons, Rickey, 5, and Gary, 2 years old.

Page 21 LETTERS quail hunting is going to continue to get worse. For one I'd TO THE like to see the emphasis shifted from hatchery quail to one of paying 4-H and FFA boys to fence off an acre down on the creek and plant it to feed for birds. HOWARD J. VAN DYKE, Editor EDITOR The Link The Carter Oil Company

PR/ 10M A SPORTS EDITOR Oklahoma City, Oklahoma November 29, 1956 "WANTTO express the appreciation of the Oklahoman- Times for the whole hearted cooperation we received from your department during the recent deer season. Your staff from de­ TOOTING LICENSE partment heads to field rangers and check station personnel gave 2725 2nd Avenue us the utmost assistance. Their help made it possible for us Des Moines 13, Iowa to give the important and growing event the most complete December 19, 195 6 and extensive coverage ever. The telephone calls nightly from A NUMBER OF us from Iowa have had the pleasure of the check stations made it possible for us to list the name of al­ crow hunting in the Anadarko area, and the purpose of my most every sportsman who killed a deer, and their helpful in­ letter is to thank you for the courtesies extended to us by your formation on accidents and arrests helped us in preparing daily Ranger, Mr. Jim Turnbill. We have made two trips this past year, parties of four and ten, to Anadarko. We flew down from stories for each paper chock full of interesting information. We Des Moines and then contacted Mr. Turnbill who was most at the Oklahoman-Times appreciate this help and hope that next cooperative in advising us where to hunt. It is unusual to meet year we can work together again towards a bigger, better and a man like Mr. Turnbill who went all out as far as his time was concerned to make our trip a success. It is our plan to return in even safer deer season in Oklahoma. 1957, possibly in February and again in October. As a suggest­ JOHN CRONLEY ion, I would say that the State of Oklahoma should revise Executive Sports Editor out-of-state license fees if they want to encourage this type of Oklahoman-Times hunting. E. C. SEYPHOL, Vice Pres. In Charge of Sales Western Tool 8 Stamping Co. MAKES SURVEY OF TRESPASS, SAFETY LAWS EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. Seyphol's suggestion would require Orford, New Hampshire an act of the legislature. Present non-resident hunting license December 4, 1956 fees are reciprocal with similar fees in hunter's home state, with the minimum of $15. Each of the lowans paid $15 fo WE ARE MAKING a survey of laws relating to hunting shoot crotfs in Oklahoma in 1956, and took no other game and fishing in the United States, including statutes relating to under their non-resident licenses in this state. trespass by hunters and fishermen. Do you have in pamphlet form the fish and game laws of your state? We are also trying to obtain statistics of the number of hunting accidents and FAVORS WHITE BASS FISHING fatalities. We are particularly interested in determining the effectiveness of laws designed to prevent hunting accidents. We Galveston, Texas would appreciate any material you might have on these subjects. December 18, 1956 After our survey is complete we would be happy to send you I WAS MUCH interested in the white bass article in your a copy. ber magazine. I live in Enid, Oklahoma, but am spending EQUITY PUBLISHING CORP. "weeks of good fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Just return­ Allan E. Korpela ed from a trip to the Florida Keys and have not encountered any Ass't. Managing Editor Sshing like we have in Oklahoma by the so called "sandies" "'except through the big golden crocker run at Rollover Pass. I EDITOR'S NOTE: The Oklahoma Game and Fish Depart­ "\ have caught big mouth, small mouth and sandies. Give me the ment does publish in pamphlet form the entire state game and sand bass every time for a full creel and an enjoyable fishing fish code. Copies are free on request to any inquirer. The tripj^The small fry boy or girl doesn't have to be an expert to tf-h them, so why kill the pleasure of young and old alike for pamphlet is revised each two-years, following biennial sessions *Jtfst a very few die-hards that don't want to share the waters of of the legislature. The Oklahoma law requires that hunters and "our wonderful state with the rest of the fishermen and fisher- fishermen gain permission of landholders before entering oc­ women? I hope the white bass are here to stay, and maybe put a cupied or posted lands to hunt or fish. Trespass for purposes limit on them, as I have seen two and three hundred taken home at a time—sometimes spoiling before reaching home. other than hunting and fishing is usually prosecuted through local county officers other than state game and fish officers or JOE MCCLINTOCK rangers. Unfortunately Oklahoma has no laws designed to pre­ 3711 Ave. M. 1/2 vent hunting accidents, a topic which is discussed elsewhere in this magazine this month.

SUGGESTS SHIFT OF EMPHASIS LOST LICENSE Tulsa 2. Oklahoma P. O .Box 801 Tulsa, Okla. December 7, 1956 3615 West Easton St November 17, 1956 I'M ABOUT TO walk my legs off hunting quail with only um success. Bird dogs have their feet worn off up to the MY PURSE was stolen—fishing license, etc. was in wallet. join£. My number one spot which I have hunted the last Should I buy new fishing license or could I get a duplicate? tive years would break your heart. Half of a tremend- MRS. WM. W. MARTIN area burned off. the other half grazed down to nothing, tlrijd-^ip. etc. One little covey left in an area where we EDITOR'S NOTE: Sorry, our state laws mah Sfci^^novVd five to eight covies a day. In Warner area, for issuing duplicates for lost or stolen fishin\ ^flre|S||r^fcite spot, almost the same story, too much grazing. *?HdJtil|_ftJ|ktfyngland this year that they ignored in previous licenses. Since the law requires that yoa carry wmJSgpf .ears in an effort to keep their cattle alive. Sure hope this your person" while engaging in these sports, your safest drouth cycle begins to turn the other way or I'm convinced our cedure would be to buy a new license. _«i&_^^^^\_.>_; * tical research are the only systems of measuring or evaluat­ ing our management programs and theories. It is shocking to know that there are many people who object to wildlife research for one reason or another. This is hard to understand when all the things we use and everything around us are products of research. No doubt this refusal of wildlife research is a lack of under­ standing as to what research should accomplish and how it should be accomplished. Actually, not too many people deny research itself, but it is often very difficult to get people to accept the findings of research. Without their acceptance by sportsmen, research findings are slow to be POPULAR TV PROGRAM sponsored by a large cor­ put into effect. As a result wildlife workers are still trying A poration presents its commercials by showing the to get into practice the findings of a dozen years ago. audience scenes of chemists in laboratories, draftsmen at Another phase of research often misunderstood is drawing tables, physicists operating fantastic mechanical that the more data that can be collected by research, the arms in atomic energy development, teams of researchers more valuable the data becomes. Our fisheries research delving into every manner of new development. Audiences laboratory at Norman, now in its eighth year, is just be­ are told of vast sums of money the sponsor spends on coming of real value. Enough data has been collected college and university scholarships helping students de­ from the state's various waters to give our research people velop stronger interests and a better knowledge of scienti­ the kind of accurate background material that is needed to fic researth, at the same time hoping to draw the best solve fisheries problems. The longer this laboratory exists, of these students to its bosom, knowing the contributions the more valuable it will become. Data collected today may they can make to the corporation's development. It depicts not be usable for several years, but some day each bit of how its products have contributed to development of air data will play its part in fisheries management. power, argiculture, atomic energy, railroads, automotive industries, and practically every major industry or business Research is without doubt the most promising ap­ in the nation. Then, with the stage set, it gives the proach to solving wildlife problems. Important for sports­ audience its impressive motto, "Progress is our most im­ men to consider is that many times a research project may portant product". reveal only that past management practices were not suf- ficently effective, thus leaving the wildlife worker in the To me this is a most profound and significant state­ position of trying something new. When choosing new ment. It implies that through research, development that practices the wildlife worker can do no better than to will insure progress is made possible; that through research choose a practice that has been recommended by collective is reached the most important product of the corporation— research works. In this way his approach to a solution is Progress. Successful corporations realize that research is the calculated, and not just guesswork. most direct avenue to new and better products. Many solutions and partial solutions for management So it is with fish and game management. Research problems have already been found through research, but is our most important tool. Without it we can never be all too few have been put into actual practice. Some that sure that other tools employed are effective and proper. have been tried are bitterly opposed because they are a Only through research can we find new tools. break from old methods. Had the old methods worked, Research as applied to wildlife management is a there would be no need for improvement. Research can much broader term than when applied to many other truly be a guiding light if sportsmen and conservationists fields. It might more properly be termed as investigation alike can learn to use and accept its findings. or evaluation. Most wildlife workers break research into: (1) basic research and (2) practical research. Basic re­ New Type Fish Request Form Adopted search is concerned with fundamental facts about an LAKE AND POND owners desiring to apply for fish animal, area, etc.; for instance, studies in the accurate from state hatcheries this year will receive a new type of identification and classification of various species of fish, application blank recently adopted by the state game and or what effect certain minerals in the soil have on re­ fish department. The fisheries division of the department production of squirrels, would be considered basic research. has changed over to an IBM system of keeping its records On the other hand, a study of the fluctuation of fish and the 1957 applications must be filled out on cards de­ study by contacting personally the fisherman of a lake signed for that purpose instead of on printed sheets as used population densities in a certain lake, or a creel census in the past. All applications received prior to the time the and recording their catches, are what is considered practi­ new card-type application forms became available, must cal research. Practical research is intended to find informa­ be renewed. Applicants will be notified and supplied with tion that can be directly applied to improve management, the new card-type forms, according to John E. King, and in the past most conservation agencies have partici­ chief of the fisheries division. pated only in the more practical types of research. Too little importance was placed on basic research. Practical THE TERM "Minnow" doesn't refer to the size of a research can seldom be correct without a complete back­ fish. Minnows are members of the carp family. There's ground and knowledge of basic facts. Both basic and prac­ no such thing as a "trout minnow".

Page 23 Return Postage Guaranteed Okla. Game and Fish Dept. Indiana State Library 3-55 NC Oklahoma City 5, Okla. 140 NO Senate Ave Indianapolis 4, Ind.

ASREAT DEAL OF ENJOTCNT SUCH BIRDS AS THE CARDINAL CAN BE HAD DUfiMtr TIC WMB? 08 PEDBIRQ, THE CHICKADEE, 8V ATTRACTING B1PQE TO OUR S£ft& TUFTED SIS MaSE.POW WOOD- DOCKYARDS WHERE WE CAM PECKER, NUTHAT. H BLU. AN. OBSERVE THEM CU35ELY. SIMPLY M0CE1M5BIRD, HOUEE SPARROW f>• WWNC UPAr'E£()lNbSM.LF: AN.) NUMEPOU i fHi A WILL ON A WINtt.iV SILL Of? W BUILDING -EiOV.f SiOUIAR USIiDQATJ A MORE &AI30RATE STRUCTURE SUCH A FEEDING Pi » MAKE AND MOUNTING IT ON A POLE ~'vRE I14A1 f-*E\ HAVE PRO­ OR SUSP WIN n FKOM . TECTION FROM 0\TS BECAUSE SRArCHOFATREEANDKELP- IT WDULP BE N0THIN& LESS (N6 IT-UPPLIEC WITH SUM THAN MURDER TO BAIT TIM FLOWER SEEDS-A RATui GRAIN, urn KITPI' 6RA« SEED, BITS OF SUET, FRESH COULD P.,t i ON (HEM. APPLE, RAISINS PEANUT rVH.R. BIRDS WELCOME WINTER FEEDiM. COCONUT SHELiE AM? fV__N E«E SATION-0 P'PEuS'RLY WHEN WASTE A SCORE Or BIRDS MAY MiQ NORMA! FOOD 50PPU IS fAE LURED PRACTICALLY" WIT* COVEfCEP t . SNOW AND ICE. ARM REACH.

CHICKADEE. DOWNV A mmmam SUET UKL5 SUET

CARDINAL UATP* SUNFLOWER OkEOS TUFTED TITMOUSE CRACKS CP.N ., A SUNFLOWER

WHiTE BRfcA^IE D MUT'IATCH HANt. UPSIDE DOWN WHILE F-EEDlNsi.

FARM FOLKS CAN 60 MUCH FARTHER IN ENJOY!NO AS V MELPIN6 WINTER BIROS SNP CAN ATTRACT ,W MOR THAN CITY DWELLERS THE WISE \RMER WILL PLANT A HOWS Of ORAIN AMD LEAVE THEM SI4NPIM5 UNRSEYEBT THE WINTER. QUAIL AND OTHER FIELD LAIRDS WILL BRUSH PILED ABOUT ON UNO' i .So W UHEKE TR­ OUPES .ARE SCARCE W i.L OFFER PROTECTION AND tO' BIRDSRARTittUPLY GROUND iNHASITjNO SPECIES. A Pi THEY CAN HIDE AND BE SHELTERED AIL UPPAS MA? WHILE A BWREN PUG WfLLSlWOO \> [S[0>" '.I ALL. !U SENSE LANPOMER IVlU. PERMIT ONLY RESTRICTED BUENIM NONE AT ALL ON HiC PLACE ANP WILL ENCOKV THE OR PLANE SMALL TT?£E3,BU5HE> TAIL OfiASS 4ND EVEN ', THE GDUlES,PITCHES, FENCE «3WS AND All OTHER