Thunderbird: Elevation 2 1/2 ft. below normal and clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs on structure at 6-8 ft. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, state game warden stationed in Cleveland County.

Wes Watkins: Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 70-77 and murky. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs around brush piles and structures; catfish fair to good on chicken liver, shrimp, cut baits and worms; white bass fair trolling with deep diving on silver or white crankbaits; largemouth bass fair on assorted dark colored soft plastics, spinnerbaits around weedy and grassy beds and on topwaters early morning and evening. Report submitted by M.M. Fowler.

NORTHEAST

Bell Cow: The only fishing method allowed at Bell Cow is rod and reel fishing. Elevation slightly below normal, water 73 and clear. Crappie good on jigs and minnows off fishing dock; channel catfish are being caught off fishing dock, in channels on minnows, dough bait and cut bait; bass are hitting on plastic worms, jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits; white bass good. Report submitted by James Hensley, lake ranger.

Birch: Elevation 4 ft. below normal and clear. Crappie excellent around brush piles using minnows and jigs; striped bass hybrids fair in the early morning hours while trolling with crankbaits; catfish fair while drift fishing with cut fish. Report submitted by Ben Bickerstaff, state game warden stationed in Osage County.

Chandler: Elevation slightly low, water 73 and clear. Crappie good on jigs and minnows; channel catfish are being caught in channels on minnows, dough bait and cut bait; bass fair hitting plastic worms, jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Report submitted by James Hensley, lake ranger.

Eucha: Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 66 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush and structure at 12-15 ft.; largemouth fair on Carolina-rigged plastic baits off rocky points; catfish fair on juglines and trotlines using live sunfish. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Grand: Elevation below normal and clear. White bass fair off rocky points in shallow water; channel catfish fair to good on cut shad at 20 ft.; crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10 ft. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, state game warden stationed in Delaware County.
Greenleaf: Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits; channel catfish fair on cut bait on bottom; crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing dock. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, state game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Kaw: Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal and muddy. Blue catfish good on shad; flathead catfish good on sunfish and goldfish in the timbered areas of Beaver Creek; crappie fair on jigs and minnows over sunken brush piles; white bass good along rip rap areas on windy days. Report submitted by Tracy Daniel, state game warden in Kaw County.

Keystone: Elevation 2 ft. below normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on topwaters and spinnerbaits from surface to 5 ft. in coves; white bass good on rooster tails and sassy shad from surface to 5 ft. off points; striped bass slow on shad at 10-12 ft. around bridges and below dam; channel catfish good on worms and punch baits at 5-10 ft. off points and below dam; blue catfish good on shad at 5-10 ft. off points and below dam; flathead catfish good on shad and sunfish at 5-10 ft. below dam and off points; crappie good on jigs and minnows at 5-10 ft. below dam and in coves. Report submitted by Larry Sellers, Woody’s Bait and Tackle.

Oologah: Elevation normal, upper 60′s-70 and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush piles at 15 ft.; channel and blue catfish fair on shad fishing shallow flats on upper areas of the lake at 5-10 ft. Report submitted by Brek Henry, state game warden stationed in Rogers County.

Sooner: Elevation normal, water 67 and clear. Striped bass hybrids fair on shad and blue and white slab around humps at 22-32 ft. near steep drop-offs. Report submitted by Paul Tennies, Pete’s Place.

Spavinaw: Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 70 and clear. Crappie good on jigs and minnows around dam area; largemouth fair on jerk baits; catfish fair on juglines and trotlines using cut shad. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Tenkiller: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 79 and clear. Largemouth bass slow with some action early and late on topwaters and crankbaits mid-day; crappie fair around docks on minnows or jigs; white bass fair evenings on spoons or spinners off windy points or shorelines; catfish fair on stinkbaits at 20 ft. and drifting with cut baits at 15-20 ft. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.

Webbers Falls: Elevation 1 ft. below normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along rip rap of creek channels; channel catfish fair on cut bait on bottom; crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush structure and bridges. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, state game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

NORTHWEST

Great Salt Plains: Elevation below normal and murky. Channel catfish are fair to good on trotlines and drift fishing, using shad and grasshoppers; flathead catfish slow at the spillway and stilling basin using live bait. All other fishing is slow. Report submitted by R.C. Wilson, Jr., Park Ranger.

SOUTHEAST

Blue River: Elevation normal, water 62 and clear. Smallmouth bass fair on minnows and flies; channel catfish fair on liver and worms. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

Eufaula: Elevation 10 1/2 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits at 4-6 ft. off the points; white bass good on slab spoons at 6-20 ft. on the flats; channel catfish good on shad at 4-10 ft. on the flats; crappie good on jigs at 6-20 ft. in standing timber. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, state game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Konawa: Elevation normal, water 70 and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits at 8-10 ft. along points; channel catfish good on chicken liver at 15 ft. in discharge channel. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, state game warden stationed in Seminole County.

McGee Creek: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 79 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic lures at 10-14 ft. off rocky points; channel catfish fair on jug lines. Report submitted by Larry Luman, state game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: Trout poor to fair on a variety of baits. Try streamers, small mayflies, caddis, various midges and emergers. Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Pine Creek: Elevation below normal. Bass good on crankbaits at 12-16 ft. around rocky points; crappie fair around brush on minnows; catfish fair on yo-yos in creek channels baited with minnows. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, state game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Robert S. Kerr: Elevation normal, water 71 and murky. Largemouth bass fair at 3-6 ft. on plastic baits and topwater baits in weeds, rocks and woody banks early and late; crappie good at 10 ft. on minnows around structure in old creek channels; white bass fair at 4-8 ft. using shad imitation crankbaits in the upper channel areas from Tamaha to Webbers Falls dam; catfish (blue and flathead) good at 20-25 ft. using fresh cut bait and live bait fishing the old Arkansas river channel. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, state game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Texoma: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 78 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on plastic baits at 5-10 ft. in creek channels; white bass and striped bass fair on sassy shad at 15-20 ft. in west Burns Run; catfish fair on cut shad at 5-10 ft. in Platter Flats; crappie fair on minnows at 5-15 ft. in Rock Creek. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, state game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water 71 and murky. Crappie good on minnows at 8-14 ft. in standing timber; largemouth bass fair at 6 ft. around structure on dark-colored plastic worms or salt craws. Report submitted by D.G. Belcher, state game warden stationed in Latimer County.

SOUTHWEST

Altus-Lugert: Elevation 18 ft. below normal and murky. Irrigation canal is closed. North shore boat ramp is high and dry. Crappie and striped bass hybrids fair. Channel catfish, walleye and largemouth bass poor. Blue catfish poor to fair. Report compiled by Quartz Mountain Grocery.

Foss: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal, water 71 and clear. Striped bass hybrids and white bass fair on slabs. Catfish good. Walleye and saugeye slow. Bass fair. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.

Waurika: Elevation normal. Channel catfish slow on juglines and rod and reel; crappie being caught on minnows around marina. Report submitted by Phillip Cottrill, state game warden stationed in Jefferson County.

21st: Deadline for registering for National Wild Turkey Federation Women in the Outdoors Event to be held Saturday, October 29, 2005. Location of Event: 3.2 miles east of Wynnewood, OK off Hwy 29. Course offerings include archery, journaling your outdoor experience, native American cooking, leather craft, basic camping, pistol, outdoor photography, turkey hunting, Dutch oven cooking, muzzleloading, nature craft, shotgunning and wild game cooking. Class availability subject to enrollment numbers and workshop fee is $50. It includes lunch, use of all equipment, consumable supplies, program materials and instruction. You will need to bring the following items with you: a water bottle, sunscreen, bug repellent, a hat, comfortable clothes, and comfortable shoes. For more information contact Luann Waters at (405) 665-2323 or (405) 642-9232.

22nd – 23rd: Youth Waterfowl Days in Zone 1.

22nd-30th: Deer Muzzleloader Season. Antlerless days vary by zone.

27th-31st: The Oklahoma Aquarium’s annual HallowMarine event will be a big hit with ghouls and goblins of all ages. The Haunted Pirate Ship, Trick-or-Treat Trail, and the Kids’ Carnival are highlights. Prices for admission to HallowMarine are $8 for adults and $7 for youth ages 3-12. For more information contact Macy Jiles at (918) – 296- FISH or mjiles@okaquarium.org.

28th & 29th: Project Wild at Northeastern State University, Tahlequah. Class runs from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday. For more information or to enroll contact Dr. Kay Frank at (918) 868-2802.

29th – Nov. 18th: Fall Firearms Turkey Season open only in designated counties.

29th: Zone 1 Duck Season Opens.

29-30: Youth Waterfowl Days for Duck Zone 2.

STATEWIDE HUNTER EDUCATION COURSES
Course locations are listed by town, followed by date, course location and time. If a phone number is listed, pre-registration is required. Courses are a minimum of 10 hours and are free. Students must pass an exam with a score of 70 percent. For updated information on upcoming courses, contact the Wildlife Department’s Hunter Education Hotline at (405) 521-4650 or check our Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com/hunted.htm

OKC: Oct. 25; Home Study, H&H Gun Range; 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.; (405) 947-3888.

Broken Arrow: Oct. 25 & 27 & Nov 1; South Intermediate High School; 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.; (918) 259-4580; Must attend all three days.

Bromide: Oct. 28 &29; Camp Simpson; Oct. 28 (7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.) and Oct. 15 (8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.); (580) 223-0831; Must attend both days

OKC: Nov. 1; Home Study, Bass Pro; 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.; (405) 218-5200.

Jenks: Nov. 1; Home Study, ODWC Office, (200 Aquarium Dr); 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.; (918) 299-2334.

OKC: Nov. 3; Home Study, H&H Gun Range; 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.; (405) 947-3888.

Enid: Nov. 4 & 5; Fairgrounds; Nov. 4 (6 p.m. -10 p.m.) and Nov. 5 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.); Must attend both days.

Tahlequah: Nov. 4 & 5; Northeaster State University; Nov. 4 (6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.) and Nov. 5 (8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.); Must attend both days.

Lawton: Nov. 4 & 5; Great Plains Tech Center Room 300; Nov. 4 (6 p.m. -10 p.m.) and Nov. 5 (9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.); Must attend both days.

Wagoner: Nov. 5; Civic Center; 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Clinton: Nov. 5; Custer County Fairgrounds; 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Antlers: Nov. 5; High School Auditorium; 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Bartlesville: Nov. 5; Tri-County Tech Center; 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Woodward: Nov. 5; High Plains Tech Center; 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

OKC: Nov. 5; Omniplex; 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. (405) 521-3855.

Jenks: Nov. 5; High School Building #6; 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.; (918) 299-2334.

The statewide season runs Oct. 22-30, offering nine days of traditional-style hunting that harkens back to the early days of Oklahoma’s hunting heritage. Hunting with a muzzleloading firearm offers a great chance for Oklahoma hunters to harvest a deer, and possibly a big buck. Additionally, cool breezes and fall colors make it a great time to be out in the woods.

Oklahomans are blessed with a wide variety of terrain that whitetail deer call home. Many of the more than 77 wildlife management areas in the state are open for all, or a portion of, the nine-day muzzleloader season. Regardless of where you go it is always a good idea to do some scouting before the season.

Hunters can do a little virtual scouting and never leave the comfort of home by logging onto wildlifedepartment.com. The Web site offers an award-winning digital wildlife management area atlas. And best of all it is free. In addition to detailed maps, sportsmen can find additional information such as camping locations and contact information for local biologists.

More than 100,000 hunters participated in the muzzleloader season last year. These hunters contributed significantly to the $909 million economic impact produced by all of Oklahoma’s nearly 300,000 hunters according to the most recent economic impact a survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

For specific information regarding which areas are open to muzzleloader season, licenses, bag limits, blaze orange clothing requirements or legal firearms, consult the “2005 Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log onto www.wildlifedepartment.com.

A routine fishing trip turned into a record-breaking day for one Muskogee man. Gary Doak Jr. caught a 35-pound, 15-ounce channel catfish while bass fishing Sept. 11 at Taft Lake west of Muskogee.

“If someone told me there was a fish that big in the lake I would have probably said they were crazy,” said Doak, Oklahoma’s newest record fish holder. “That is one of the things that makes fishing so much fun – you throw your line in the water and you never know what will bite on the other end.”
Doak, who lives in Muskogee, got more than he bargained for when he hooked the huge fish in the predawn hours of Sunday, Sept. 11.

“I was bass fishing just before sunrise when the catfish hit in about 10-12 feet of water. I didn’t know what it was, but I was hoping it was a state record bass. It kind of pulled me around for some time in my little boat – I was just hoping my rod and reel would hold together,” Doak said.

Doak was using a two-inch long plastic sunfish bait and 16-pound test line. He realized he had a catfish when he went to scoop it up in the dip net.

“There was no way that fish was going to fit in the dip net, so I just horsed it in as best I could,” he said. “Because it was still dark and it was so big, I assumed it was a blue cat.”

It wasn’t until the sun came up that Doak realized he had caught a channel catfish, but he still didn’t realize he had a potential state record.

“When I told a buddy I had caught a channel catfish that might weigh 30 or 35 pounds, he said to take the thing straight to the nearest certified scales,” Doak said.

He quickly contacted officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation who certified the fish as the new state record. The huge fish was 39 1/4 inches long and measured 26 1/4 inches in girth. Doak plans on having a taxidermist mount the fish.

The previous channel catfish record of 34 pounds, 11 ounces was set by Barry Bond who pulled the big catfish from Canton Lake in May of 2002.

For a complete list of record fish and the procedures regarding certifying state record fish, consult the “Oklahoma Fishing Guide.” If you think you may have hooked a record fish it is important that you weigh the fish on an Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture certified scale and the weight is verified by a Wildlife Department employee.

Bell Cow: The only fishing method allowed at Bell Cow is rod and reel fishing. Elevation slightly above normal, water 80 and clear. Crappie good at 12 ft. on jigs and minnows and off fishing dock; channel catfish are being caught off fishing dock, in channels and in deeper water on minnows, dough bait and cut bait; bass are hitting in the brush on plastic worms, jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits; white bass good. Report submitted by James Hensley, lake ranger.

Birch: Elevation 2 ft. below normal. Striped bass hybrids good early in the morning hours while trolling with crankbaits or live shad; crappie fair off the docks using minnows and jigs; catfish fair on cut fish around the upper end of the lake. Report submitted by Ben Bickerstaff, state game warden stationed in Osage County.

Chandler: Elevation slightly above normal, water 80 and clear. Crappie good at 12 ft. on jigs and minnows; channel catfish good in deeper water on minnows, dough bait and cut bait; bass fair along brush, hitting plastic worms, jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Report submitted by James Hensley, lake ranger.

Eucha: Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 82 and clear. Crappie good on jigs and minnows around brush and structure at 12-15 ft.; largemouth good on plastic baits off rocky points; catfish fair on juglines and trotlines using live sunfish; bluegill fair on crickets and worms around grass beds. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Grand: Elevation below normal and clear. Channel catfish fair on juglines with cut shad at 20 ft. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, state game warden stationed in Delaware County.

Greenleaf: Elevation below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits; catfish fair on cut bait on bottom; crappie fair on minnows off the fishing dock. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, state game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

Hudson: Elevation slightly above normal, water 80 and murky. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits; blue catfish good on cut shad. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, state game warden stationed in Mayes County.

Keystone: Elevation 3 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass good on topwaters and plastics at 6-8 ft.; white bass fair on rooster tails and topwaters around the dam; striped bass slow on topwaters around dam; channel catfish fair on livers; blue and flathead catfish fair on shad around the dam; crappie fair on minnows at 15 ft. Report submitted by Larry Sellers, Woody’s Bait and Tackle.

Oologah: Elevation 3 ft. above normal, water 80 and rising slowly. Water muddy in the north end and murky in the south end. Channel and blue catfish good on flats in north end of the lake on shad at 15-20 ft.; crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush piles at 20 ft.; channel and blue catfish fair below the dam on shad. Reminder that Saturday Sept. 10th is the Brush Pile Day at Oologah. If you would like to assist call the Army Corp Office at (918) 443-2250. Report submitted by Brek Henry, state game warden stationed in Rogers County.

Skiatook: Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water 85 and clearing. Crappie fair on worms and minnows at 10-25 ft. at Hwy 20 bridge and other structures; striped bass hybrids fair on large minnows, off points and in the mouths of creeks and good on pearl white sassy shad; largemouth bass have been reported suspended at 20-30 ft. around brush piles and other structure. Report submitted by Greenwood Fishing Center.

Sooner: Elevation above normal, water 83 and clear. Hybrid striped bass and white bass good on live shad fishing humps at 24-31 ft. near steep drop-offs and fair on blue and white slabs. Report submitted by Paul Tennies, Pete’s Place.

Spavinaw: Elevation slightly below normal, water 86 and clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around dam area; largemouth good on topwater early morning; catfish fair on juglines using cut shad. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries.

Tenkiller: Elevation 9 1/2 ft. below normal, water 88. Catfish fair drifting with cut bait at 10-20 ft. and good on stinkbaits at 15-20 ft.; white bass fair at the lower end of the lake in the evenings on spinners or spoons; sunfish good along bluffs or near docks on worms. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort.

Webbers Falls: Elevation 2 ft. below normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and plastic worms off rip rap; catfish good on cut bait on bottom. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, state game warden stationed in Muskogee County.

NORTHWEST

Canton: Elevation normal. White bass, striped bass hybrids and walleye fair drifting shad and slabs and trolling crankbaits; channel catfish good in upper end of lake good on shad; crappie fair near deep brush piles on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Mark Walker, state game warden stationed in Blaine County.

SOUTHEAST

Arbuckle: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 82 and stained. Crappie fair around brush piles at 15-23 ft. on minnows and jigs; white bass slow; bass fishing is slow with some action early morning on topwaters and soft plastics off points. Report submitted by Jack Melton.

Blue River: Elevation normal, water 80 and clear. Catfish good on liver and worms; bass fair on minnows and spinners. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

Broken Bow: Elevation 12 1/2 ft. below normal and water 88. Largemouth bass poor to fair schooling early and late on grubs and topwaters; crappie poor to fair at 25-35 ft. around treetops. Report submitted Dru Polk, state game warden stationed in McCurtain County.

Eufaula: Elevation 3 1/2 ft. and clear. White bass fair on slab spoons at 10-20 ft. on flats; crappie fair on jigs at 10-20 ft. under bridges. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, state game warden stationed in McIntosh County.

Konawa: Elevation normal, water 90 and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits along cove and weed beds at 5-8 ft.; channel catfish good along dam in south cove on chicken liver at 5-10 ft. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, state game warden stationed in Seminole County.

McGee Creek: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 84 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastics at 16-24 ft.; channel catfish fair on juglines baited with sunfish along rip rap; crappie fair on minnows around brush piles. Report submitted by Larry Luman, state game warden stationed in Atoka County.

Lower Mountain Fork River: Trout good on caddis, mayflies, mosquitoes, and midges. Good flies reported to be: caddis dry flies and emergers, mayflies (including dry, emergers, and cripples) streamers, such as the “Sparkle leach” and woolly buggers. Report submitted by Sid and Peggy, Beavers Bend Fly Shop.

Robert S. Kerr: Elevation normal, water 85 and murky. Largemouth bass slow at 6-8 ft. using plastic baits fishing the wood, rock and weed structure next to deeper water; crappie fair at 10-12 ft. using minnows fishing in the bends of the old submerged creek channels in the Big San Bois and Sallisaw creek areas; white bass fair surface to 10 ft. using shad imitation lures fishing in the Applegate and Cowlington Point areas; blue and flathead catfish fair at 20-30 ft. using fresh cut shad and live bait fishing along the old Arkansas River channel; sauger and walleye fair using minnows fishing just off the bottom at the mouth of the Illinois River; striped bass hybrids fair using live bait fishing below Hwy. 64 bridge to the mouth of the Illinois River. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, state game warden stationed in Haskell County.

Texoma: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal, water 84 and clear. Largemouth bass fair to good on plastic lures at 5-10 ft. in creek channels; white and striped bass fair to good on live bait and topwater lures at 5-20 ft. in Burns Flat run; channel and blue catfish fair to good on cut bait 5-10 ft. in Platter Flats. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, state game warden stationed in Bryan County.

Wister: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 82 and murky. Crappie fair on jigs around brush piles at 3-5 ft.; largemouth bass good, plastic worms (dark colors) at 5-9 ft.; white bass good when surfacing with jigs or most topwater plugs; flatheads good on trotlines up the Fourche Maline or Poteau River arms on live sunfish at 5 ft.; channel and blue catfish slow. Report submitted by D.G. Belcher, state game warden stationed in Latimer County.

SOUTHWEST

Altus-Lugert: Elevation 15 1/2 ft. below normal. Irrigation canal is open. North Shore and Beach Haven Boat Ramps are high and dry. Water murky. Blue catfish fair. Report compiled by Quartz Mountain Grocery.

Foss: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 79 and clear. Gates are open. Striped bass hybrids good on live bait on the south end around the dam and Sandy Beach area; white bass fair; catfish good; walleye and saugeye fair. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House.

Crossland took the huge buck in Tillman County which was previously reported to have 31 points. The antlers were held as evidence in a court case and Crossland took possession of them August 2 when the case was dismissed by a Tillman County judge.

The former non-typical Cy Curtis record whitetail, taken in 2003 in Hughes County, scored 240 3/8 and had a total of 29 points. Crossland’s buck also surpasses the current Oklahoma Boone and Crockett record non-typical whitetail taken in Johnston County in 1970 which scored 247 2/8 inches.

More than 45,000 people attended the Wildlife Expo hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Participants were able to stroll through more than 100 different booths and hands-on activities during the free, two-day event.

Don’t forget that September 3 & 4 are free hunting days in Oklahoma. Oklahoma residents do not need a hunting license to go afield on the first Saturday and Sunday of dove season.

For complete dove hunting regulations, be sure to pick up a copy of the “2005-06 Oklahoma Hunting Guide” at a sporting goods retailer near you.

Southwest
Some large groups of doves have moved through and the number varies from day to day. Currently there are good numbers and they are using food plots and stubble fields, although rain delayed plowing of many fields. Water hole hunting will not be good as most years because of the recent rains. Whitewing doves are increasing in southwest Oklahoma, as well as collared doves which are found mostly around towns.

Northwest
No large groups seen on the wildlife management areas (WMAs). Rain has delayed plowing of fields and doves have not begun using feed patches. Water hole hunting will probably not be very good unless the weather becomes dry. Forecast is for a fair season, but this is weather dependent. Collared doves are increasing in some areas but not seen yet on WMAs.

Northcentral
Doves are beginning to form large groups and the shooting opportunities will depend on the weather before opening day. Water hole hunting will not likely be good. Collared doves are increasing around towns.

Southcentral
The outlook is fair to poor. A few fields have been mowed or disked, but these have received little use by doves. Most fields have not been worked because of the wet weather. Water hole hunting will probably not be good due to recent rains. Collared and whitewing doves are increasing mostly in and around towns.

Northeast
A few congregations of doves have been sighted and the forecast is for a fair season. Waterhole hunting will probably not be productive. Collared doves are increasing and there have been reports of whitewing doves in the region.

Southeast
No congregations of doves have been seen and the forecast is fair to poor. Water hole hunting will probably not be good except in the counties experiencing drought conditions.