At their regular November meeting, Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commissioners recognized an avid hunter who completed an Oklahoma Slam by harvesting five of the state's big game species.
Sam Pharr of Colcord took a bull elk in 2001 in Comanche County; a pronghorn in 2009 in Texas County; a white-tailed deer in 2017 in Adair County; a black bear in 2019 in Le Flore County; and a mule deer in 2020 in Cimarron County.
Pharr joins three other hunters recognized by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) for completing an Oklahoma Slam.
"It's a real testament to not only some great wildlife management … and just the opportunities we have in the state, but also a real testament to the hunters who travel all over the state to make this happen," said Micah Holmes, ODWC's chief of communication and education.
Pharr thanked Commissioners for the opportunities to hunt and for managing the state's wildlife resources.
Commissioner Tim Diehl joined the others in congratulating Pharr, saying, "This is the fun part of being up here, seeing the hunters that have accomplished what we're really here for."
Also, Commissioners viewed presentations of the annual Quail Season Outlook and Pheasant Season Outlook. Wildlife Biologist Tell Judkins said annual statewide surveys showed a decline in quail observed in most regions of the state, indicating that quail numbers have declined from last year in almost all regions of the state.
While during August, the outlook was optimistic, the onset of high heat and extreme drought in late summer took a toll on quail. Judkins said quail and pheasant hunters should be able to find fair numbers of birds in some areas where the drought's effects were less pronounced.
In other business, Commissioners:
- Learned details about ODWC's waterfowl management effort from Wildlife Biologist Paxton Smith. He detailed how banding and tracking various species, along with wing studies and federal surveys, all inform decisions about how waterfowl hunting seasons and bag limits are determined every year.
- Heard updates from Director Wade Free on various activities within ODWC's five divisions. Free reported that this year's black bear harvest of 147 was a new state record, far surpassing the previous record of 86 bears and further demonstrating that ODWC's management strategies are proving highly successful.
- Were invited to attend the 23rd annual National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses Summit in Oklahoma City from Dec. 1-4.
- Received an actuarial report for ODWC's pension plan.
The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department, and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate.
The next regular Wildlife Commission meeting is set for Dec. 7 at the John D. Groendyke Wildlife Conservation Building, 1801 N. Lincoln Blvd. in Oklahoma City.
To view a video of the November meeting, go to https://youtu.be/3fpkJ-vaLUQ.