At its regular August meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission revised an emergency rule to require that only nonresidents need to check in to public hunting and fishing areas. Upon the governor’s approval, nonresident hunters and anglers who use wildlife management areas and some public fishing areas will need to check in through the Go Outdoors Oklahoma app beginning this fall.

Some check-in requirements still exist for residents and nonresidents who use limited access areas within the?Oklahoma Land Access Program.

Much of the meeting focused on recognition of recent award winners from within and outside of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). Those award winners included:

Michael Hollie, pictured above, received the 2024 Fisheries Division Professional of the Year award. Hired in 2015, Hollie is now stationed at the Holdenville Field Office. He manages fisheries resources in a six-county area, including Lake Eufaula, and started the Oklahoma Statewide Habitat initiative. Hollie’s nomination states he consistently goes above and beyond what is required to benefit the anglers of Oklahoma.

John Sanders as the ODWC 2025 Landowner Conservationist of the Year. The McCurtain County farmer has developed 55 acres of seasonal wetland units for waterfowl and shorebirds, among other projects.

Senior Wildlife Biologist Marcus Thibodeau received the Harold C. Stuart Conservation Excellence Award from the Oklahoma Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Thibodeau’s work includes managing Packsaddle, Ellis County and Black Kettle WMAs. Since 2022, he has overseen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of projects removing eastern redcedars and Rio Grande wild turkey habitat management. OKTWS President Colter Chitwood said Thibodeau’s tireless efforts and drive make him an exceptional candidate for the award.

Zeke Hawkes as the 2024 Wildlife Technician of the Year. An 11-year ODWC employee, Hawkes manages Fort Gibson WMA. In 2024 he managed the waterfowl blind draw, managed water pump repairs and stepped in when a coworker was on leave. His nomination said he is dedicated and tackles tasks ahead of schedule.

John Rempe as the 2024 Wildlife Biologist of the Year. A 28-year department veteran, John manages 34,746 acres between Copan, Hulah and Osage WMAs. In 2024, Rempe conducted controlled burns on 16,783 acres and organized the Quail Forever habitat workday on Osage WMA-Rock Creek-Hack. His nomination said he hits the perfect balance of benefiting sportsmen and benefiting wildlife.

Shooting Range Coordinator Amanda Thomas received the 2025 Spirit of ODWC Award. Hired by ODWC in 2012, Thomas has previously served in the Federal Aid and Accounting divisions. In her current role, she is overseeing contractors on new construction and renovation, scouting locations on WMAs, working with engineers, managing about 12% of the agency’s operational budget and more. Her nomination says her contributions go well beyond her job description.

Justin Cornett received the Game Warden of the Year Award. Based in Caddo County, Cornett was responsible for 150 wildlife cases in 2024 and assisted in more. He created an educational program for elementary and middle school students. Cornett’s nomination states his dedication to teamwork makes him a standout performer. His father also received this award during his service as an Oklahoma game warden.

ODWC Communication and Education Supervisor Lance Meek presented about the Agency Mentorship Program, which pairs ODWC employees who are interested in learning to hunt with employees who can mentor them.

Also during the meeting, the Commission heard a report on the fiscal impact of the Wildlife License Modernization Act.

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 Sept. 8 at Roman Nose State Park, 3236 OK-8A, Watonga, OK 73772.

A video of the Aug. 4 meeting is available on the Outdoor Oklahoma YouTube Channel.