“Conserving Oklahoma’s wildlife and outdoor spaces is best achieved through powerful partnerships between the public and private sectors,” said Ducks Unlimited Region 8 Senior Vice President Richard Godfrey. “The collaboration between ODWC and DU is a great example of this model and Oklahoma’s sportsmen and women will benefit from this legislation.”
Left to right: Randall Cole (Ducks Unlimited volunteer), Catherine Pooler (National Deer Association), Wade Free (ODWC Interim Exec Director), Marshall Reigh (OK Game Wardens Association), Nels Rudenfeld (ODWC)
Ducks Unlimited (DU) and a coalition of conservation partners, including the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC), laud the final passage of Senate Bill 941, which will update Oklahoma’s hunting and fishing license system and increase funds for habitat conservation. After passing the House and Senate, the bill will head to Governor Stitt’s desk for his signature.
“Conserving Oklahoma’s wildlife and outdoor spaces is best achieved through powerful partnerships between the public and private sectors,” said Ducks Unlimited Region 8 Senior Vice President Richard Godfrey. “The collaboration between ODWC and DU is a great example of this model and Oklahoma’s sportsmen and women will benefit from this legislation.”
DU and our partners have worked tirelessly to preserve and enhance wetlands and improve waterfowl hunting opportunities across the state. Projects on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) like Hackberry Flat WMA, Cottonwood Creek Wetland Development Unit, and the nearly 2,400 acres of restored public wetlands on Drummond Flats WMA are just a few of the more than 300 projects that have impacted over 50,000 acres across Oklahoma. These projects are made possible because of dedicated partnerships and supporters.
“We were proud to lead the charge, along with a diverse alliance of sportsmen’s groups and conservation partners supporting this commonsense legislation. It will bring much-needed dollars for long-overdue habitat improvements around the state,” said DU Regional Vice President and State Policy Chair Randall Cole. “It took a lot of work to get this done, and we are grateful for the leadership of Senator David Bullard (District 6 – Durant) and Representative Ty Burns (District 35 – Pawnee), along with the numerous co-authors, in getting this critical conservation legislation passed.”
The state duck stamp is an excellent example of using these funds. By law, state duck stamp dollars must be used for waterfowl conservation, so ODWC can now invest more resources to restore and enhance habitat in Oklahoma and conserve critical areas of the prairie breeding grounds where our ducks are produced.
About Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 18 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent capital campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
Media Contact:
Emily Austin
601-206-5438
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