Dear O.T.H.A.: Letters and quotes from members and friends of the Oklahoma Trophy Hunters Association.
The O.T.H.A. is a good idea and I want to join and spread the word. I would really like to get together with some guys on a -lease and do some trophy management. If you could give me some names and numbers of some people I could get together with, I would really appreciate it.
Todd Gentling
13962 Twin Ridge Rd.
Edmond, OK 73034
(405)341-5342
Saw the article on your
hunting club in the newspaper
and would be interested in
joining. Please send
applications.
Law Offices of
Mansell & Engel
101 Park Ave.
Okla. City, OK 73102
I know the habitat in Okla. "should" produce thousands more trophy bucks than what we see today. If they can grow them big in Texas on cactus, sage, sand and mesquite, then we're in for superb hunting in OK if we do it smart.
I too have passed on many bucks. Sometimes this makes the chore of packing up camp and driving home long reflective periods but, when I look in the mirror, I am able to honestly say,"you did the right thing and, it will pay off."
I would like to know more
about contacting other "truly
dedicated" hunters who need
a lease partner. I want to
become more involved with those
that have the same drive to
of manage" a lease and do what
is necessary in the off season
to help its productivity.
The O.T.H.A. is exactly the
type of organization that needs
the help of the hunting public.
Allen Miller
505 Benton Rd.
Edmond, OK 73034
(405)348-6655
Sign me up. I have been a
member of the Texas Trophy
Hunters Association for a number
of years and know the value
of the organization.
Dr. Thomas Coe, M.D.
Guthrie, OK
I am a property owner in
Western Okla., Washita County.
There hasn't been a big buck
shot here in two or three years.
I agree with you, we need to
let them grow up. If it' s got
any horns at all here, he is
shot. If I can help you, let
me know.
Harold Cooper
Landowner
Washita County
We've been managing our leases
using these same principles
for years, and have tried to
convince others of the benefits
we've seen. I appreciate the
work you're doing and support
your efforts. Thanks.
Kevin Mussett
Stillwater, OK
Need
to see more quality bucks.
Only way is through group effort.
Marlin Warren
14th Judicial District
Coweta, OK
I am a true believer in trophy
deer management for Oklahoma.
I would be proud to be a member
of a group that supports this.
If we could just get other
landowners to realize the
potential that Oklahoma has
for trophy deer, it would benefit
the deer herd as well as the
hunters. I also enjoy Dr.
Redmon's articles and am glad
to see him involved with this
association.
Louis Karns
Landowner
Orlando, OK
I agree with your goals.
Will do my best to promote your
organization to my friends and
family in Okmulgee and Tulsa
Counties.
Eddie Withrow
Henryetta, OK
This is the first year I
hunted with bow and did take
a 112 lb. doe. After witnessing
my neighbor and two other
individuals take young 6 pt.
bucks, the same size or smaller
than my doe, I instantly thought
to myself. SOMETHING IS WRONG
WITH THIS PICTURE.
Six of us have a lease just
east of Konawa. I will bow
hunt again next year, but my
conscious will be clear. If
he is not well developed trophy
size, I'll settle for another
doe.
Fred E. Reiss
El Reno, OK
I live in Ardmore, Oklahoma,
and have hunted deer in this
area since old enough to hunt.
I will be 50 years old in May,
so I have hunted this area for
some time. Each year I find
it more difficult to find a
place to hunt. With the
increased emphasis on "lease
hunting," it has become virtually
impossible to find a place to
hunt without having to pay the
high price a lease would cost.
I realize that lease hunting
is here to stay, and to some
extent, I can agree with landowners who take advantage of deer season to make a projet, Now, I realize that avid deer hunters are willing to pay the price, whatever it might be, but some of us just can't afford it. First, I was wondering if you might have a suggestion for finding a place to hunter other than a lease; and second, what if anything, is being done to prevent misuse on private leases?
Berlin Gardner
berlin_w@yahoo.com
Admore, OK
EDITORIAL RESPONSE:
Dear Mr. Gardner:
You are exactly right. It does become increasinly difficult to find a place to hunt each year, and lease hunting is here to stay. I turned 51 in March, so I would say that we've seen the same changes occur in our state's deer heard over the years. Like you, I began deer hunting at an early age and remember when seeing a white-flag was quite an accomplishment.
There are still reasonably priced deer leases to be had. One of the major problems where you are concerned is geography. Ardmore is close to Texas, so just as you were infiltrated with armadillos before we were, so have you been infiltrated with high priced hunting leases. Excellent deer hunting leases can still be purchased in southeast-central Oklahoma for $1.00/acre/year. I would suggest hitting the back roads and visiting with landowners as soon as possible. Maybe get a small group of respected friends together and share the cost of a 1,000 acre lease. Ten hunters could hunt for $100.00 each and if they all agreed to harvest only mature bucks and does, there would be plenty of room. If you don't mind traveling, try Pontotoc, Coal, Seminole (a real sleeper) (as is) Okfuskee County.
Public lands with special draw in hunts offer some of the best opportunities for trophy class white-tails. If you're not applying for some of these special hunts, try McAlester AAP, Salt Plains, or Wichita Mts. Wildlife Refuge. These areas produce some monster white-tails each year. If you don't draw in, start scouting the Deep-Fork WMA in Lincoln, Okfuskee, and Creek Counties. It's walk-in only, but so what, road hunters don't have access either. An Atlas of Public Hunting Land can be obtained from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
To address your other
question concerning misuse of
private hunting leases, and
landowners who encourage this
abuse; I don't know that there
is a way to ever prevent all
slob-hunters from abusing our
natural resources, or to convince
all landowners that properly
managed wildlife is an asset
to their property. But I do
know that every time that the
Oklahoma Trophy Hunters
Association reaches another
hunter, a group of leaseholders
or a landowner, that an awareness
in quality management takes
place. We're doing our part,
so I guess the best solution
is to help pass the word and
AIM FOR QUALITY!
Sincerely,
Trent Hodgins,
President & Founder, O.T.H.A