Creed and Bailey Divis of Foss check out aquatic invertebrates important for waterfowl food as Washita’s Assistant Manager Brian Lockwood helps with identification.

Ed Cunnis from ODWC’s Shotgun Training Education Program instructed participants in shooting skills. USFWS photo by Brandy Chancellor.

Tishomingo NWR Biologist Jona Reasor give tips for duck and goose identification. USFWS photo by Brandy Chancellor.

Beginning waterfowl hunting enthusiasts from across western Oklahoma migrated to Washita National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, October 22^nd to take part in the First Annual Waterfowl EXPO.  The free waterfowl hunting clinic was held near the Centennial Nature Trail west of Butler, Oklahoma and ran from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm.

Staff and volunteers from Fish and Wildlife Service refuges, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and Ducks Unlimited presented topics at stations scattered around the event area, including waterfowl hunting safety, goose decoy placement, use of retrieving dogs, duck and goose calls, waterfowl identification, waterfowl habitat, duck decoys, and shotgun shooting with non-toxic shot.   

"We were very pleased to have many of the state’s best instructors volunteer to share their expertise with beginning hunters,” said Refuge Manager David Maple.  “John Amico from Deep Fork Hunting Retrievers was on hand to demonstrate the use of retrieving dogs.  Ed Cunnis, ODWC’s Shotgun Training and Education Program Coordinator, taught participants the fine points of shotgunning.  And Mike O’Melia, Oklahoma’s Waterfowl Biologist, instructed refuge visitors how to call ducks and geese.  We also had some really experienced, knowledgeable Volunteers and Fish and Wildlife Service employees who shared their expertise on other skills.” 

Participants who pre-registered for the event received door prizes donated by area merchants and participants (age 12 - 17) in the event who visited each of the stations qualified to enter a drawing for a goose hunt and a duck hunt to be conducted on the refuge in January 2006.