Four words were written on a strip of paper inside the locker of Patrick Fletcher’s neighbor during OU football’s 1999 season. “Generals don’t get hurt.” The locker belonged to South Dakota native Josh Heupel, a transfer from Snow College, a public community college in Ephraim, Utah, which had a population of 4,317 in 1998.

Applications due by Aug. 13 for private lands youth deer hunts designed for beginning hunters This year 38 youth deer hunters, ages 12-17, who have harvested no more than one deer, have a unique opportunity to participate in one of six deer hunts that will take place on private land in: Cleveland County Dec. 8-9, 2023 Dec. 15-16, 2023 Love/Carter Counties Oct. 21, 2023 (mandatory orientation on Oct. 20, 2023) – ANTLERED ONLY Dec. 9, 2023 (mandatory orientation on Dec. 8, 2023) Love County Dec. 15-16, 2023 Sequoyah County Oct. 20-22, 2023 These hunts provide a win-win for those involved. Landowners are able to better address their deer herd management goals and pass on the hunting tradition to a new generation. New youth hunters and their parents/guardians often struggle with issues of access (where to go) and uncertainty about the quality of the hunt experience, and these hunts provide direct access to areas where the hunter/guardian will have a quality experience that allows them to take their time and not feel pressured or crowded. Additionally, on most of these hunts the landowners or hunt assistants will provide guidance or help on how to process their deer after its harvest. An additional benefit is that antlerless deer taken during these hunts are considered “bonus deer,” the same as other controlled hunts, and do not count towards the hunters annual bag limit, so young hunters could have the opportunity to go again during youth, rifle, or holiday antlerless seasons.

Blue River: July 11. Elevation is 1.5 ft. above normal and rising, water temperature is 79°F and murky. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass slow on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwater lures around brush structure, river channel, rocks, and weed beds. Channel catfish good on chicken liver, cut bait, punch bait, and stinkbait around brush structure, channels, and rocks. Report submitted by Ethan Lovelace, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.

Black Crappie: Sensitive Population: Two meals per month all sizes. General Population: No advisory.