SECTION 800:25-30-3. Department responsibilities

  The following are the responsibilities of the Department in handling depredation complaints:

(1)   Upon notification of complaint, the field employee will contact the complainant within two (2) working days to investigate the damage. A reasonable effort will be made to request the assistance of the county agricultural extension agent or other crop specialist to investigate the damage.

(2)   The field employee and county agent or other specialist will determine the extent of damage. The field employee will make recommendations to the landowner regarding nonlethal control measures as described in the control abatement manual.

(3)   If damage is extensive, and until such time as long-term solutions can be implemented, the field employee shall notify the appropriate field supervisor who may issue an out-of season permit to destroy the wildlife involved. The permit will specify the following information:

(A)   Number, type and sex of wildlife allowed.

(B)   Legal description of property where permit is valid.

(C)   Permit effective dates.

(D)   Persons authorized to conduct control.

(E)   Disposition of carcasses (Sportsmen Against Hunger Program or other charitable organization where practical).

(F)   Method of control permitted.

(4)   If there has been a past history of significant crop damage on the property, the ODWC may issue an out-of-season permit to destroy the wildlife involved. Conditions of the permit will be the same as for section (3) listed above.

[Source: Added at 13 Ok Reg 183, eff 8-21-95 (emergency); Added at 13 Ok Reg 1393, eff 5-13-96; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 1801, eff 6-1-01]