Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC)

Print the Fish for your farm pond application, have the pond inspected and the application signed by a game warden or fisheries biologist, and mail it (one per pond) to Fisheries Division, ODWC, PO Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152 by May 31 of the year you want fish.

Deadline text on the page: Return EACH APPLICATION by MAY 31 of the year that you want fish.

Fisheries Division

ODWC provides free largemouth bass, channel catfish and bluegill fingerlings to owners of new or reclaimed farm ponds of at least a half acre that have no existing fish. Up to 3 ponds or 10 acres per applicant are stocked at set per-acre rates.



- Pond at least a half-acre in surface size with no existing fish population
- No fee charged for fishing the pond
- Owner must have a current Oklahoma fishing license and allow law enforcement to examine the pond and check licenses
- Signed by landowner or lessee

A reduction or waiving of fees for meeting a certain criteria.

Discount

Bass 2" at 100/acre, catfish 2" at 100/acre, bluegill 1" at 500/acre; max 3 ponds or 10 acres per applicant.

Published amounts: Fish are provided based on the following lengths and STOCKING RATE: largemouth bass 2" (100 per acre), channel catfish 2" (100 per acre) and bluegill 1" (500 per acre). However no more than 3 ponds or 10 acres total worth of fish will be provided to any one applicant.

Fill out the online or printable OLAP application and/or contact the OLAP biologist or technician; an OLAP representative visits to assess habitat and suitability, then drafts a lease agreement specifying terms, conditions and compensation.

Deadline text on the page: No sign-up window published; landowners apply any time via online or printable application.

Joshua Luft

Wildlife Biologist (OLAP) - Statewide

ODWC leases private land for walk-in public hunting, fishing, stream access and wildlife viewing, paying landowners $2–$20 an acre depending on acreage, allowed activities, location and lease length. Extra compensation is possible for cooperative enrollment with neighbors, multiyear contracts, concurrent enrollment in conservation programs such as CRP or WHIP, and vegetation and land-use practices. Enrolled landowners get limited liability under Oklahoma recreational-use and farm/ranch liability statutes.



- Legal owner of record, their representative, or a lessee with operational authority for the length of the contract
- Land accessible from a public road
- Walk-in hunting areas at least 40 acres
- Known, marked (or reasonably markable) boundaries

Payment per unit of land to do or avoid certain practices related to land management.

Easement

Lease is active once both parties sign; either party may terminate at any time (prorated payment); ownership change terminates the lease (new owner may renew).

Published amounts: Lease payments vary from $2-20/acre, depending on acreage, activities allowed, property location, and the duration of lease activities.

Apply Sept. 1–Dec. 31 (request an application or a biologist visit through the WHIP contact form on the program page). A Private Lands Biologist contacts the applicant, visits the property and builds a habitat improvement plan; a panel reviews plans in June and applicants are notified by or shortly after July 1. The signed contract and plan must be returned within 30 days of approval and before any reimbursable work.

Deadline text on the page: Landowners can apply annually between Sept 1 and Dec 31, pool of landowner applications are reviewed and approved once a year (June)

General office (WHIP)

Brett Cooper

Private Lands Biologist — Northwest

Jason Smith

Private Lands Biologist — Southwest

Kyle Johnson

Private Lands Biologist — Central

Lauren Johnson

Private Lands Biologist — Northeast

Leah Lowe

Private Lands Biologist — Southeast

ODWC shares the cost of long-term wildlife habitat work on private land in Oklahoma, reimbursing part of the cost after the project is done, up to $4,500 per landowner per year. Eligible work includes timber thinning and small openings, native grass, tree or shrub planting, cedar removal, firebreaks, habitat-protection fencing and small wetland creation; food plots and disking are not cost-shared. Any landowner (or a lessee with a qualifying lease) can apply, regardless of property size, and must maintain the work for 10 years.



- Statewide, private property; no minimum landholding or project acres
- Land lessees may apply on leased property with a copy of a lease showing management capability for the 10-year maintenance period
- Short-term practices (food plots, disking) are not cost-shared

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Partial reimbursement after completion and inspection; max $4,500 per participant per year; 1-year contract (work done by June 30 of the following year) plus a 10-year maintenance agreement; payment generally within 45–90 days of inspection (bulletin: within 90 days of receipt of the reimbursement form).

Published amounts: $4,500.00 maximum reimbursement per landowner (project), per year

List of Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) Funding Opportunities