Oakridge Ranch Wildlife Management Association
Weimar, Texas
Volunteers from Oakridge Ranch Wildlife Management Association (ORWMA) showed up Saturday April 9, 2022, to pick up litter on County Road 215. On the 3.1 miles from the North Gate to County Road 215, about 8 bags of trash were picked up. Thanks to everyone who participated.
To All Oakridge Landowners,
Well, 2022 is here and as we begin a new year, I would like to take a moment to let everyone what is happening. As you may or may not know, ORWMA no longer issues doe permits. This is now done through the State on the Texas Parks & Wildlife Landowner Management Assistance (LMA) website. In the past, ORWMA charged a $30 participation fee to issue permits. This fee is now paid directly to the State of Texas and ORWMA receives nothing.
All Oakridge Ranch property owners are considered inactive members of ORWMA when they buy property in Oakridge Ranch. To be considered an active member and be part of the Managed Land Deer Program (MLDP) sponsored by TPWD you must pay your ORWMA dues, register your property on the LMA website, and pay your $30 participation fee to the State of Texas. It is the goal of ORWMA that all Oakridge property owners become active members and active participants in all ORWMA activities so that our area of the Oak Prairie region of Texas may continue to thrive under our leadership and stewardship of this land
Besides the MLD program, ORWMA hosts various wildlife/habitat related seminars during the year, social events such as the annual Fish Fry, picks up trash on County Road 215 (you may have seen the sign on the way into the Ranch) and hosts the Texas Youth Hunt.
ORWMA is also a member of CCWMA (Colorado County Wildlife Management Association) and contributes to the annual spring banquet, which raises money for scholarships for Colorado County youth. To date, CCWMA has awarded over $130,000 in scholarships.
Dues for ORWMA members are payable January 1st of each year. Dues will be going up to $25 this year. With the loss of revenue from the doe permit fees, we find ourselves having to reevaluate our situation. ORWMA cannot continue to exist in our current form unless everyone pays their dues. ORWMA cannot survive on just dues alone but also depends on the generous donations from our members. Dues can be dropped in the ORWMA mailbox or mailed to:
ORWMA
1904B Oakridge Rd
Weimar TX 78962
Thank you for your support.
Earl Fly
ORWMA President
Following the October 3 ORWMA Board Meeting the following results are announced:
Vice President – Steve Jaap reelected
Whitetail Deer Chairperson – Vernon Wallace
Secretary/Treasurer – Position unfilled
The term is for 2 years and will begin January 1, 2022.
Earl Fly
ORWMA President
The October ORWMA Board meeting will be held Sunday, October 3rd at 2 pm at the Community Center. Three Board positions will be up for election at the meeting. The positions are for Vice-President (currently held by Steve Jaap), Secretary/Treasurer (currently held by Angie Konvicka), and Whitetail Deer Chairperson (currently held by Jerry Rogers). The term is for two years with no term limits and will begin on January 1, 2022. Angie Konvicka will NOT be seeking reelection as she plans on finally enjoying retirement! Our communications chair, Angie Peters, can assist with the minutes and correspondence portion of the Secretary/Treasurer position which would leave the financials.
The duties of the above positions are listed below as taken from the ORWMA By-laws:
A) Vice-President
1. Will assume the President’s duties in the President’s absence.
2. Will perform other duties as requested by the President or Board of Directors
B) Secretary/Treasurer
1. Maintains all Association Records (including membership records.)
2. Records and distributes minutes of the Association Meetings at least 3 days prior to the next meeting for review and approval at the next meeting.
3. Handles Association Correspondence as requested.
4. Responsible for accounting of Association’s Funds.
5. Prepares the Monthly Treasurer’s Report for the Board of Directors
C) Whitetail Deer Chairperson
1. Will promote accurate census and harvest data records.
2. Will oversee the administration of Deer Checkers.
3. Will keep membership informed of changes to MLD program or other regulations or changes that affect ORWMA.
If you are interested in serving in one of these positions please email oakridgewildlifemanagement@gmail.com or come to one of the board meetings. Dates and times will be posted on the website and on the ORWMA Facebook page. Even though board meetings are generally held once a month, these positions will require much more than that.
The annual Ice Cream Social will be held July 17th at 5 pm at the Community Center. Bring your favorite ice cream, toppings, or cookies.
The Colorado County Wildlife Management Association’s (CCWMA) Banquet is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Saturday, July 10, 2021, at the Columbus Hall (formerly K.C. Hall) in Columbus, Texas. There will be live music from 4:00-6:30 and a full catered barbecue meal at 6:00 p.m. with free soft drinks and free beer while it lasts. Meal tickets will be $12 for adults and $6 for kids 12 and under. There is no cost to attend.
There will be card raffles for a Yeti cooler and an Argentina Dove Hunt, bucket raffles, a buck scoring contest and of course the drawing for the big raffle. There will also be vendors with merchandise for purchase. The 2020 Scholarship winners and the 2020 Whitetail Contest winners will be recognized.
Bring your WMA harvested buck mounts to be displayed and be eligible to win one of five $50 gift certificates. Make sure they can be hung for viewing. Also, bring your game cam and regular photos for the Photo Contest. This year’s guest speaker will be TJ Muir (Wildlife Damage Management Biologist with Wildlife Services) and he will discuss feral hog control.
The general public is also invited to attend this family friendly event. Proceeds from the event go to help fund future scholarships. To date, CCWMA has handed out over $130,000 in scholarships to local and/or CCWMA affiliated graduating seniors. Hope to see you there!
The annual Ice Cream Social will be held July 17th at 5 pm at the Community Center. Bring your favorite ice cream, toppings, or cookies. Watch your email, facebook, and ORWMA website for details.
Attached is the flyer for the TPWD District 7 2021 Webinar Series. All will be virtual over the lunch hour so hope you can find time to listen in. The webinars begin July 7. Below is the link to register just in case the link on the flyer does not work.
And looking down the road, the Fall Meeting (AKA the doe permit meeting) will be held September 11th at 9 am at the Community Center. Mark Lange will address the changes to the MLD program and how they affect ORWMA.
Earl Fly
ORWMA President
Thank you to this year’s birders, led by Bert and Jean Stipelcovich, for taking the summer census.
This year’s participants are below and the results along with last year’s are attached.
ORWMA
ANNUAL CRAWFISH/SHRIMP BOIL
DATE: April 17, 2021/Saturday
TIME: Serving 5pm to 7 pm
LOCATION: Community Center
FOOD SERVED: Boil Crawfish/Shrimp, Potatoes, Corn and Desserts
Our charity for this years is Colorado County Food Bank. Donations of non-perishable items like canned goods, dry cereal, pasta, etc.
Money donations are also welcome.
ALL OAKRIDGE LAND OWNERS ARE WELCOME!!