Outdoors notebook

Anglers do not need to have a state fishing license or legacy permit. A trout license also is not required.

Oklahoma City also waived its license requirements today so anglers can fish for free at Draper, Hefner and Overholser lakes and the city’s designated "Close to Home” waters.

Tourney on Arkansas

The Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza will be June 26-28, a fishing tournament that spans 300 miles on the Arkansas River from Fort Smith to Dumas, the entire length of the Arkansas River within the state’s borders.

The grand prize is $100,000. Anglers can register online at www.arkansasbigbass.com.

NWTF recognized

The National Wild Turkey Federation recently received the NatureWorks Wildlife Stewardship Award for 2009 for their work in promoting the conservation of wildlife resources in Oklahoma.

NatureWorks, a Tulsa-based group, also dedicated a monument in honor of the NWTF, which will be displayed at the City-County Library in downtown Tulsa.

The large bronze sculpture named "Rio Grande Turkeys" and sculpted by artist Ron Lowery depicts three wild turkeys moving together through tall grass.

Groendyke named chairman

John Groendyke of Enid will be the new chairman of the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission for the next year.

Groendyke has served on the state wildlife commission since 1976.

Commissioner Mart Tisdal of Clinton will serve as vice-chairman. Tisdal was appointed as wildlife commissioner in 2007 by Gov. Brad Henry.