Public Range, Prescribed Flames - BGWT 110

Oklahoma’s public lands don’t stay healthy by accident. In our latest episode, Jeff Pennington—Central Region Supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation—details how his team shepherds more than 125,000 acres of WMAs with a heavy dose of prescribed fire, targeted grazing, and common-sense biology. 
Deer now headline the habitat bill, but everything from quail coveys to moist-soil wetlands benefits when fire keeps brush in check.

Jeff shares what it takes to ignite 16,000-plus acres a year on a three-year rotation, why summer flames can be gentler than winter ones, and how ODWC’s burn crews coordinate like a home-grown fire association. 
If you manage land, hunt state ground, or simply enjoy Oklahoma’s prairies and oak breaks, Jeff’s mix of hard data and front-line stories—yes, including flaming pants—offers a master class in turning careful burns into better wildlife for all.

Key Takeaways

1. ODWC manages ~125k public acres across central OK.
2. Prescribed fire averages 16–17k acres annually.
3. Three-year intervals balance forage, fuel, and brush.
4. Deer now drive most WMA habitat goals.
5. Cross Timbers require different tactics than limestone prairies.
6. Growing-season burns boost forbs, move cattle, and add diversity.
7. Smoke-dispersion planning is critical near OKC & Tulsa.
8. Burn crews act like an internal “PBA,” sharing gear and labor.
9. Hunters largely support more fire; complaints come when work stops.
10. Private landowners should lean on PBAs and agency tech assistance.

Timestamps

00:00 – 00:45 Show open and light banter
00:46 – 03:30 Jeff’s background and 30-year ODWC career
03:31 – 06:15 Overview of Central-Region WMAs (≈ 125 k acres across five regions)
06:16 – 08:45 Deer now “king”; quail decline and shifting habitat priorities
08:46 – 11:30 Prescribed-fire program burning 16–17 k acres per year
11:31 – 14:15 Key habitat types: Cross Timbers and limestone prairies
14:16 – 17:30 Three-year burn rotation and grazing synergy
17:31 – 20:30 Expanded dormant-season burn window and timing logic
20:31 – 23:15 Growing-season burns—benefits, limits, and wildlife response
23:16 – 26:00 Crew logistics: ODWC’s “internal burn association” approach
26:01 – 29:00 Smoke-dispersion planning near OKC and Tulsa metro areas
29:01 – 31:15 Hunter perceptions then vs. now; increased support for fire
31:16 – 34:30 Landowner tips: Prescribed Burn Associations and agency assistance
34:31 – 36:45 Memorable burns, including the famous “pants-on-fire” moment
36:46 – 39:00 Final takeaways, thank-yous, and episode wrap-up

Find all resources at BlazinGrazinWildThings.com