The OHA has assembled an outstanding team of subject matter experts representing a broad range of disciplines, including the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the hunting industry, outdoor media and television production, wildlife management, and experienced hunters from across Oklahoma.
Each presenter brings years of hands-on experience, extensive field knowledge, and insights gained through education, research, and countless hours pursuing whitetails. Their diverse backgrounds provide attendees with well-rounded perspectives and proven techniques designed to separate fact from fiction, dispel common myths and folklore surrounding deer behavior, and equip hunters with practical tactics and strategies they can apply in the field.
Steve Abbott
Steve has been an avid outdoorsman since his first hunting trip in 1965. He still enjoys hunting and fishing. Throughout his hunting career, he has harvested several North American game species and 19 African and exotic species. Steve retired at the rank of Major, from the Okla. City Fire Department in 2011, after serving 25 years.
Steve and his son Cody, own and operate Casa De Taxidermy and wild game processing in Newcastle, Ok. They are fulltime taxidermist, both have gained most of their education from the Okla. Taxidermist Association, where they are both Lifetime members. Steve has served on the board of directors of the OKTA for 12 years and served 2 terms as President. Steve started Casa De Taxidermy, in 2004, and Cody joined him after serving our country in the USMC. They annually attend and compete at several state conventions and competitions, where they have won several awards, both collectively and individually.
The Abbotts have been processing wild game commercially since 2016, and believes that good tasting wild game, starts with proper field care. Our continual education in taxidermy and processing, help us provide better quality for our valued customers.
Rhett Acker
Founded by Rhett Acker , a lifelong hunter and entrepreneur, Oklahoma Drone Recovery Company was born from his personal experience losing game animals and recognizing the potential of smart drone-assisted recovery. His goal: offer outstanding customer experience and help clients locate lost or wounded animals faster and more effectively. ODRC fills a unique niche in thermal drone-assisted recovery across Oklahoma. The team brings certified FAA pilots, cutting-edge technology, and ethical practices to improve recovery success rates while minimizing harm or disturbance. Whether it’s deer, cattle, lost pets, or search & rescue, ODRC offers a modern, efficient alternative to traditional tracking.
Bobby Armstrong
Bobby Armstrong grew up in Arkansas, where his passion for hunting and the outdoors began at a young age. A lifelong conservationist, Bobby has volunteered with organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation, Quail Forever, and Ducks Unlimited, earning recognition as the 2022 NWTF National Mentor of the Year for his dedication to introducing new hunters to the sport.
Bobby is a licensed paramedic and certified CPR, First Aid, and Stop the Bleed instructor, blending his public safety expertise with his work in the outdoors. He is a founding member and VP/Treasurer of Oklahoma Hunters & Anglers and co-owner of Po’Folk Outdoors, where he specializes in mentoring new hunters and tracking wounded game with his German Shorthaired Pointer, Domino.
Dallas Barber
Dallas Barber is the Big game Biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, where he directs Deer, Elk and Pronghorn programs statewide. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology in 2015. During that time, he worked for an outfitter based out of northwest Oklahoma and south-central Kansas as a hunting guide and habitat manager.
Kelly Boyer
Kelly Boyer is the Archery Education Coordinator for the ODWC. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and has received degrees in Natural Resource Ecology and Management. Kelly has been with the ODWC for nearly 7 years in the Communications and Education Division, where he works directly with instructors to further outdoor education within Oklahoma schools and communities. He is an avid hunter with over 20 years of hunting knowledge and experience and enjoys sharing hunting and outdoor skills with others.
Alyssa Bowen
Alyssa Bowen first fell in love with the outdoors as a child under the oak trees and on the lakes of southeastern Oklahoma. She still loves the outdoors but now lives with her husband, two dogs, and cat in the northwestern part of the state where she can see the sky. She is an avid outdoorswoman and loves to spend time hunting white-tailed deer or fishing with her fly rod. In 2020, Alyssa joined the Boone and Crockett Club, killing what is likely the biggest typical white-tailed deer she’ll ever see on the hoof. She has been an ambassador with Artemis Sportswomen of the National Wildlife Federation since 2020 and loves being in the outdoors with other women. Along with exploring the outdoors, she loves writing and being Mrs. Coach to her husband’s university baseball team. Alyssa has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Arkansas and a master’s degree in American Studies from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. You can find her on Instagram at @awelltraveledhomebody.
Cole Cannon
Cole was born and raised in Aubrey, TX. He began hunting at the age of 4 and hasn’t stopped since. Growing up, sports consumed most of Cole’s free time as he played football, basketball, baseball, track, and golf along with a multitude of other things such as team roping. After graduating high school, he attended Texas A&M University where he earned a degree in Sport Management. During this time, Cole found a new passion in outdoor videography/photography and the Lord blessed him with an opportunity to come work for BuckVentures after college. His parents & family have supported him his entire life & he feels truly blessed to be surrounded by people who love the Lord and the outdoors.
Bryn Chapman
Bryn Chapman relies on his 23 years of archery experience every day as the owner of Okie-Land Bowhunters Pro-Shop and Indoor Ranges in Norman, OK. Bryn takes great pride and is widely recognized as a mentor to deer hunters across the state. Helping deer hunters, especially new hunters get started on the right foot is a priority for Bryn.
Jeff Danker
Jeff is the CEO of BVO Productions. He started BuckVentures in 2003 with the motto “Shoot by Sight, Walk by Faith” based off 2 Corinthians 5:7 and has been hosting hunting shows ever since. Jeff was raised in the country in rural Central Oklahoma. He spent time as a professional team roper before starting his career in television. In addition to hunting for a living, Jeff speaks about his faith in church’s all across the country. Jeff is married to his wife, Traci, with 2 daughters, Jaylee and Gracie.
Kreg Griffith
Kreg Griffith is a dedicated chiropractor for both people and animals—and a lifelong bowhunter at heart. His passion for the outdoors was sparked at age 14 when his uncle, Kevin Roark, introduced him to hunting—a gift Kreg remains deeply grateful for.
In 2010, Kreg and his family founded Oklahoma Bowhunter LLC, creating a hub where bowhunters from across the state could connect, share their passion, swap stories, and showcase their success. Since its founding, Oklahoma Bowhunter has grown into one of the leading voices in the bowhunting community, known for its authenticity, camaraderie, and celebration of the hunt.
Jacob Harriet
Jacob is an Oklahoma State Game Warden assigned to Lincoln County. Jacob received his Bachelor’s in Wildlife Law Enforcement and his Master’s Degree in Education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Jacob was born and raised in the woods hunting and fishing. Jacob is passionate about protecting our outdoor resources and strives to share the proper management and usage of those resources with others. He hunts and fishes for anything in season, but his true passion is chasing whitetails with a bow and improving wildlife habitat.
Chancey Holdsworth
Chancey Holdsworth grew up in the small town of Greensburg, IN. Growing up, Chancey spent most of his time playing baseball, basketball and all things hunting. After high school, he attended the University of Indianapolis to play baseball. Shortly thereafter, Chancey and wife McKinley moved to Oklahoma to fulfill his dream to work in the Hunting Industry. Chancey serves as Director of Operations for BuckVentures working with sponsors, The Woodsman, and day-to-day business activities. He also is the Land Manager for BVO.
Chris Howell
McKayla Hunt
Dylan Langford
Dylan Langford serves with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation as a Game Warden, where he is dedicated to protecting Oklahoma’s wildlife, natural resources, and the people who enjoy them. A graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Parks and Wildlife Law Enforcement, Dylan has been an avid hunter and fisherman for as long as he can remember. His lifelong passion for the outdoors has also given him a strong understanding of the potential dangers that can arise in the field. As both a Game Warden and Stop the Bleed instructor, he is passionate about promoting safety and teaching others the life-saving skills that can make a critical difference during emergencies. He looks forward to sharing practical knowledge and empowering others to act with confidence when every second counts.
Leah Lowe
Leah Lowe is a Private Lands wildlife biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Covering the southeast region of Oklahoma, Leah works directly with private landowners on their properties, providing technical assistance and guidance on best management practices that improve wildlife habitat and overall land health. Prior to her career with ODWC, Leah worked as a private land’s biologist for The National Wild Turkey Federation and Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture.
Joshua Luft
Joshua started with the Department of Wildlife in the OLAP program as a technician in 2022, and took over as the Biologist back in February 2024. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in natural resource ecology and management with an option in wildlife and he is currently finishing my master’s degree in wildlife biology at Texas Tech University.
Before joining the ODWC, he worked a variety of seasonal jobs across five states working with black bears, mourning doves, sharp-tailed grouse, ring-necked pheasant, and bobwhite quail. Joshua has a passion for hunting, and enjoys chasing pheasants, quail, or ducks with his dog, or pursuing deer in the woods throughout the season.
Brian Moorehead
Brian has been in the outdoors his entire life hunting and fishing. He is very fortunate to have a great family with great outdoor values as well. He is married to my wife Karie for 32 years and they have two great kids Austen and Ashlyn and four grandkids that flat love to hunt and fish.
Brian has been a high school fishing coach for the past ten years and had the privilege of being around some wonderful kids. He really enjoys getting new people into the outdoors in one form or another from deer hunting, long range shooting, fishing.
Rick Nolan
Rick Nolan is the Co-Founder and President of the Oklahoma Hunters & Anglers (OHA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and reactivating hunters and anglers throughout Oklahoma. A lifelong outdoorsman with a passion for conservation, Rick has spent years bringing together hunters, anglers, landowners, industry professionals, and conservation partners to ensure the future of our outdoor heritage.
Under Rick’s leadership, OHA has grown into one of Oklahoma’s leading conservation organizations, hosting educational workshops, youth programs, mentored hunts, fishing clinics, and the annual Oklahoma Deer Hunting Conference & Expo. His vision is to make hunting and fishing more accessible by providing practical education, hands-on experiences, and opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels.
Rick is a frequent speaker on deer hunting, wildlife conservation, hunting equipment, and hunter education. Known for his practical, no-nonsense approach, he emphasizes ethical hunting, responsible wildlife management, and helping hunters make informed decisions in the field.
Whether organizing statewide conservation projects, mentoring first-time hunters, or coordinating one of the largest deer hunting educational events in the region, Rick’s goal remains the same: to leave the outdoors better than he found it and inspire the next generation of hunters and conservationists.
Rick and his wife, Marilyn, have been active supporters of conservation and the outdoor community for many years. Together they continue to invest their time and energy into creating opportunities for others to experience the traditions and values of hunting, fishing, and wildlife stewardship.
Earl Reed
Earl grew up in southwest Oklahoma near Hollis, where he spent his youth hunting quail, turkey, raccoon, and coyote. These early experiences fostered a lifelong love for the outdoors. Earl later attended West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology. After spending several years in Texas, career opportunities brought him and his wife, Christy, back to the Oklahoma City area. Today, Earl is a Terminal Manager for Airgas, where he has dedicated 25 years of service.
Family and community are at the heart of everything Earl does. He and Christy raised three children and actually discovered deer hunting through Texas youth hunts. Since then, Earl has dedicated himself to supporting young hunters and passing on outdoor traditions. When he isn’t in the woods or gun range, Earl is active in his local church, serves as a foster parent alongside Christy, and is the proud father of an adopted son.”
Jim Reynolds
Jim Reynolds is President and co-founder of the STEP Survival Foundation and has been an avid outdoorsman for most his life. Jim grew up outside a rural town in Ohio near the Ohio River but spent most of his summers and holidays on his grandparent’s subsistence farm in West Virginia. Working on the farm, Boy Scouts, and hunting/fishing with relatives gave Jim a broad perspective of the outdoors. He developed what Jim refers to as “a sense of outdoor preparedness and a waste nothing attitude” towards hunting and fishing. As a young adult, he became a devoted backpacker which led Jim to start mountaineering in the Appalachian Mountains. Jim attended The Ohio State University and earned a degree in Welding Engineering which led him to a career traveling all over the world as a consultant. These travels and his curiosity for everything opened and diversified Jim’s culinary palette and love for all foods.
Jim’s love for unique cuisine was unfortunately devastated when he developed an extreme intolerance to onion, the soul of almost all cuisine, which made it very difficult to travel and even eat out locally. As a foodie, there was only one solution that made sense and that was to learn to cook the foods he had grown to love. Jim’s passion for cooking and obsession for outdoor self-reliance has driven him as a hunter, fisherman, forager, gardener, and survivalist to educate others on how to get the most from their harvest.
Nels Rodefeld
Nels Rodefeld, ODWC Assistant Chief, has been with ODWC for over 30 years, bringing a wealth of institutional knowledge to his role. Throughout his tenure, he has worked closely with the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Oklahoma Legislature, and every Division and Section within the agency.
Jake Rowland
Warden Jake Rowland serves with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation as a Game Warden, where he finds great fulfillment in protecting the state’s natural resources. Born and raised in Oklahoma, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Ecology and Management with a focus on Wildlife Ecology and Management from Oklahoma State University. An avid outdoorsman, Warden Rowland has been passionate about archery hunting since childhood and has over seven years of experience saddle hunting white-tailed deer and other big game species. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm in the upcoming saddle hunting seminar.
Lisa White
Lisa White is a passionate advocate for women in the outdoors, dedicated to helping women discover confidence, connection, and adventure through hunting experiences. Alongside her husband Rylan and his sisters, they operate Island Ranch Hunting and event space in Ames, northwest Oklahoma, where they host deer, waterfowl, turkey and upland hunting retreats designed to welcome and encourage hunters of all experience levels.
An avid hunter, Springer Spaniel field trial competitor, and dog trainer, Lisa believes the outdoors offers some of life’s greatest lessons in resilience, patience, and self-confidence. She is especially passionate about creating spaces where women can learn new skills, build meaningful friendships, and experience the empowerment that comes from stepping outside their comfort zones.
Lisa and her husband are proud to share their love of hunting and conservation with their 14-year-old daughter, an enthusiastic hunter who enjoys spending time in the field, working dogs, and carrying on the traditions of the outdoors. Together, their family is committed to preserving hunting heritage and introducing others to the opportunities, community, and memories that outdoor experiences provide.
When she’s not hosting hunts or training dogs, Lisa serves as a leadership consultant, speaker, and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, bringing her passion for personal growth and confidence-building into every aspect of her work. Her leadership has been recognized through numerous community and professional roles, including her appointment as an Honorary Commander at Vance Air Force Base, where she serves as a liaison between the military and the local community. She also serves on multiple community and leadership boards, reflecting her commitment to developing leaders and strengthening Oklahoma communities. Whether in a conference room, hunting or working her dog, her mission remains the same: helping people discover their strengths, embrace challenges, and create lasting connections.