OKLAHOMA CITY – BlackOak Farms LLC, a privately owned “upland bird-hunting operation” on 1,600 acres in Cotton County north of Devol near Grandfield, has taken flight.
BlackOak Farms “will be a full-service upscale quail hunting experience of the Old World tradition,” said John Collison, president and chief executive officer. “It will offer a premier hunting and shooting experience that will cater to the needs and wants of sporting men and women of all ages.” BlackOak Farms will be a symbiotic enterprise that supports “traditional agriculture practices of farming and ranching” as well as the bird hunting operation, Collison said. “We’ll grow native grasses for the livestock and then plant hunting crops such as milo and sunflowers to attract the birds.”
Initially, the operation will offer quail hunts, but doves and perhaps pheasants and Chukar birds will be added later, Collison said. The pasture and farmland is perfect for supporting quail, whose territory has shrunk over the years from infestations of cedar trees and fire ants, and encroachment from residential and commercial development. “We at BlackOak Farms have hosted and entertained guests for years through all forms of hunting entertainment,” Collison said. Southwest Oklahoma and Cotton County “have a rich history of not only bird hunting but in hunting bobwhite quail. We look forward to bringing back this experience to people from all over the world.” Amenities that are available to hunters in Southwest Oklahoma include direct commercial and private air service, more than half a dozen casinos nearby in Oklahoma, plus movie theaters, bars, and restaurants in Lawton and in Wichita Falls, Texas, Collison noted.
“BlackOak Farms will be a first-class hunting operation,” he said. “I have been fortunate to shoot in some fine places around the world, but nothing compares to a day in the Red River Valley chasing Mr. Bob himself.” BlackOak Farms is owned and operated by John and Monica (Miller) Collison of Edmond. “I am happy to have the opportunity to bring BlackOak Farms back to my hometown,” said Monica Collison, whose family has lived in Grandfield for generations. “As a young girl growing up in the Big Pasture area, I was always seeking a path to find a way back to my rural roots. We are excited that BlackOak Farms will give all walks of life the chance to experience this special quality of life that I enjoyed as a child.” John Collison formerly worked on U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe’s staff and previously was vice president of policy for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. BlackOak Farms has begun operations and is booking for the 2020 season. Collison can be contacted at (405) 834-5033.