Description
The Ohio Wildlife Management Association (OWMA) was founded in 1950 with the objective to foster, promote, and practice wildlife research and management, sponsor an annual conference and other meetings that bring together people of diverse wildlife interests and backgrounds and to present an annual award to recognize outstanding contribution to wildlife research and management in Ohio.
The 66th annual Ohio Wildlife Management Association Conference will be held Friday January 16th 2026 from 8-4 at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in Columbus. The topic for the 2026 Conference will be, "Success Stories: Then and Now" which will highlight many great accomplishments that have been achieved in Ohio over time! The keynote speaker will be Gregory J Lipps, Jr who will be presenting on,”Ohio’s Conservation Reliant Wildlife: Navigating the Tightrope of Conservation Success. Other speakers will take the stage throughout the day covering various topics. Related to wildlife management. We have also distributed a call for abstracts and will have various posters and oral presentations to view on current research that is being done for wildlife management.
keynote speaker biography:
Greg Lipps is a conservation biologist whose career has been devoted to ensuring Ohio’s amphibians and reptiles continue to thrive in his home state. He is the Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Coordinator within The Ohio State University’s Ohio Biodiversity Conservation Partnership and recently joined the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium as their first conservation biologist. Greg works statewide to assess populations, restore habitats, and coordinate recovery efforts for species such as the Eastern Hellbender, Eastern Massasauga, Spotted Turtle, and Blanding’s Turtle.
He is an editor and contributing author of Amphibians of Ohio (2013) and Reptiles of Ohio (2021) and has authored numerous technical reports and conservation plans for the Ohio Division of Wildlife and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Greg co-founded the Ohio chapter of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) and is a past Co-Chair of Midwest PARC. His work has been recognized with the Ohio Environmental Council's Conservation Achievement Award (2008), the Alison Haskell Award for Excellence in Herpetofaunal Conservation (2017), and the Columbus Zoo’s Commitment to Conservation Award (2023). A lifelong Ohioan, he lives in the Oak Openings region of Fulton County.
The Ohio Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Workshop: Thursday, January 15 at 12:00pm.
- Location: Delaware Wildlife Area Public Shooting Range (Education Center), 1110 OH-229, Ashley, OH 43003
- Join us for a hands-on exploration of cutting-edge remote sensing tools revolutionizing wildlife research and conservation. This workshop will equip biologists, conservationists, and wildlife professionals with practical knowledge of emerging technologies that are transforming how we monitor and protect wildlife populations.
- Workshop enrollment is $10 OCTWS Members, $30 for Non-Members. Lunch is included in fees https://wildlife.org/ohio/membership/
The OWMA business meeting will be held on Thursday January 15th at 5:15pm.
- Location: Division of Wildlife District One Office. 1500 Dublin Road Columbus Ohio 43215.
- Please consider volunteering your time and knowledge as an officer.
- Annual OWMA membership dues are included in the price of conference registration, but OCTWS memberships are not. More information about becoming an OCTWS member can be found on the Membership tab
The Backcountry Hunters & Angler’s pint night, Thursday January 15th at 6pm.
- Location: Land Grant Brewing Company: 424 W Town St, Columbus, OH 43215
- “We will accept registration at the door but will not guarantee lunch for those who register after January 8, 2026. Please see the refund policy below.”
OWMA Conference Refund Policy
Registration fees for the conference are generally non-refundable. If a registrant or group of registrants decide not to attend the conference of their own accord, no refund will be offered. Weather events or other situations that cause registrants to choose not to attend the conference will not be considered if the conference takes place on the appointed time and place.
In the event that the executive committee of the OWMA is forced to cancel, reschedule or change the venue of the conference, special considerations will be made. If the conference is not held, a full or partial refund will be given to anyone requesting it or may be given to all registrants based on the specifics of the cancelation. This decision will be made by the executive committee within 72 hours of cancellation. The decision will be made available to all registrants by email when possible and will be posted online through our website and other appropriate social media sites of the OWMA. If the conference is rescheduled or moved from its original venue, registrants may choose to request a refund if they are unable to attend at the new date or location. Full or partial refunds will be given based on the financial requirements of the executive committee and the old and/or new conference venue.
Requests for refunds because of registrant hardships or other unescapable consequences will be considered by the executive committee on a case-by-case basis. The decision of the executive committee to refund or not to refund such requests shall be considered final. Please contact a member of the executive committee at OWMA.secretary@gmail.com for any such requests as soon as practical.
Date & Time
Fri, Jan 16, 2026 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Venue Details
Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center
2201 Fred Taylor DriveColumbus, Ohio 43210
