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Since 1933, deer gun hunters have been making their way into the woods and fields of Oklahoma for hunting season, and this year looks to be no different. In the early part of the last century, when deer populations were down to just a few hundred animals, hunters and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation took up the call to once again have healthy deer populations across the state. Part of this conservation effort began with the historic deer trap-and-transplant projects of the mid-1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s. Today, Oklahoma can boast having deer in every county and a whitetail population in excess of 500,000 animals. Hunters have generous harvest limits and expansive opportunities statewide for hunting deer.
To hunt deer in Oklahoma, residents much have a hunting license or proof of exemption, as well as a deer gun license (antlered or antlerless) for each deer hunted or proof of exemption. Resident youth hunters 16 or 17 years old must purchase a hunting license but can purchase a youth deer gun license for each deer hunted that costs only $10. Nonresident deer hunters are exempt from a hunting license while hunting deer, but they must possess a nonresident deer gun license or proof of exemption. Holders of nonresident lifetime hunting and lifetime combination licenses are not exempt from purchasing deer licenses.
Antlerless deer may only be harvested on specified days and in zones open to antlerless harvest. A map showing the antlerless days and zones is available on page 25 of the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide,” available online at wildlifedepartment.com.
The deer gun limit is one antlered and two antlerless deer (at least one antlerless deer must be harvested from Zone 2, 7 or 8). The harvest of antlerless mule deer is prohibited during deer gun season, and deer taken by hunters participating in deer gun season are included in the hunters’ combined season limit of six.
Resident hunters who do not harvest an antlered deer during deer gun season may use their unfilled deer gun antlered license to harvest an antlerless deer on the last day of the deer gun season, but they must still comply with the limit restriction of no more than two antlerless deer during deer gun season.
Seasons on public lands may vary from statewide season dates. For full details and regulations, consult the “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” online at wildlifedepartment.com.
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