Open season is just a few weeks away for most of the US. It's an exciting time of year for veteran hunters and beginners alike. But before heading out on your first hunt in the Sooner State, make sure you're familiar with Oklahoma hunting laws.
Most seasoned hunters may be well aware that hunting laws evolve on almost a yearly basis. The governments’ objective is to address public safety. Mainly, these changes are made for the benefit of the hunter and the hunted.
Hunters in Sooner State Should Know Oklahoma Hunting Laws
It's a must to keep up to date on Oklahoma hunting laws before heading out on your first hunt. Studying your state's hunting laws might be a bit time-consuming, and we know you're impatient to get out there and start shooting. But breaking the law and having to pay a fine can put a serious damper on your hunting season.
Keep reading to learn about Oklahoma hunting laws including dates, which animals you’re allowed to hunt, which weapon you're allowed to use, how to get a hunting license, and much more.
1. Deer Hunting In Oklahoma
- Antlerless Archery:
- October 1, 2016 – January 15, 2017
- Statewide
Limit: Six deer
- Holiday Antlerless Gun:
- December 16 – 25
- Only in Open Areas
Limit: Three deer
For a full calendar of hunting seasons per zone, you can turn to page 20 of the Oklahoma Hunting Guide Wildlife Department.
Legal Means of Taking
- Bow:
- Any compound bow with a minimum draw weight of 30 lbs.
- Any recurve, longbow or self-bow with a minimum draw weight of 40 lbs.
- Hand-held releases are allowed.
- Mechanical devices that hold a bow at full or partial draw is permitted.
- Crossbows:
- Must have 100 lbs or more of draw weight
- Equipped with safety devices
- Bolts minimum length is 14 inches
- Leverage gaining devices are allowed.
- Rifles:
- Centerfire rifles with an ammo of at least 55-grain weight soft-nosed or hollow-point bullet.
- An overall cartridge case length of 1.25 inches or longer.
- 9 mm rifles are prohibited
- All .22 caliber centerfire firearms clips or magazines should have a maximum capacity of 7 rounds.
- Shotguns:
- 20-gauge or larger
- Firing a single rifled slug
- Centerfire handguns:
- .24 caliber or larger ammo
- 100 grain or heavier soft-nosed bullet
- Having an overall cartridge length of 1.25 inches or longer (.357 or larger)
- Minimum barrel length of 4 inches
- Semi-automatic handguns:
- Centerfire ammo with a 100 grain or heavier soft-nosed bullet
- Cartridge case size of .40 caliber or larger (including 10mm, .357 Sig., and .40 cal. Or larger)
- Minimum barrel length of 4 inches.
- Handguns chambered for any centerfire rifle ammo:
- at least a 55-grain soft-nosed bullet
- overall cartridge case length of 1.25 inches or longer
- minimum barrel length of 4 inches
- Suppressors:
- Legally acquired and possessed suppressors are allowed both on private and public lands.
For full details on the legal methods of take, you can start arming yourself up on page 17 – 18 of the Oklahoma Hunting Guide.
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2. Duck Hunting in Oklahoma
- Ducks and Mergansers:
- Panhandle Counties (High Plains Mallard Management Unit)
- October 15, 2016 – January 11, 2017
- Zone 1:
- December 10, 2016 – January 22, 2017
- Zone 2:
- December 10, 2016 – January 29, 2017
- Panhandle Counties (High Plains Mallard Management Unit)
Possession Limit: Equal to the number of days hunters have hunted, only to a maximum of three days.
Legal Means of Taking
- Shotgun:
- No larger than a 10-gauge.
- Can hold a maximum of three shells only, in the magazine and chamber combined.
3. Wild Turkey Hunting in Oklahoma
- Fall Turkey Season:
- Archery:
- October 1, 2016 – January 15, 2017
- Archery:
Season Limit: one turkey, either sex, statewide
- Youth Spring Turkey Season:
- April 1 – 2, 2017
- Statewide except in the Southeast Region
- April 15 – 16, 2017
- Southeast Region only
- April 1 – 2, 2017
Season Limit: one tom turkey
- Spring Turkey Season:
- April 6 – May 6, 2017
- Statewide, except in the Southeast Region
- April 17 – May 6, 2017
- In the Southeast Region only.
- April 6 – May 6, 2017
Season Limit: Three tom turkeys
Legal Means of Taking
- Bow:
- Any compound bow with a minimum draw weight of 30 lbs.
- Any recurve, longbow or self-bow with a minimum draw weight of 40 lbs.
- Hand-held releases are allowed.
- Mechanical devices that hold a bow at full or partial draw is permitted.
- Crossbows:
- Has 100 lbs or more of draw weight
- Equipped with safety devices
- Bolts minimum length is 14 inches
- Leverage gaining devices are allowed.
- Rifle:
- Center fire rifles
- .22 Magnum rimfire
- 5 mm Magnum rimfire
- .17 HMR and .17 Winchester Super Magnum are allowed
- All other rimfire rifles are prohibited
- Muzzleloader:
- Rifles and handguns of .36 caliber or larger are legal
- Shotgun:
- Conventional or muzzle loading
- Using a shot no larger than BB or .180 of an inch in diameter are allowed
- Handgun:
- Centerfire
- .22 Magnum rimfire
- 5 mm Magnum rimfire and .17 HMR are legal
- All other rimfire handguns are illegal.
- Concurrent Seasons:
- Conventional handguns, rifles and muzzleloaders smaller than .40 caliber are prohibited during the two-day period when fall turkey season and deer muzzleloader season overlap.
License Information
There are different types of hunting licenses offered depending on the game animal being hunted. The requirements also differ depending on the type of license as well as game animal.
For full details on what you need to comply with when applying for a hunting license, start applying on page 3 of the wildlife department of Oklahoma.
Watch this awesome Duck Hunting Oklahoma video by Fowled Reality Duck and Goose Hunting
As long as you are knowledgeable with the hunting laws in the state of Oklahoma and abide by them to the letter, you and your hunting buddies will surely enjoy every minute of hunting.
Hunt safe and hunt proud!
Do you love to hunt? Then, you should know more about the hunting laws and regulations in other states. You can start stalking them here.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on Jan 4, 2022 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
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