Statewide deer harvest could top 100,000, again!
While breaking the annual harvest record may be a long shot, Oklahoma deer hunters could break the 100,000 deer mark for the third time in just a four-year span.
After tallying harvest totals from the recent deer gun season, personnel from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation registered a preliminary harvest total of 87,241 deer, which is 3,853 deer ahead of last year’s tally at this time. That number does not include deer that will be taken in the late archery season, the special antlerless deer season, controlled hunts or on land enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program.
“We’re on track for another great harvest. If past performance holds true, our final harvest figure should be very close to 100,000 deer,” said Mike Shaw, wildlife research supervisor for the Department. “Our deer herd is in good health and the weather conditions as well as the timing of the rut were generally favorable to hunters.”
According to Shaw, all five wildlife regions reported an in increase in harvest over last year, with the exception of the northeast region, which was down by two percent.
“Although it is still a little too early to tell, it looks like hunters took advantage of the new 16-day season. Hunting pressure seemed to be spread out over all three weekends,” Shaw said. “Once we have all the data, we will do a statewide analysis of harvest by day so that we can better understand the effects of the 16-day season.”
There is still plenty of opportunity for deer hunters to harvest a deer during the special antlerless deer gun season.
"Right now about 38 percent of the harvest is antlerless deer, but we would like to see it around 45 percent. So it is important that hunters get out and participate in this season,” said Shaw. “These special antlerless deer gun seasons were established to better manage the state's deer population, and so far they have been a success. By increasing the antlerless deer harvest, hunters will be helping to balance the state's deer population with available habitat, improve buck to doe ratios for better herd health, reduce agricultural depredation and reduce deer/vehicle collisions.”
The first three-day hunt, to be held Dec. 19 through 21, will be restricted to the northcentral and northwestern portion of the state. Much of the state, except for the far southeast and panhandle, will also have three days of antlerless-only gun hunting running from Dec. 26 through 28. Hunters should consult the antlerless deer hunt zone map on page 14 of the “2003 Oklahoma Hunting Guide” to determine which areas will offer the special antlerless deer gun seasons.
Hunters who participate in the special antlerless deer gun season must possess a special antlerless deer gun license in addition to their annual hunting license. Lifetime hunting and combination license holders are exempt and do not need to buy the special antlerless deer gun license.
The statewide season limit during the special antlerless deer gun season is one antlerless deer. All hunters participating in the special gun season must comply with the same blaze orange requirements as set forth for the regular deer gun season, as well as tagging and checking requirements. Archery deer hunters afield in areas open to the special antlerless gun hunting and those hunting other species (quail, squirrel, pheasant, etc.) must wear either a blaze orange hat or vest.
To learn more about the special antlerless gun season and deer management in Oklahoma, consult the “2003 Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log on to the ODWC's Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com.
-30-
Cutline: There is still plenty of opportunity for deer hunters to harvest a deer during the special antlerless deer gun seasons (Dec. 19-21 and Dec. 26-28). Hunters should consult the “2003 Oklahoma Hunting Guide” to determine which areas will offer the special antlerless deer gun seasons.
Regional wildlife supervisors report successful deer gun season
Editors Note:
Following are comments about the 2003 deer gun season supplied by the regional wildlife supervisors for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. These comments can be attributed to the supervisor listed in the news articles.
Northwest - Wade Free, northwest region wildlife supervisor
“Excellent weather, perfect timing of the rut, and the new 16-day deer season made for a highly successful deer gun season in the northwest region. Overall, buck harvest was up slightly over last year and the doe harvest accounted for approximately 39 percent of the total harvest. With the upcoming special antlerless deer season, we are estimating a 44 to 45 percent antlerless deer harvest for 2003-2004.
With the burgeoning antlerless segment of the deer herd, an estimated 45 percent antlerless harvest percentage will meet our goal for managing both social and biological carrying capacity. With a 45 percent antlerless harvest, we will be contributing to a better buck/doe ratio, will help minimize crop depredation, and should see benefits to overall herd health.
With mild weather conditions, every day of the season was a great day for deer hunting. Also, hunters really took advantage of 16 days of antlerless hunting. In the northwest, hunters continue to do their part in herd management by taking advantage of antlerless hunting opportunities. The rut appeared to be extended over the entire gun season. The rut never really seemed to ‘peak’ but activity was steady throughout the entire 16 days. This really contributed to a great and exciting season.”
“Opening day of deer gun season fell on the tail end of the peak of the rut in most portions of north and south central Oklahoma. A good number of respectable sized bucks were harvested the first four days of the season. Hunter activity remained high throughout the first week, but deer were not moving well in most places in the middle part of the season. This lack of deer movement was probably due to hunting pressure and a decline in rutting activity. The majority of the harvest during this mid-season period was comprised of yearling bucks and does.
Starting the second week of the season, hunter activity dropped off a great deal. Rutting activity also diminished. Hunter activity and harvest did pick up the last weekend of the season and a decent amount of antlerless deer and a significant number of small bucks were harvested.
Weather conditions during the gun season should be rated as good in comparison with previous years. Although we had some strong wind, dry conditions, and a full moon on the last few days of the season, prime morning and evening hunting hours were comfortable throughout the season for hunter activity and cool enough for deer movement.”
Southeast - Joe Hemphill, southeast region wildlife supervisor
“Opening day of gun season was very mild with a daytime temperature of about 60 degrees, with a very strong south wind of about 15 to 20 mph. According to most state game wardens and biologists we had many more hunters in the woods than the last 4 or 5 years. On the Ouachita WMA we had very high hunter pressure. The second day brought in rain and a strong north wind, which sent lots of folks home early. We had good acorn production in most places and I think we hit the rut just right.
After watching deer activity on the McAlester AAP and the Ouachita WMA I think the rut was in full swing during opening week of season. We had high hunter pressure during the first nine days, and very little pressure during the last seven. We had a very successful season because we harvested approximately 968 more deer than last year.”
Southwest - Rod Smith, southwest region wildlife supervisor
“The deer gun season went very well in southwest Oklahoma, with lots of deer harvested the first week. The rut seemed strong the first few days, then scaled down noticeably the last week to 10 days. Deer hunting activity was noticeably reduced the second week, with many fewer deer checked at the check stations. Reports indicate that several large deer were taken, possibly more than in recent years.
Weather conditions during the season were generally mild, which was a factor that resulted in hunters staying in the field longer and allowing more trips afield. Although it often doesn't create the best deer hunting conditions, mild weather usually results in increased hunter effort.”
Northeast - Craig Endicott, northeast region wildlife supervisor
“In the northeast region there was high participation during the deer gun season due to nice weather most of the season. The first day was warm and windy, not what deer hunters like, which slowed deer movement but there were lots of hunters out. Cooler weather moved in the next day and brought with it the rain and wind. Hunters didn't complain though since the rain brought in cooler weather. The rest of the season had relatively nice weather with cool mornings and evening and nice days. It was windy much of the season but all in all there was nice weather most of the season which brought out the hunters.
Deer movement was fair during the season. The peak of the rut had passed and deer slowly went into nocturnal mode once the season got going. A more than adequate acorn crop kept the deer from needing to make large movements each day to feed, which reduced vulnerability to hunters.”