Nonresident Deer Licenses

Nonresidents may purchase either a $206 deer license (licenses are season-specific and allow the harvest of one (1) deer) or a $256 season-specific combination deer license that allows them to harvest one (1) antlered and one (1) antlerless deer. These licenses are valid on both public and private lands. Separate licenses exist for archery, muzzleloader and gun seasons.

If a nonresident purchases one (1) of these $256 season-specific combination licenses, they may also purchase an additional antlerless only deer license for $51. This license is only valid for the season for which it was purchased and it is valid only on private lands not managed by the Department. For example, if a hunter purchases a $256 primitive firearms combination deer license, he or she is eligible to purchase an additional antlerless primitive firearms deer license for $51.

Licenses are not transferable between seasons and none are valid during the holiday antlerless deer gun season, which requires a $206 nonresident holiday antlerless deer gun license.

Combined Season Limit

The combined season limit for deer archery, youth deer gun, deer muzzleloader and deer gun seasons is no more than six (6) deer per individual. This limit may include no more than two (2) antlered deer.

Deer taken by hunters participating in holiday antlerless deer gun seasons or controlled hunts are not included in the hunter’s combined season limit.

Deer taken during Jan. 1 - 15, 2010, count toward the 2009 bag limit.

Deer hunters using a firearm must conspicuously wear both a head covering and an outer garment above the waistline both consisting of hunter orange color totaling at least 400 square inches. Camouflage hunter orange is legal.

Public Lands

Seasons on public lands may vary from statewide seasons.

Shooting Hours

One-half hour before official sunrise to one-half hour after official sunset.

Antlered Deer Definition

Any deer, regardless of sex, with at least three (3) inches of antler length above the natural hairline on either side.

White Deer

It is unlawful to kill a white deer without specific written permission from the Department Director.

Field Tagging

Upon harvesting a deer, all hunters, including lifetime license holders, must immediately attach their name and hunting license number securely to the carcass. The attached item can be anything, as long as it contains the hunter’s name and license number. This information must remain attached to the carcass until it is checked.

In addition, all annual license holders are required to complete the "Record of Game" section on the license form.

Checking

All deer must be checked at the nearest open hunter check station, with an authorized Department employee or online at wildlifedepartment.com.

Once checked, the deer will be issued a carcass tag or an online confirmation number. This tag or number must remain with the carcass to its final destination or through processing and/or storage at commercial processing or storage facilities.

Carcasses may be checked in quartered with the sex organs naturally attached and head accompanying the carcass.

More Than One Method of Take in the Field

Hunters are allowed to carry both archery equipment and a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season provided they have the appropriate licenses and follow other muzzleloader season regulations.

Hunters also are allowed to carry both archery equipment and legal firearms during any modern gun season, again provided they have the appropriate licenses and follow other regulations to participate in those seasons.

Tracking Devices

Telemetric radio tracking devices for deer hunting are legal. However, thermal tracking devices are illegal.

Carcass Disposal

No person may dump the carcass of any dead animal in any well, spring, pond, or stream of water or leave it within 1/4 mile of any occupied dwelling or public highway without burying the carcass in an appropriate manner where it is not liable to become exposed through erosion of the soil or where such land is subject to overflow.

See Youth Hunting Seasons

License Requirements

Resident: A hunting license or proof of exemption. In addition, all deer hunters must possess a deer archery license for each deer hunted or proof of exemption.

Resident Youth: Youth hunters 16 or 17 years old must purchase a hunting license. All youth hunters under 18 years of age may purchase a youth deer archery license.

Nonresident: Nonresident deer hunters are exempt from a hunting license while hunting deer, but they must possess a nonresident deer archery license for each deer hunted or proof of exemption. Holders of nonresident lifetime hunting and lifetime combination licenses are not exempt from purchasing deer licenses.

Jan. 1 - 15: All hunters must possess a hunting license and a deer archery license for the current calendar year, unless otherwise exempt. Most annual licenses are valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.

Deer taken during this time count toward the hunter’s 2009 bag limit.

Dates & Open Areas

Oct. 1, 2009 - Jan. 15, 2010; statewide.

Archery Limit

Six (6) deer, which may include no more than two (2) antlered deer.

Deer taken by hunters participating in archery season are included in the hunter’s combined season limit.

Legal Means of Taking

Bow: Minimum of 40 pounds draw weight. Hand-held releases are legal.

Broadheads: Hunting type points not less than 7/8 inches wide, including mechanical broadheads meeting this width requirement when fully open.

Crossbows and Mechanical Bow Draw Retention Devices: Allowed in certain circumstances.

Firearms Restriction: No person may carry or use any firearm in conjunction with archery equipment during the archery season while hunting deer, except under provisions of the Oklahoma Self Defense Act.

Hunters are allowed to carry both archery equipment and a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season provided they have the appropriate licenses and follow other muzzleloader season regulations. Hunters also are allowed to carry both archery equipment and legal firearms during any modern gun season, again provided they have the appropriate licenses and follow other regulations to participate in those seasons.

Illegal Devices: Laser sights

License Requirements

Resident: A hunting license or proof of exemption. In addition, you must possess a deer primitive firearms license (antlered or antlerless) for each deer hunted or proof of exemption.

Resident Youth: Youth hunters 16 or 17 years old must purchase a hunting license. All youth hunters under 18 years of age may purchase a youth deer primitive license (antlered or antlerless).

Nonresident: Nonresident deer hunters are exempt from a hunting license while hunting deer, but they must possess a nonresident deer primitive firearms license (antlered, antlerless or combination) for each deer hunted or proof of exemption. Holders of nonresident lifetime hunting and lifetime combination licenses are not exempt from purchasing deer licenses.

Dates & Open Areas

Oct. 24 - Nov. 1, 2009; statewide.

Antlerless deer may only be harvested on specified days and in zones open to antlerless harvest.

Muzzleloader Limit

One (1) antlered and two (2) antlerless deer, at least one antlerless deer must be harvested from Zone 2, 7 or 8.

Deer taken by hunters participating in muzzleloader season are included in the hunter’s combined season limit.

Unfilled Deer Primitive Firearms Antlered License

Hunters who do not harvest an antlered deer during muzzleloader season may use their unfilled deer primitive firearms antlered license to harvest an antlerless deer on the last day of the muzzleloader season in zones open to antlerless harvest.

Hunters must still comply with the limit restriction of no more than two (2) antlerless deer during muzzleloader season. At least one must come from Zone 2, 7 or 8.

Unfilled deer primitive firearms licenses are not valid during any other deer season.

Legal Means of Taking

Muzzleloading rifles, shotguns or pistols: .40 caliber or larger rifle or pistol, or 20-gauge or larger shotgun, firing a single slug or ball that is loaded from the muzzle.

Archery: Equipment described as legal for deer archery season.

Illegal devices: Blackpowder firearms loaded from the breech, laser sights and light enhancement devices (night scopes) are illegal.

License Requirements

Resident: A hunting license or proof of exemption. In addition, you must possess a deer gun license (antlered or antlerless) for each deer hunted or proof of exemption.

Resident youth: Youth hunters 16 or 17 years old must purchase a hunting license. All youth hunters under 18 years of age may purchase a youth deer gun license (antlered or antlerless).

Nonresident: Nonresident deer hunters are exempt from a hunting license while hunting deer, but they must possess a nonresident deer gun license (antlered, antlerless or combination) for each deer hunted or proof of exemption. Holders of nonresident lifetime hunting and lifetime combination licenses are not exempt from purchasing deer licenses.

Dates & Open Areas

Nov. 21 - Dec. 6 2009; statewide.

Antlerless deer may only be harvested on specified days and in zones open to antlerless harvest .

Deer Gun Limit

One (1) antlered and two (2) 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.

Deer taken by hunters participating in deer gun season are included in the hunter’s combined season limit.

Unfilled Deer Gun Antlered License

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.

Hunters must still comply with the limit restriction of no more than two (2) antlerless deer during deer gun season. At least one must come from Zone 2, 7 or 8.

Unfilled deer gun licenses are not valid during the holiday antlerless deer gun season.

Rifles: Centerfire rifles firing at least a 55-grain weight soft-nosed or hollow-point bullet and having an overall cartridge case length of 1 1/4 inches or longer (9mm rifles are not legal). Clips or magazines of all .22 caliber centerfire firearms may not be capable of holding more than seven (7) rounds of ammunition.

Muzzleloaders: Equipment described as legal for deer muzzleloader season and blackpowder firearms loaded from the breech are legal.

Shotguns: 20 gauge or larger, firing a single rifled slug are legal.

Centerfire handguns: Chambered for .24 caliber or larger and 100 grain or heavier soft-nosed bullet having an overall cartridge case length of 1 1/4 inches or longer are legal (.357 or larger) and a minimum barrel length of four (4) inches.

Semi-automatic handguns: Chambered for any centerfire ammunition with a 100-grain or heavier soft-nosed bullet and having a cartridge case size of .40 caliber or larger (includes 10 mm, .357 Sig., and 40 cal. or larger) and a minimum barrel length of four (4) inches.

Handguns chambered for any centerfire rifle ammunition: Chambered for any centerfire rifle ammunition using at least a 55-grain soft-nosed bullet and having an overall cartridge case length of 1 1/4 inches or longer and a minimum barrel length of four (4) inches.

Archery: Equipment described as legal for deer archery season.

Illegal devices: Fully automatic firearms, silencers, laser sights and light enhancement devices (night scopes) are illegal.

License Requirements

Resident: A hunting license or proof of exemption. In addition, hunters must possess a holiday antlerless deer gun license or proof of exemption.

Resident youth: Youth hunters 16 or 17 years old must purchase a hunting license. All youth hunters under 18 years of age may purchase a youth holiday antlerless deer gun license.

Nonresident: Nonresident deer hunters are exempt from a hunting license while hunting deer, but they must possess a nonresident holiday antlerless deer gun license or proof of exemption. Holders of nonresident lifetime hunting and lifetime combination licenses are not exempt from purchasing deer licenses.

Dates & Open Areas

Refer to Antlerless Deer Hunting Zones map.

Holiday Antlerless Deer Gun Limit

One (1) antlerless deer.

The harvest of antlerless mule deer is prohibited during the holiday antlerless deer gun season.

Deer taken by hunters participating in the holiday deer season are not included in the hunter’s combined season limit.

Unfilled Deer Licenses

Unfilled youth deer gun, deer primitive firearms and deer gun licenses are not valid during the holiday antlerless deer gun seasons.

Hunters participating in the holiday antlerless deer gun seasons must purchase a holiday antlerless deer gun license or a youth holiday antlerless deer gun license (under 18), unless exempt.

Legal Means of Taking

Equipment described as legal for deer gun season.