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GENERAL HUNTING REGULATIONS

 

Crossbow Usage

Hunters who have a permanent disability to the extent that they cannot use a conventional longbow, as certified by a physician licensed to practice in Oklahoma or bordering state, may hunt with a crossbow. A person who qualifies to use a crossbow shall have in their possession while in the field written evidence of such certification signed by the physician.

Crossbows may not be transported in a motorized vehicle unless uncocked or disassembled.

Crossbow: Minimum draw weight of 100 pounds and equipped with safety devices. Leverage gaining devices are permitted.

Bolts (arrows): Minimum of 14 inches in length and equipped with broadhead hunting type points not less than 7/8 inches wide.

Illegal Devices: Laser sights.

Hunter Orange

All youth deer gun, deer muzzleloader, deer gun, special antlerless deer gun, elk gun and antelope season hunters must conspicuously wear both a head covering and an outer garment above the waistline, both totaling at least 400 square inches of hunter orange. Camouflage hunter orange is legal as long as there is at least 400 square inches of hunter orange (Daylight Fluorescent Orange).

All other hunters, except those hunting waterfowl, crow or crane, or while hunting furbearing animals at night, must wear either a head covering or upper garment of hunter orange clothing during the youth deer gun, deer muzzleloader, deer gun, special antlerless deer gun (in open zones), elk gun (in open counties) and antelope (in open areas) seasons.

Dogs For Hunting

Dogs may be used in taking all species in this guide except deer, elk, antelope and turkey.

Except as otherwise provided, nothing shall prohibit the year-round pursuit of game (species that can be lawfully hunted with dogs) for dog training or sport only. However, unless otherwise provided, no person in pursuit of game with hunting dogs outside the regular harvest season shall possess the means to harvest such game.

Final Destination

For purposes of pheasant, turkey, deer, elk and antelope, "final destination" shall be the hunter’s residence or place of consumption.

Headlighting

No person may attempt to take, take, attempt to catch, catch, attempt to capture, capture, attempt to kill, or kill any deer, feral animal or other wildlife, except fish and frogs or except as provided by law, by the use of a vehicle mounted spotlight or other powerful light at night, by what is commonly known as "headlighting" or use any light enhancement device (night scope). Provided, however, nothing in this code shall prevent one from possessing a .22 caliber rimfire rifle or .22 caliber rimfire pistol and a light carried on his person while in pursuit of furbearers with hounds during the legal open furbearer season, while possessing a valid hunting license and fur license, unless exempt.

Hunting During Big Game Seasons

Any person hunting any wildlife in open areas during the youth antlerless deer gun, deer muzzleloader, deer gun, special antlerless deer gun (in open zones), elk gun (in open counties) or antelope (in open areas) seasons with a shotgun and rifled slug, or any rifle or handgun larger than a .22 caliber long rifle, must possess a valid deer, elk, or antelope license, unless otherwise exempt.

Hunting From Motor Vehicles

No person may harass, attempt to capture, capture, attempt to take, take, kill or attempt to kill any wildlife with the aid of any motor-driven land, air or water conveyance, except a non-ambulatory person may hunt from said conveyances with a non-ambulatory or motor vehicle permit. Provided, however, nothing in this code shall prevent the use of motor-driven land or water conveyances for following dogs in the act of hunting, when use of said conveyances is restricted to public roads or waterways. Said conveyances may be used on private property for following dogs in the act of hunting with the landowner’s or occupant’s permission.

Landowner Permission

Hunters must obtain permission to enter any posted or occupied land or land primarily devoted to farming, ranching or forestry purposes.

Nothing in this guide shall be interpreted as permitting hunting or allowing access into any area, public or private, without permission from the owners or custodian as required by law.

Consent is not valid for more than one (1) year, unless the owner, lessee, or occupant specifically grants consent for a specified period of time.

Possessing Wildlife

No person may possess any game bird, animal or other wildlife, or portions thereof, that have been taken by another person unless such game birds, animal or other wildlife, or portions thereof, contain written information giving the taker’s name, address, license number, date taken and the number and kinds of game birds, animals or other wildlife. In addition, information on turkey (east of I-35) and deer, elk, and antelope statewide must include location of the check station where checked. The person’s name and address receiving said wildlife must also appear on the written information.

It shall be unlawful for any person to have in their possession any meat, head, hide, or any part of the carcass of any wildlife, not legally taken. The keeping of wildlife as pets and the sale of wildlife or parts is strictly controlled by state and federal laws.

Protected Species

All migratory birds, which include all hawks, owls, eagles, songbirds and all other birds except resident game birds, house sparrows and starlings are protected by federal and state law. House sparrows and starlings are the only birds that are not protected by either federal or state law. However, federal regulations provide for the control of black birds under a depredation order. For complete regulations, see 50 CFR, Part 20.43.

Endangered and threatened species are protected by federal and/or state law. For a complete list

Selling of Wildlife

Except as otherwise provided for by law, no person may buy, barter, trade, sell or offer, or expose for sale all or any part of any fish or wildlife or the nest or eggs of any bird, protected by law.

Shooting From Road

Shooting from or across any public road, highway (or right-of-way) or railroad right-of-way is prohibited. Public roadways are defined as any governmental or corporate roadways where vehicular traffic is not restricted and the roadway is routinely used by the general public.

Shotgun Pellet Size

No person in the field may possess or attempt to harvest any wildlife, except waterfowl and crane, with a shotgun using shot larger than conventional BB (.180 in. dia.).

Silencers

Silencers may not be used to hunt game animals, game or nongame birds.

Taking of Wildlife

No person, including but not limited to persons licensed for commercial hunting or wildlife breeders, may hunt, chase, capture, shoot, shoot at, wound, attempt to take or take, attempt to kill or kill, or slaughter an antelope, moose, whitetail or mule deer, bear, elk, mountain lion, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, wild turkey, or any subspecies except as otherwise provided by statute or commission rule.

Transportation of Firearms

Except as otherwise provided, no person may transport a loaded firearm in a land or water motor vehicle. "Loaded firearm" shall mean any firearm that has live rounds in an inserted clip, attached magazine, cylinder or chamber, or a capped muzzleloader with a loaded powder charge and bullet. Muzzleloaders may be transported with a loaded powder charge and bullet as long as the gun is uncapped.

Use of Fire

No person shall concentrate, drive, molest, hunt, take, capture, kill, or attempt to take any wildlife by aid of any fire or smoke whether man-made or natural.

Wanton Waste

No person may capture, kill or destroy any wildlife protected by law and remove the head, claws, teeth, hide, antlers, horns or any or all of such parts from the carcass with the intent to abandon the carcass. No person may kill any wildlife protected by law and abandon the carcass without disposing of the carcass in the most appropriate manner.

 

 

 

updated July 18, 2007 12:26 PM