Controlled Hunts
The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission adopted new rules in 2025 that require non-residents accessing certain Oklahoma public hunting and fishing areas to check in and out of the area. By checking in and out of these areas, hunters, anglers, shooters, birdwatchers, hikers, and any other users can help the Wildlife Department better understand how the area is being used. There is no additional cost associated with checking in or out of an area. There is no limit to the number of check-ins for an individual in a year.
What Are Controlled Hunts?
Controlled hunts are offered for deer, elk, antelope, and turkey. They are held in areas where unrestricted public hunting would pose safety concerns or where overharvest might occur.
Hunters wishing to go on one of these controlled hunts must submit an application, which goes into the running with all other applications for that hunt. Hunters are selected through a random drawing.
Applicants must apply online at: GoOutdoorsOklahoma.com.
Application Period:
April 1–May 20, 2026
What's The Cost?
A $10 application fee allows multiple applications in controlled hunt categories (elk, pronghorn, deer, spring turkey) and includes the option to select Preference Point Only.
PointGuard insurance is available for an additional $10 for residents or $50 for nonresidents. Applicants may also add extra hunt choices beyond the standard limit for $3 each.
If drawn, additional license and user fees may apply.
How To Increase Your Odds
You can increase your chances by first doing some research. Start by studying the data from the most recent controlled hunts drawing cycle.
Additionally, this article is designed to give controlled hunt applicants some insights into how the program works, perhaps giving you an edge to having your name drawn.
The Application Process
Everything you need to know before submitting your application.
ODWC's step-by-step guide for the application process.
What to expect after finishing your application.
Looking for your Controlled Hunt Documents?
Successful applicants will receive notification by e-mail. Select "Controlled Hunt Applications & Awards" to see your documents.
You can also access your documents from the Go Outdoors OK app by selecting "Purchase License" and then selecting "Controlled Hunt Applications & Awards".
Controlled Hunts Explained
2024 Controlled Hunt Results
- Elk
Harvest Area # Permits & Type # Hunters Antlered Antlerless Cookson WMA 1 Either-sex 1 1 0 Wichita Mts. NWR 40 Bull Only 39 33 Wichita Mts. NWR 70 Cow Only 61 33 Wichita Mts. NWR (Walk-in only) 50 Either-sex 49 32 Wichita Mts. NWR (Walk-in only) 300 Cow Only 262 142 Gruber CGTC/Cherokee WMA 1 Either-sex 1 1 - Antelope
Harvest Area # Permits & Type # Hunters Antlered Antlerless Cimarron Co. 10 Either-Sex 8 7 0 Cimarron Co. 15 Doe Only 12 0 7 Texas Co. 5 Either-Sex 5 3 0 Texas Co. 10 Doe Only 9 0 6 - Deer
Harvest (A - Archery; M - Muzzleloader; G - Gun) Area # Permits & Type # Hunters Antlered Antlerless G Atoka WMA 40 Either-Sex 27 3 2 G Beaver River WMA- McFarland Unit 2 Either-Sex 2 2 0 G Beaver River WMA- McFarland Unit
(whitetail only)
8 Either-Sex 8 4 0 G Beaver River WMA 2 Either-Sex 2 1 0 G Beaver River
(whitetail only)20 Either-Sex 20 8 0 M Candy Creek WMA 12 Either-Sex 12 1 0 G Candy Creek WMA 12 Either-Sex 12 2 0 G Canton WMA 75 Either-Sex 44 16 3 G Cherokee GMA 120 Either-Sex 90 7 4 M Cookson WMA 12 Either-Sex, 46 Antlerless 24 0 1 G Cookson WMA 12 Either-Sex, 36 Antlerless 30 1 5 G Cross Timbers WMA M Deep Fork NWR 50 (2) Only 1 Antlered 50 4 12 A Deep Fork NWR 300 (2) Only 1 Antlered 300 20 10 M Four Canyon Preserve 2 (2) Either-Sex, 4 Antlerless Only 3 0 1 G Four Canyon Preserve 2 (2) Either-Sex, 4 Antlerless Only 2 0 0 A Ft. Gibson WRP 50 (2) Only 1 Antlered 25 0 0 M Ft. Gibson WRP 125 Antlerless, 25 Either-Sex 78 4 15 M Grady County 10 Either-Sex 4 0 0 G Grady County 10 Either-Sex 6 3 0 G Hugo WMA (Lyndol Fry) NO HUNT 0 0 0 G Lexington WMA 540 (2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S 313 3 39 G Little River NWR 60 Either-Sex 40 13 22 A McAlester AAP * 1445 (2) Only 1 Antlered 1301 77 75 M McCurtain Co. W.A. 16 Either-Sex 13 9 0 M McGee Creek WMA NO HUNT 0 0 0 G McGee Creek WMA 65 Either-Sex 54 4 0 M Neosho WMA 6 Either-Sex 6 2 0 G Oka'Yanahli Preserve 14 (2) Antlerless Only 11 0 8 G Okmulgee GMA 30 (2) Only 1 Antlered 28 2 1 M Osage/Western Wall 10 (1) Either-sex 10 0 0 G Pontotoc Ridge Preserve 18 (2) Antlerless Only 15 0 11 M Pushmataha WMA 50 Either-Sex 34 4 0 A Salt Plains NWR 35 (2) Only 1 Antlered 27 4 1 M Salt Plains NWR 35 (2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S 28 5 25 G Salt Plains NWR 70 (2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S, 6 Only One Antlered 68 24 64 M Sans Bois WMA 15 Either-Sex 13 3 1 G Sans Bois WMA 15 Either-Sex 10 1 2 A Sequoyah NWR 30 (2) Only 1 Antlered 28 11 7 M Sequoyah NWR 90 (2) Antlerless Only 72 1 27 A Sequoyah NWR (Refuge Island) 4 (2) Only 1 Antlered 4 4 1 A Sequoyah Resort Park 20 (2) 1 E-S, 1 Antlerless 20 5 7 G Spavinaw GMA 20 Either-Sex, 30 Antlerless 33 4 7 G Tishomingo NWR 20 (2) 1st Antlerless/2nd Either-Sex 17 5 12 G Washita NWR 5 Antlerless Only 4 1 3 G Wichita Mts. NWR 20 Antlered, 40 Antlerless 36 15 13 A Great Salt Plains SP 30 (2) Only 1 Antlered 21 3 7 G Texoma COE (Burns Run) A Tishomingo NWR 20 (2) Only 1 Antlered 16 7 0 - Motor Vehicle or Non-Ambulatory Permit Deer
Harvest (M - Muzzleloader; G - Gun) Area # Permits & Type # Hunters Antlered Antlerless G Cherokee GMA 40 Either-Sex 25 1 2 G Cookson WMA 12 Either-Sex 10 0 0 G Copan COE Parks 5 (2) 1st antlerless, 2nd E-S 5 1 5 M Deep Fork NWR 5 (2) Only 1 Antlered 5 1 1 M Ft. Gibson WRP 10 (2) Only 1 Antlered 7 1 3 G Oologah Lake COE 8 (2) Only 1 Antlered 8 8 8 M Salt Plains NWR 1 (2) Antlerless/Either-Sex 1 0 0 G Salt Plains NWR 2 (2) Antlerless/Either-Sex 1 1 1 A Sequoyah NWR 2 (2) Only 1 Antlered 1 1 0 M Sequoyah NWR 2 Antlerless Only 0 0 0 M Sequoyah Resort Park 14 (2) Antlerless/Either-Sex 11 2 6 G Tishomingo NWR 10 (2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S 8 3 4 - Youth Deer
Harvest M - Muzzleloader; G - Gun Area # Permits & Type # Hunters Antlered Antlerless G Arbuckle Springs WMA G Beaver River WMA- McFarland Unit 15 Either-Sex 13 4 1 M Camp Gruber Cantonment 40 (2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S 38 7 16 G Cherokee GMA 50 Either-Sex 39 5 5 G Canton WRP 4 (2) Only 1 Antlered 3 1 1 G Cookson WMA 30 Either-Sex 27 7 0 G Crosstimbers WMA 30 Antlerless Only 6 0 3 M Deep Fork NWR 25 (2) Only 1 Antlered 25 3 6 G Eufaula Lake COE 5 Either-Sex 5 2 1 M Ft. Cobb WMA and SP 25 Antlerless Only 7 0 5 M Ft. Gibson WRP 20 (2) Only 1 Antlered 17 8 1 G Heyburn COE 2 (2) Only 1 Antlered 2 0 2 G Kaw Lake COE 6 (2) Antlerless/Either-Sex 6 5 6 G Hugo WMA 30 Either-Sex 25 4 4 G Hugo Lake COE 10 Either-Sex, 10 (2) Only 1 antlered 10 3 5 G James Collins WMA 80 Either-Sex 71 10 7 G Keystone COE 8 (2) Only 1 Antlered 8 0 9 M Keystone SP G Little River NWR 15 (2) Antlerless/Either-Sex 10 1 0 G McAlester AAP * 25 Antlerless 18 0 8 M Neosho WMA 6 Either-Sex 1 0 0 G Neosho WMA 6 Either-Sex 5 2 0 G Okmulgee GMA 40 (2) Only 1 Antlered 17 4 2 G Pine Creek WMA 25 Either-Sex 25 10 5 G Pushmataha WMA 70 Either-Sex 59 11 5 G Salt Plains NWR 25 (2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S 23 4 17 M Sequoyah NWR 30 (2) Only 1 Antlered 29 4 8 M Sequoyah Resort Park 16 (2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S 16 8 11 G Skiatook COE 4 (2) Only 1 Antlered 4 4 3 M Spavinaw WMA 40 Either-Sex 12 2 0 G Spavinaw WMA 40 Either-Sex 33 12 4 G Tenkiller COE 10 (2) Only 1 Antlered 7 3 2 G Texoma COE 14 (2) Only 1 Antlered 11 4 5 G Tishomingo NWR 20 (2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S 17 3 17 G USDA Grazinglands 20 (2) Antlerless Only 18 14 6 G USDA Grazinglands 10 (2) 1st Antlerless/E-S 9 7 3 G Washita NWR 20 Antlerless Only 18 1 16 G Waurika Lake COE 5 Antlerless Only 5 0 5 - Spring Turkey
Area # Permits & Type # Hunters Tom Cross Timbers WMA 20 - 1 Tom 10 5 Deep Fork NWR 10 - 1 Tom 10 4 Four Canyon Preserve 4 - 1 Tom 4 3 Little River NWR 20 - 1 Tom 10 0 McAlester AAP 28 - 1 Tom 62 12 McCurtain Co. WA 16 - 1 Tom 7 0 Tishomingo NWR 3 - 1 Tom 1 0 - Youth Spring Turkey
Area # Permits & Type # Hunters Tom Deep Fork NWR 10 - 1 Tom 10 1 Hugo COE (Kiamichi Park) 4 - 1 Tom 2 1 James Collins Little River NWR 5 - 1 Tom 3 0 Salt Plains NWR 2 - 1 Tom 1 1 Washita NWR Youth Exemption 2 - 1 Tom 2 1 Wichita Mtn NWR (Walk-In Only) 2 - 1 Tom 1 1
* Hunter numbers and deer harvest shown represent combined results for state controlled hunts and McAAP federal base drawn hunters. Total harvest shown to accurately reflect percent success rates.