Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, is a date circled in red on the calendars of thousands of Oklahoma hunters. That’s the day deer gun hunting season opens statewide. Watch this short video for some pre-season inspiration, and read our full story.
Also, don't forget your hunting license and be ready for opening day!
Important Reminder
Reminder: Unfilled resident youth deer gun licenses are valid for deer gun season! Full Details here.
Tune in for Next Week's Rut Report
The rut, or deer breeding season, normally peaks around the second week of November. During the week before opening day, the Department will issue its annual Deer Rut Report, which will offer hunters valuable insights on deer movement and hunting prospects using the most recent information available from the field in all regions of the state. Make sure you check your email, and sign up for "Hunting Updates" if you're not already.
Photo courtesy Ben Bickerstaff/ODWC
Hunters in the Know ... Take a Doe!
We've said it before and we'll say it again. Hunters in the know, take a doe! Last year, hunters answered the Wildlife Department's call to help manage the well-being of the state’s white-tailed deer populations by increasing their harvest of antlerless deer. For the entire state deer harvest last year, 43 percent were antlerless deer, the greatest percentage since 2010. And it was the first time since 2015 that Oklahoma’s antlerless harvest met the goal of 40 to 45 percent set by biologists. Besides a freezer full of delicious and healthy game meat, there's a lot of good reasons to harvest a doe. For one, doe harvest plays a critical role in improving the overall health of the state's deer herd and buck quality.
Photo Courtesy Dru Polk/ODWC
Deer Hunting Resources for Oklahoma Hunters
If you've not checked out our Deer Hunting Resources webpage for tips, public land opportunities, recipes, reports, videos and more, then you don't want to wait any longer. Visit the site today. You can also check out hunting resources for other species here.
Sportsmen's Love for Wildlife Fuels Hunting & Photography Hobbies
As you prepare for deer season, watch how one local sportsmen channeled his skills and passion for hunting into yet another pastime that he says he'll enjoy for years to come - wildlife photography. We joined him on a photo excursion during the deer rut, and we think you'll like the story, which aired originally on a recent episode of the Wildlife Department's Outdoor Oklahoma TV show. Click the video to watch!
2022 Regulations Cover Contest Underway!
Your photo could be on the cover of the next Oklahoma hunting regulations guide! For full details, check out the link.
Win a Guided Elk Hunt at Fort Sill
Win a guided, either-sex elk hunt on Fort Sill, to take place Jan. 5-7, 2022! Purchase single tickets or a five-ticket bundle by Dec. 3! This Wildlife Department raffle is available to residents and non-residents, regardless of whether you've ever been drawn for an elk hunt through the Oklahoma Controlled Hunts program. Plus, winning this hunt doesn't affect your Controlled Hunts preference points or eligibility for once-in-a-lifetime elk hunts offered through the Controlled Hunts program. There is no limit to the number of tickets that you can purchase, and proceeds go directly to the Wildlife Department to fund conservation and public hunting and fishing opportunities for everyone. Learn more about this hunt here, or go straight to your Go Outdoors profile to purchase tickets.
Only Two Online Hunt & Learn Events Left
Join experts from the Wildlife Department Dec. 2 for "Small Game Hunting Tips" and Dec. 13 for "Doe Harvest: Where to Go and Why It's Important" The clinics will be hosted live online. Space is limited, so sign up today!
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Check out the Go Outdoors Oklahoma online shop for caps, atlases, magazine subscriptions, vintage wildlife habitat patches, and more.