Outdoor News Daily

Last year deer gun hunters harvested 65 percent of the 111,427 deer that were harvested in Oklahoma during the 2008 season, and as this year’s 16-day gun season nears, hunters are preparing for another successful season.

Hunters participating in the 16-day deer gun season will have from Nov. 21 through Dec. 6 to harvest up to one antlered and two antlerless deer. If a hunter harvests two antlerless deer, at least one must be taken in antlerless zone 2, 7 or 8. A map of antlerless deer zones as well as dates open to antlerless deer hunting are available on page 21 of the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide,” available anywhere hunting licenses are sold, or on the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Web site at wildlifedepartment.com.

Resident deer gun hunters must have a hunting license and, if their hunting license was purchased prior to July 1, a fishing and hunting legacy permit, unless exempt. Hunting licenses purchased after July 1 include the cost of the legacy permit in the purchase price. In addition, they must possess a deer gun license (antlered or antlerless) or proof of exemption for each deer hunted.

Resident youth hunters age 16 or 17 years old must purchase a youth hunting license and a deer gun license for each deer hunted, unless exempt. Resident youth under 16 years of age are exempt from the purchase of a hunting license and fishing and hunting legacy permit, but they must purchase a deer gun license for each deer hunted. Unless exempt, all hunters under 18 years of age must possess a valid deer gun license, but they have the option of purchasing a $10 youth deer gun license (antlered or antlerless) rather than the $20 deer gun license.

Additionally, those youth who did harvest a deer during the youth deer gun season can still hunt during the regular deer gun season with a deer gun license, as deer harvested during the youth season are included in the hunter’s combined season limit but do not count as part of the regular gun season limit. Youth hunters who did not harvest a deer during the youth season may use their unfilled youth deer gun license during the regular deer gun season to harvest a deer.

Nonresident deer hunters are exempt from a hunting license, 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.

Those ages 10-35 who have not completed a hunter education course can purchase an apprentice-designated hunting license and go deer hunting with an accompanying adult who is a licensed hunter age 21 or older and who possesses a certificate of hunter education or who is exempt from hunter education and license requirements. Youths age nine and under must successfully complete a hunter education course to hunt deer in Oklahoma.

Upon successfully harvesting a deer, annual license holders must complete the Record of Game section of their license, and all license holders, including lifetime license holders, must immediately attach their name and license number to the carcass. What the hunter attaches can be anything, as long as it contains the hunter’s name and hunting license number and remains securely attached to the animal until it is checked. All successful hunters must check their deer at the nearest hunter check station, with an authorized Department employee or online at wildlifedepartment.com.

All deer gun hunters must conspicuously wear both a head covering and an outer garment above the waistline consisting of daylight fluorescent orange color totaling at least 400 square inches. Camo-fluorescent orange is legal as long as the total orange meets or exceeds the required 400 square inches.

For additional regulations, antlerless zones, check station locations, season dates and a wealth of other information, consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide,” available at all license dealer locations or online at wildlifedepartment.com.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will help hunters prepare for deer season by releasing its “2009 Rut Report” during the week prior to opening day. The report will contain last-minute reports on the status of the rut across the state as well as other useful season information. Sportsmen can receive the free report by signing up to receive the Wildlife Department’s free weekly news release by email. To sign up, log on to http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/wl_news.htm. The weekly news release includes wildlife news, information on Department programs and hunting seasons, calendars and other timely outdoor-related information. It also includes a weekly fishing report and seasonal waterfowl reports. Plus, it is absolutely free.

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