*The dates and rules have been updated for the latest 2025-2026 season!
Oklahoma is a haven for hunters, offering a wide variety of game and hunting opportunities. Here is the summary for the newest Oklahoma hunting season. It includes all the season dates and limits that you will need to know before going on a hunting trip in the state.
Oklahoma Deer Season
The Oklahoma deer seasons last about 3 months from early October to late December. They are divided into 5 periods. Here is the breakdown for each of them:
| Type | Dates | Bag Limits |
| Deer Archery | Oct 1, 2025 – Jan 15, 2026 | 6(No more than two antlered deer) |
| Youth Deer Gun | Oct 17 – Oct 19, 2025 | 2(No more than one antlered deer) |
| Deer Muzzleloader | Oct 25 – Nov 2, 2025 | 4(No more than one antlered deer) |
| Deer Gun | Nov 22 – Dec 7, 2025 | 4(No more than one antlered deer) |
| Holiday Antlerless Deer Gun | Dec 18 – Dec 31, 2025 | 2(Antlerless only) |
Antlered Deer Definition: Any deer, regardless of sex, with at least three inches of antler length above the natural hairline on either side.
⚠️Important Notes:
- Hunter orange is required.
- Hunting hour is one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
- Thermal tracking devices are illegal.
- Hunters must have all necessary licenses before hunting a deer. For example, hunters using air-powered arrow rifles must obtain a one-time Arrow Rifle Permit.
- 17 years old or younger hunters must be accompanied by an adult hunter.
- All deer harvested during the deer muzzleloader season contribute to the hunter’s total season limit of six deer.
License Requirements for Deer Seasons:
For residents:
- Youths under the age of 16 must obtain a resident youth deer license.
- Youths above 16 years old must possess both a resident youth hunting license and a resident youth deer license.
- Residents must have a Resident Hunting License and a Resident Deer License unless they qualify for exemptions.
- Hunters must also have a current year’s resident hunting and deer archery license if hunting deer between Jan 1-15.
For non-residents:
- Nonresident youth must have a Nonresident Youth Deer Either Sex License, Nonresident Youth Deer Antlerless License, or Nonresident Deer License for each deer they hunt, unless they qualify for exemptions.
- Nonresident adults must have a Nonresident Deer License for that specific season, or a resident lifetime hunting or combination hunting/fishing license.
Oklahoma Elk Seasons
Elk Archery: Oct 1, 2025 – Jan 15, 2026
Youth Elk Gun: Oct 17 – Oct 19, 2025
Elk Muzzleloader: Oct 25 – Nov 2, 2025
Elk Gun: Nov 22 – Dec 8, 2025
Holiday Antlerless Elk Gun: Dec 18 – Dec 31, 2025
| Elk Open Zones | Ranges | Limits | Total Quotas |
| Panhandle Zone | All private lands in Beaver, Cimarron, and Texas counties | Two elk, one must be antlerless | 60 |
| Special Northwest Zone | All private land in Woodward, Dewey, and Ellis counties, as well as a section of Roger Mills County, extend north of State Highways 33 and 47 to the north county line, west to the state border, and east to the county line | One elk, either sex | 2 |
| Northwest Zone | All private lands north of Interstate 40 and west of Interstate 35, excluding the counties in the Panhandle Zone and counties or parts thereof in the Special Northwest Zone | One elk, either sex | 8 |
| Northeast Zone | All private lands north of Interstate 40 and east of Interstate 35 | One elk, either sex | 20 |
| Southeast Zone | All private lands south of Interstate 40 and east of Interstate 35 | One elk, either sex | 5 |
| Southwest Zone | All private lands south of Interstate 40 and west of Interstate 35, excluding the counties in the Special Southwest Zone | One elk, either sex | 30 |
⚠️Important Notes:
- Bag limits: Two either-sex elk in total for all combined seasons.
- Hunter orange is required.
- Hunting hour is one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
- A legal bull is described as any bull with antlers. A special case in the Special Southwest Zone is that a legal bull must have at least five points on one side of the antlers.
- All elk hunters need to have written permission from the landowner and bring it with them while in the hunting field.
- The elk seasons in each hunting zone will be closed earlier if the quota has been met. So, hunters should check the quota at the official website( wildlifedepartment.com) before they go for the hunt.
- Hunters need to E-check their successful elk harvest within a 24-hour.
License Requirements for Elk Seasons:
- Residents must have both a Resident Hunting License and a Resident Elk License for every elk they hunt.
- Non-residents must obtain a separate Nonresident Elk License, or they can opt for a resident lifetime hunting or combined hunting/fishing license.
Oklahoma Bear Season
Bear Archery Season: Oct 1 – Oct 19, 2025
Bear Muzzleloader Season: Oct 25 – Nov 2, 2025
Season Limit: One bear, either sex in these two combined seasons.
Hunting hour: one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
⚠️Important Notes:
- Hunter orange is required.
- No baiting is permitted in wildlife management areas.
- It is illegal to shoot cubs or females with cubs or collared bears.
- Pursuing bears with dogs is illegal.
- After harvesting a bear, all hunters must immediately secure their name and customer ID number to the carcass.
- The muzzleloader harvest quota is 20 bears. There is no harvest quota during bear archery season.
- Hunters must check by phone whether the quota has been met before going hunting each day.
Hunting License Requirements:
- Nonresident bear hunters don’t need to have a hunting license while hunting bears, but they must have a nonresident bear license.
- Residents must have a hunting license as well as a bear license.
Oklahoma Turkey Seasons
- Youth Turkey Spring: –
- Turkey Spring: –
- Turkey Fall Archery: –
- Turkey Gun Fall: –
⚠️Important Notes:
- Bag limit: One tom turkey (harvest of non-bearded turkeys is prohibited).
- For youth hunters, they should be 17 years old or younger. All youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older.
- The harvest of non-bearded turkeys is prohibited.
- Rifles and handguns are not permitted during the spring season.
- The legal hunting methods are archery equipment and shotguns that are either conventional or muzzleloading as long as they use shots no larger than BB (.180 of an inch in diameter).
License Requirements:
- Resident: Resident hunting license & fall turkey licenses are required.
- Nonresident: Nonresident hunting licenses & fall turkey licenses are required.
Migratory Game Bird Seasons
Dove Season
– –
Bag Limit: 15 daily and 30 in total
Crow Season
– –
Bag Limit: There is no daily or possession limit.
⚠️Important Notes:
- Shotguns exceeding the size of 10 gauge are not allowed.
- There are no limitations on magazines for firearms.
- The use of electronic calls is permitted.
Woodcock Season
–
Bag Limit: 3 daily and 6 in total
Snipe Season
–
Bag Limit: 8 daily and 16 in total
Rail Season
Sep 1, 2025 – Nov 9, 2025
Bag Limit: 25 daily and 50 in total
Gallinule Season
Sep 1, 2025 – Nov 9, 2025
Bag Limit: 15 daily and 30 in total
Oklahoma Waterfowl Season
| Species | Dates |
| September Teal | Sep 13 – Sep 21, 2025 |
| Special Resident Canada Goose | Sep 13 – Sep 22, 2025 |
| Waterfowl Youth, Vet and Military (Panhandle) | Sep 27, 2025 and Jan 31, 2026 |
| Waterfowl Youth, Vet and Military (Zones 1 & 2) | Nov 1, 2025 and Jan 31, 2026 |
| Waterfowl (Zones 1 & 2) | Nov 8 – Nov 30, 2025 Dec 6 – Jan 25, 2026 |
| Waterfowl (Panhandle) | Oct 4, 2025 – Jan 7, 2026 |
| White-Fronted Geese | Nov 1 – Nov 30, 2025 Dec 6, 2025 – Feb 1, 2026 |
| Sandhill Cranes | Oct 18, 2025 – Jan 18, 2026 |
| Dark Geese | Nov 1 – Nov 30, 2025 Dec 6, 2025 – Feb 8, 2026 |
| Light Geese | Nov 1 – Nov 30, 2025 Dec 6, 2025 – Feb 8, 2026 |
| Conservation Order Light Goose Season (COLGS) | Feb 13 – Mar 30, 2026 |
*Daily Limit: 6 ducks of any species. (The daily limit is five mallards (only two of which can be hens), three wood ducks, two redheads, two canvasbacks, one scaup, and one pintail)
Regulations For Hunting Waterfowl
When taking waterfowl, hunters cannot:
- Use various methods such as traps, nets, rifles, pistols, specific firearms, fishhooks, poison, drugs, explosives, or substances that cause unconsciousness.
- Use shotguns capable of carrying more than three shells.
- Use sink boxes or motor-driven conveyances, except for paralyzed individuals and leg amputees who are allowed to hunt from stationary vehicles.
- Use live decoys or imitate bird calls.
- Operate a motorized device or sailboat to assist in hunting by driving, rallying, or pursuing birds.
- Use baits.
Oklahoma Small Game Season
–
Daily Limit: 25 per day, and 50 in total
Oklahoma Rabbit Season
Squirrel Seasons
Date: May 15, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
Bag Limit: 20 daily and 50 in total
Rabbit Seasons
Date: Oct 1, 2025 – Mar 15, 2026
Bag Limit:
- Cottontail: 10 daily, 20 in total
- Swamp: 3 daily, 6 in total
- Jackrabbit: 3 daily, 6 in total
Quail Season
Date: Nov 8, 2025 – Feb 15, 2026
Bag Limit: 10 daily and 20 in total
Pheasant Season
Date: Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026
Bag Limit: 2 cocks daily and 4 in toal
Coyote Season
There is no limit on the Coyote season. Hunters can hunt coyotes all year round.
Other Game Animals
Beaver, Nutria, Raccoon & Striped Skunk: Year-round (No Limit)
Bobcat, Badger, Gray Fox, Red Fox, Mink, Muskrat, Opossum, River Otter & Weasel: –
Bag Limit:
- Bobcat: No daily limit, season limit is 20
- Gray Fox / Red Fox: 2 daily and 6 in total
- River Otter: No daily limit, 6 in total
- Badger, Mink, Muskrat, Opossum, Weasel: No limit
Oklahoma Hunting License Fees
There are short-term and long-term hunting licenses available for selection, each with varying prices and validity dates. Let’s see the breakdown on how much a license costs in Oklahoma:
Resident Licenses
| Resident Base Licenses | Price | Valid Dates |
| Annual Hunting | $36 | 365 Days |
| Youth Annual Super Hunting | $26 | 365 Days |
| Annual Combination Fishing & Hunting | $53 | 365 Days |
| 3-Year Combination Fishing & Hunting | $121 | Three years from date of issue. |
| Disability 5-year Combination Fishing & Hunting | $20 | Five years from date of issue. |
| Deer Archery | $36 | Oct. 1 – Jan. 15 |
| Deer Muzzleloader | $36 | Oct. 26 – Nov. 3 |
| Deer Gun | $36 | Nov. 23 – Dec. 8 and Dec. 18 – Dec. 31 |
| Elk | $51 | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Antelope | $51 | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Bear (Archery or Muzzleloader) | $101 | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Turkey (Spring or Fall) | $10 | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Oklahoma Waterfowl (waterfowl stamp) | $21 | July 1 – June 30 |
| Federal Duck Stamp | $29 | July 1 – June 30 |
| Harvest Information Program (HIP) | $3.00 (free online) | July 1 – June 30 |
Non-Resident Licenses
| Non-Resident Licenses | Price | Valid Dates |
| Nonresident Annual Hunting | $209 | 365 Days |
| Nonresident 5-Day Hunting | $75 | Five days of choice |
| Nonresident Youth Annual Super Hunting | $151 | 365 Days |
| Nonresident Youth 5-Day Super Hunting | $76 | Five days of choice |
| Nonresident Deer Archery | $501 | Oct. 1 – Jan. 15 |
| Nonresident Deer Muzzleloader | $501 | Oct. 26 – Nov. 3 |
| Nonresident Deer Gun | $501 | Nov. 23 – Dec. 8 and Dec. 18 – Dec. 31 |
| Nonresident Elk | $506 | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Nonresident Antelope | $506 | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Nonresident Bear (Archery or Muzzleloader) | $506 | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Turkey (Spring or Fall) | $10 | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Nonresident Oklahoma Waterfowl (waterfowl stamp) | $31 | July 1 – June 30 |
| Federal Duck Stamp | $29 | July 1 – June 30 |
| Harvest Information Program (HIP) | $3.00 (free online) | July 1 – June 30 |
Oklahoma Hunting Regulations
Oklahoma has certain regulations in place to ensure responsible and ethical hunting. Some of these regulations include:
- The use of dogs for hunting is not allowed when pursuing bear, deer, elk, antelope, and turkey.
- It is prohibited to use computer software or services that enable remote control of firearms or weapons to hunt live animals or birds without physical presence.
- Hunters are required to report all deer, elk, antelope, bear, or turkey harvested to the Department within 24 hours of leaving the hunting area.
- Using artificial light, thermal, or night vision equipment for hunting from a public roadway is strictly forbidden.
- It is unlawful to harass, attempt to capture, capture, attempt to take, take, kill, or attempt to kill any wildlife with the assistance of motor-driven land, air, or water conveyances, except for non-ambulatory individuals who may hunt from such conveyances with a valid non-ambulatory or motor vehicle permit.
- Hunters must get prior permission from landowners for access to posted or occupied land, especially on properties primarily dedicated to farming, ranching, or forestry purposes.
- Shooting from or across any public road, highway, or railroad right-of-way, or its adjacent areas, is prohibited by law.
- Shooting hours: One-half hour before official sunrise to one-half hour after official sunset.
- Hunter orange: All hunters participating in any season using a firearm (muzzleloader or gun) must wear both a head covering and an outer garment above the waistline, both totaling at least 400 square inches of hunter orange that are clearly visible while in the field.
For more detailed information, please refer to the Oklahoma Hunting Regulations 2025-2026.
In The End
We will keep you updated with any new changes in dates and regulations for the Oklahoma Hunting season each year. Follow us to prepare early for the hunting season in your state!
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