Deer gun season closes Sunday

If you did not fill your tag over the Thanksgiving break, never fear, there is still time to get in on what looks to be a great deer gun season. Hunters have through Sunday to hit the woods one more time.

Great weather and an active rut greeted hunters this past week and they had great success, with more than 40,000 deer taken across the state, and that doesn’t account for the youth gun season.

With more mild weather, hunters should add to that number this weekend. And don’t forget about the Holiday antlerless season that will run Dec. 18 – 31.

Will hunters eclipse the record gun harvest set last year? Hard to say, nearly 80,000 deer is a lofty number, but if weather holds out, there is a chance.

The archery season runs through Jan. 15, so there are still plenty of chances for Oklahoma deer hunters to get out and enjoy some of the best deer opportunities in the state’s history.

Furbearer season open

December marks the opening of furbearer season in Oklahoma, offering outdoorsmen the chance to hone their outdoor skills, harvest a variety of game species and perhaps earn some extra cash in the process.

The coyote, bobcat, badger, gray fox, red fox, muskrat, opossum, otter and weasel season runs Dec. 1 – Feb. 28, while beaver, nutria, raccoon and striped skunk season is open year-round.

Fur prices have been in a 10-year slump. Markets in Russia, Korea and China impacts fur prices here more than any other issue, and demand over there has fur harvesters really feeling it. With conflict in these areas, the market has been somewhat unstable.

Fur prices are still in limbo, but some furs, such as bobcats are showing more demand. Oklahoma fur brought a wide range of prices last year, bobcats did not sell well last year as the, but they have bounced back and there should be buyers, with prices nearly double of last year, $80-$100 for Oklahoma cats.

Coyotes have a little demand and are selling at about $10 — $25 depending on quality. Raccoons are one of the animals that the market has fallen and if you can even find a buyer, the price is less than $10, that is nearly $20 below a few years ago. Other prices include badger $20; and fox $10-$15.

The exception to this low fur demand is the hatter market, which uses beaver fur to make felt hats (cowboy hats, fedoras, etc). That market, dominated by consumers in Western countries, is absolutely booming. Some attribute this to the widespread popularity of the TV Series ‘Yellowstone’, while others say it’s a wider fashion phenomenon that goes far beyond a show. This demand has driven up the price of beaver pelts to the highest they’ve been in more than a decade, and the demand doesn’t seem to be waning yet. Predictions are for top quality bobcat pelts exceeding $100 this year.

Furbearing animals include raccoons, minks, badgers, muskrats, opossums, weasels, bobcats, beavers, skunks, river otters and gray and red foxes to name a few, and many hunters and trappers harvest these furbearers and sell their pelts. Check the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” for requirements on tagging, selling and possessing furbearing wildlife. The Wildlife Department’s website also has a list of Oklahoma Fur Dealers and Bobcat tagging stations.

There are three styles of furs that are typically sold — stretched, green and carcass. Groenewold Fur & Wool Company has some good information on the current fur demand and gives some good tips on their website.

To hunt Furbearers in Oklahoma – Hunters must possess a resident hunting license and a fur license. If furbearers will be trapped then a trapper’s license is also required. Lifetime hunting license holders are exempt from the hunting and furbearer license.

Consult the Oklahoma Hunting Guide for regulations for the taking of furbearers.

The Wildlife Department also has how-to videos on calling and trapping furbearers www.wildlifedepartment.com/hunting/resources/furbearers-trapping. A list of fur dealers and locations to check bobcat and otter pelts may also be found at this link.