Deer season is right around the corner

Deer hunters set a new mark for harvest last year, shattering the old record, by taking 134,158 deer. That was nearly 8,000 more than any harvest year previously.

Archery hunters did their part to contribute to the record, harvesting 41,487 deer, making up almost 31 percent of the total harvest. This was also a new record for bow hunters.

What excites biologists most, was that in that total, 48 percent were does, falling right in line with the statewide management goals that are resulting in healthier populations overall.

“Oklahoma’s deer populations enjoyed growing numbers and good habitat conditions across much of the state last year, factors contributing to the record harvest,” said Dallas Barber, Big Game Biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “Also contributing was the willingness of Oklahoma hunters to help the state’s deer management plan by taking more antlerless deer.”

Barber said the early season is an ideal time to capitalize on antlerless deer opportunities. “Why not fill the freezer before focusing on bagging that big buck?

The 2023-24 season is right around the corner, and habitat conditions are looking up across much of the state. Areas that were plagued with historical droughts have received much-needed rainfall, and at a perfect time for nursing fawns and growing antlers, say biologists.

With plenty of food and vegetation, deer stand a better chance of eating well and preparing for colder months ahead than they do when food is limited.

If taking a deer with your bow is getting routine, then perhaps you might want to get in on some of the other archery opportunities happing in the Sooner State.

While deer archery season is open statewide, antelope hunters must hunt in Cimarron Co. and that portion of Texas Co. west of state highway 136. Black bear season is open only in Choctaw, Haskell, Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain and Pushmataha counties, and portions of McIntosh, Muskogee and Sequoyah counties.

Antelope populations continue to be down from traditional numbers, but a greater availability of food and water sources should benefit antelope going into the winter while challenging hunters to look beyond limited watering holes and feeding locations that have proven successful in the past.

“The prepared archery hunter will have scouted, talked to several landowners, secured the required written landowner permission they need to hunt, and will be ready for action Oct. 1,” Bartholomew said.

In southeastern Oklahoma, black bear hunters had a decent hunting season in 2022, taking a total of 60 bears, which was 10 fewer than the year before.

Archery hunters took 57 black bears, while muzzleloader hunters managed three bears this past year in the black bear hunting zone that includes all or portions of 12 counties in southeastern Oklahoma.

Oklahoma’s record black bear harvest was in 2018 when 85 bears were taken.

All hunters wanting to pursue a black bear must buy either an archery or muzzleloader bear license before the opening dates of each season. Archery bear season dates are defined in statute, running from Oct. 1 until the third Sunday in October. In 2023, archery bear season will close Oct. 15. Archery bear season has no harvest quota.

During Fall turkey archery season hunters may harvest one turkey of either sex, statewide (the limit is combined with the gun season). It’s common for deer hunters to head to the field with the proper fall turkey license in case they get an opportunity to harvest a turkey while deer hunting.

Seasons on public lands may vary from statewide season dates. Complete details and regulations for each season — including hunter education and apprentice-designated license requirements — can be found in the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide,” available free online or in print anywhere hunting licenses are sold.