Beginning deer hunters have a unique opportunity to participate in one of two bonus antlerless deer hunts on private lands in Love County October 20 and Ellis County October 27-28. Orientation for Love County will be October 19, and in Ellis County, October 27-28.
For 2017, 35 youths will be selected to receive one of the bonus private lands antlerless deer gun permits. To be eligible, youths must have completed the hunter education requirements prior to applying and must be 12-17 years old at the time of their scheduled hunt.
"These hunts are on private property and should provide young hunters a great opportunity to see some deer as well as a chance to potentially harvest a doe," said Bill Dinkines, assistant chief of wildlife. "The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission has endorsed the youth hunt program, and we are thankful for the landowners' willingness to allow these kids the opportunity to hunt on their property."
To apply for a hunt, applicants must fill out an application by 4:30 p.m. August 15.
Each youth participating in this hunt must have an adult (licensed or unlicensed) who is at least 21 years of age accompanying them on the hunt. List the hunts by order of preference. Do not list any hunt that you are not interested in or cannot attend.
Antlerless deer taken by selected applicants during these hunts will be considered a bonus deer and will not count toward the hunter's statewide season limit.
Applicants whose names are successfully drawn will receive a notification letter in the mail that includes specific information about their hunt and the deadline for buying the required licenses.
Be aware the $10 Resident or the $201 Nonresident Controlled Hunts Private Land Youth Deer Hunt Licenses will be issued in lieu of the open season license, and must be purchased through the Wildlife Department's Headquarters Office,in Oklahoma City. No Apprentice Licenses will be allowed due to the hunter education requirement.
Hunters with questions before making application can call Kyle Johnson at (405) 590-2584.