Several hunting seasons open Oct. 26, including muzzleloader deer season. Also opening will be private lands elk muzzleloader, muzzleloader bear, sandhill crane and Zone 1 duck seasons.
The 2019 muzzleloader deer season will close Nov. 3. Hunting seasons already open include deer archery, private lands archery elk, archery bear, squirrel, rabbit, dove and crow.
Last year, more than 77,000 hunters participated in muzzleloader deer season, according to the annual Big Game Report published in the September/October issue of Outdoor Oklahoma. Muzzleloader hunters reported 14,306 deer harvested during the nine-day season in 2018, about 13 percent of all deer taken during all 2018-19 seasons.
Muzzleloader elk season remains open until Nov. 3 only in elk hunting zones where the seasonal harvest quotas have not yet been reached. Elk hunters must go online check the quota status of the zone they intend to hunt before they go afield.
Hunter orange clothing regulations are in effect when any big game firearms season is open, except for those hunting waterfowl, crow or sandhill crane.
For complete information and license requirements, consult the current Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing Regulations.
This year, the Department of Wildlife Conservation is using a new online license system and mobile app with improved customer service features. This system is called Go Outdoors Oklahoma.
All hunters and anglers who have bought licenses in the past should already have a profile in Go Outdoors Oklahoma. Regardless, everyone ¬— especially lifetime license holders — should take a few minutes and go online to make sure their account is properly set up. New users should log on and create a new account.
Hunters checking their profile now is important for future interactions with the Wildlife Department, including obtaining licenses and permits, using E-check, applying for controlled hunts and more. With the new mobile app, sportsmen can now carry all of their licenses and permits digitally on their mobile device.