Oklahoma Hunting Seasons 2025-2026 – WMUs, Tags & Wildlife Calendar
Welcome to your comprehensive guide to Oklahoma’s hunting seasons! Whether you’re a seasoned outdoorsman or just starting your field adventures, this page covers everything you need to know about the Sooner State’s diverse game opportunities. From white-tailed deer to waterfowl, we’ve compiled the official dates, licensing requirements, zone information, and expert tips to help you plan your perfect Oklahoma hunting trip.
Oklahoma Hunting Season Overview
Oklahoma offers some of the most diverse wildlife experiences in the Midwest, with opportunities to pursue everything from trophy deer to migratory birds. The state’s varied terrain—from the eastern woodlands to western plains—provides unique habitats supporting different game species throughout the year.
Oklahoma’s Department of Wildlife Conservation carefully manages these resources through designated hunting periods, special regulations, and zone designations to ensure sustainable wildlife populations for future generations of sportspeople.
📋 Quick Reference: Key Species & Dates Summary
| Species | Season Dates | Method | Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Oct 1 – Jan 15, 2026 | Archery | 6 total (max 2 antlered) |
| Oct 17-19, 2025 | Youth Gun | Same as above | |
| Oct 25 – Nov 2, 2025 | Muzzleloader | Same as above | |
| Nov 22 – Dec 7, 2025 | Gun | Same as above | |
| Turkey | Apr 16 – May 16, 2026 | Spring | 2 bearded birds |
| Oct 1 – Jan 15, 2026 | Fall Archery | 4 total | |
| Dove | Sep 1 – Oct 31, 2025 | Shotgun | 15 daily |
| Dec 1-29, 2025 | |||
| Waterfowl | Nov 8-30, Dec 6 – Jan 25 | Shotgun | 6 ducks daily |
🦌 Big Game: Archery & Rifle Seasons
White-Tailed Deer
Oklahoma’s premier big game species offers extended opportunities across multiple methods:
🏹 Archery Season: October 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026
- Statewide
- Combined bag limit: 6 deer (maximum 2 antlered)
- Minimum 30-pound draw weight for compounds
🔫 Youth Gun Season: October 17-19, 2025
- Ages 15 and under
- Adult supervision required
- Same bag limits apply
⚔️ Muzzleloader Season: October 25 – November 2, 2025
- Primitive weapons only
- No scope restrictions
- Antlerless-only days may apply in certain zones
🎯 Gun Season: November 22 – December 7, 2025
- Rifle, shotgun, or handgun
- Hunter orange required
- Peak activity period
🎄 Holiday Antlerless: December 18-31, 2025
- Antlerless deer only
- Help manage population levels
Elk 🦙
Private Lands: September 27, 2025 – January 15, 2026 Public Lands: Limited draw permits only Archery Season: October 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026
- Special elk license required
- Specific management units apply
Black Bear 🐻
Archery Season: October 1-20, 2025
- Limited to specific southeastern counties
- Choctaw, Haskell, Latimer, Le Flore, McCurtain, Pushmataha
- Plus portions of other designated counties
- One bear per licensed hunter
Pronghorn Antelope 🦌
Archery Season: October 1-14, 2025 Gun Season: September 4-7, 2025 (Draw permits only)
- Panhandle region primarily
- Two antelope limit (max one buck)
- Controlled access permits required
🦃 Turkey Season: Spring, Fall & Youth
Spring Turkey Season
Youth Spring Turkey: April 12-13, 2026
- Ages 15 and under only
- Adult supervision required
General Spring Season: April 16 – May 16, 2026
- Statewide
- Bearded birds only
- Two-bird season limit
- One-half hour before sunrise to 1 PM only
Fall Turkey Season
Fall Archery: October 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026
- Either sex turkey allowed
- Four-bird season limit
- Bow equipment only
Fall Gun: November 1 – December 31, 2025
- Either sex allowed
- Same four-bird limit applies
- Shotgun or archery equipment
🦫 Furbearers Season
Season Dates: December 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026
Species Included:
- Bobcat (no daily limit, 5 season limit)
- Badger, Gray Fox, Red Fox
- Mink, Muskrat, Opossum
- River Otter, Weasel
- All with no daily, season, or possession limits (except bobcat)
Year-Round Species:
- Beaver, Nutria, Raccoon, Striped Skunk
- Coyote (no limits, year-round)
Special Notes: 🎟️
- Furbearer license required
- Pelts must be tagged within 10 days
- Check local regulations for trapping vs. hunting methods
🐦 Upland Birds
Bobwhite Quail
Season: November 8, 2025 – February 15, 2026
- Daily limit: 8 birds
- Possession limit: 16 after first day
- Statewide except where posted
Ring-Necked Pheasant
Season: December 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026
- Limited to select northwestern counties
- Daily limit: 2 roosters
- Hens protected year-round
Prairie Grouse
Season: November 15, 2025 – January 31, 2026
- Specific management areas only
- Daily limit: 2 birds
- Check current area openings
Wild Turkey (Fall season covered above)
🐰 Upland Animals & Small Game
| Species | Season Dates | Daily Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottontail Rabbit | Oct 1, 2025 – Mar 15, 2026 | 8 | Statewide |
| Swamp Rabbit | Oct 1, 2025 – Mar 15, 2026 | 4 | Eastern counties |
| Jackrabbit | Oct 1, 2025 – Mar 15, 2026 | 8 | West of I-35 only |
| Fox/Gray Squirrel | May 15, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026 | 25 | Year-round for falconers |
Additional Small Game Notes:
- 🏹 Archery: Legal for all small game during archery seasons
- 🎯 .22 Rimfire: Most popular choice for squirrels and rabbits
- 🐕 Dogs: Allowed for rabbit pursuit in designated areas
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Mourning Dove, White-Winged & Eurasian Collared Dove
First Split: September 1 – October 31, 2025 Second Split: December 1-29, 2025
- Daily limit: 15 (any combination)
- Possession: 45 after third day
- Statewide
Crow
First Split: October 10 – November 16, 2025
Second Split: December 9, 2025 – March 4, 2026
- No daily or possession limits
- Statewide
Woodcock
Season: November 1 – December 15, 2025
- Daily limit: 3 birds
- Eastern woodlands primarily
Rail (Sora & Virginia)
Season: September 1 – November 9, 2025
- Daily limit: 25 combined
- Wetland areas
Wilson’s Snipe
Season: September 27, 2025 – January 11, 2026
- Daily limit: 8 birds
- Marsh and wetland habitat
🦆 Ducks, Scaup & Mergansers
Regular Duck Season
Panhandle Counties: October 4, 2025 – January 7, 2026 Zones 1 & 2: November 8-30, 2025 and December 6, 2025 – January 25, 2026
Daily Limits: 6 ducks combined with species restrictions:
- Maximum 5 mallards (only 2 hens)
- Maximum 3 wood ducks
- Maximum 3 pintails
- Maximum 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks
- Maximum 1 scaup
🎖️ Special Youth/Veteran/Military Days:
- November 1, 2025 & January 31, 2026 (Zones 1&2)
- September 27, 2025 & January 31, 2026 (Panhandle)
September Teal Season 🦆
Dates: September 13-21, 2025
- Daily limit: 6 teal
- Blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon teal
- Statewide
🪿 Geese & Other Waterfowl
Canada Geese (Dark Geese)
First Split: November 1-30, 2025 Second Split: December 6, 2025 – February 8, 2026
- Daily limit: 8 geese
- Possession: 24 after third day
White-Fronted Geese
Same dates as dark geese
- Daily limit: 2 birds
- Separate from other goose limits
Light Geese (Snow, Blue & Ross)
Regular Season: November 1-30, 2025 and December 6, 2025 – February 8, 2026
- Daily limit: 50 birds
- No possession limit
🌟 Conservation Order Light Goose Season (COLGS): February 13 – March 30, 2026
- No daily bag or possession limits
- Electronic calls allowed
- Unplugged shotguns permitted
- Registration required
Special Resident Canada Goose
Early Season: September 13-22, 2025
- Daily limit: 8 birds
- Statewide
Sandhill Cranes
Season: October 18, 2025 – January 18, 2026
- West of I-35 only (East closed)
- Daily limit: 3 cranes
- Federal crane permit required
Coots
Same dates as regular duck season
- Daily limit: 15 birds
- Possession: 45 after third day
🦎 Additional Game Seasons
Alligator
Season: August 23-25, 2025 (Weekend only)
- Special permits through lottery
- Specific management areas
- Guide requirements may apply
Feral Hog
Year-round on private land Public land: Check specific area regulations
- No bag limits
- Night vision/thermal allowed on private land
- Help control invasive population
Bullfrog & Other Frogs
Season: April 1 – October 31, 2025
- Gigging, grabbing, or hook and line
- 12-frog daily limit
- Possession: 24 after first day
Turtle (non-game species)
Year-round seasons vary by species
- Commercial licenses available
- Size and method restrictions apply
- Check current regulations
💡 Pro Tips:
- 🌅 Free Hunting Days: September 6-7, 2025 (no license required for residents)
- 📱 Mobile Apps: Use the Oklahoma Hunting app for regulations updates
- 🗺️ Public Land: Check Walk-In Hunting Area opportunities
- 🎯 Safety First: Always wear hunter orange during gun seasons
- 📞 Check Updates: Regulations can change – verify before heading out
🗺️ Oklahoma Hunting Zones Map
Oklahoma divides the state into multiple wildlife management zones for deer and other species to ensure appropriate harvest levels across different habitats.
For detailed zone maps and boundary descriptions, visit the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation website.
Antlerless Deer Zones
Oklahoma uses 10 zones to manage antlerless deer harvest:
- Zone 1: Limited antlerless opportunities
- Zones 2, 7 & 8: Liberal antlerless harvest (4 deer limit)
- Zones 3, 4, 5, 6 & 9: Moderate antlerless harvest (2 deer limit)
- Zone 10: Conservative antlerless harvest (1 deer limit)
🎟️ License Requirements & Options
Resident Options
- Annual Hunting License: Basic requirement for adult residents
- Combination Hunting/Fishing: Popular option for sportspeople
- Lifetime License: One-time purchase for lifetime privileges
- Youth Annual Super Hunting License: For hunters under 18
Non-Resident Options
- Annual Hunting License: Required for all non-residents
- 5-Day Hunting License: Short-term option (not valid for deer)
- Youth Non-Resident: Special rates for young visitors
Additional Permits
- Deer License: Required for each deer method of harvest
- Turkey License: Required for turkey hunting
- Federal Duck Stamp: Required for waterfowl hunting
- HIP Permit: Required for migratory bird hunting
- Arrow Rifle Permit: One-time permit for air-powered arrow rifles
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many deer can I harvest in Oklahoma?
The combined season limit is six deer, with no more than two being antlered. Different methods of take have their own limits within this overall cap.
Where can I find public hunting land in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma offers nearly 1.2 million acres of public access through Wildlife Management Areas, federal lands, and the Oklahoma Land Access Program. Visit the ODWC website for maps and regulations.
Is night hunting allowed in Oklahoma?
Night hunting is prohibited for most species. Limited exemptions exist for raccoons and some furbearers with specific restrictions.
What’s the best way to check my harvested game?
Oklahoma requires electronic checking of harvested deer, elk, and turkey through the Go Outdoors Oklahoma app, website, or by phone.
Do I need hunter education in Oklahoma?
Yes, hunters born after January 1, 1972, must complete hunter education to hunt alone. Apprentice licenses allow hunting with an accompanying certified adult.
Related Resources
Join Oklahoma’s Outdoor Heritage
Oklahoma’s diverse ecosystems offer some of America’s finest field experiences. From the rolling hills of eastern counties to the wide-open spaces out west, the state provides opportunities for sportspeople of all backgrounds and interests.
For the most current information and any regulation updates, always check with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Purchase your licenses early, scout your locations, and respect both the wildlife and private property boundaries. By following regulations and practicing ethical field behavior, you help ensure these traditions continue for generations to come.
Whether you’re after trophy deer, called-in gobblers, or fast-flying doves, Oklahoma’s great outdoors awaits your next adventure!
