Two area game wardens are predicting good hunting for the upcoming deer seasons this fall and they say they’ve also seen lots of young turkeys.
But they also remind hunters to check some of the new rules and regulations that have been put in place this year as well.
Oklahoma Game Wardens Mike France and Jacob Harriet say that deer are plentiful everywhere in Pottawatomie and Lincoln Counties. France is assigned to Pott County and Harriet is assigned to Lincoln County but both work closely with one another.
With the upcoming dove season that opens this Sunday, Sep. 1, Harriet noted,” It seems we get a big cold front just before the season starts, but I’ve been seeing quite a few.”
France said since the cool spell a few weeks ago he hasn’t seen as many as he was, but commented, “Most of the corn has been cut in the county.”
Harriet stated, “They come in waves with others arriving from the north.”
The season runs from Sep. 1 through Oct. 31 and reopens Dec. 1 and goes through Dec. 29.
Harriet said, “Not many hunt them in October but I see a lot of doves at the end of that month.”
Both France and Harriet commented, “There are lots of deer, they are all over the place. Vegetation is really good. We’ve had pretty good rain,” Harriet stated.
France said, “I’ve seen lots of acorns and deer love them when they drop. It’s amazing what a little bit of rain will do,” he believes.
Between the archery, muzzleloader and gun deer seasons a hunter can harvest a total of six deer. Only two of those can be antlered, the other four must be without antlers.
The archery season is from Oct. 1, 2024 through Jan. 15, 2025. Muzzleloader season is Oct. 26 to Nov. 3 and the gun season is Nov. 23 to Dec. 8.
Each of them pointed out, “Once you purchase an archery deer license, you no longer have to buy an individual archery license for each deer.
“In Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties, which are doe zones, you can shoot two does and one buck. The same is true with muzzleloader and deer gun,” they emphasized.
“You can bag two bucks in archery, but once you do, that’s it for the bucks. No more are allowed in muzzleloader or gun season,” they stressed.
The two game wardens point out that a hunter can bag 2 more antlerless deer during the holiday antlerless season which runs from Dec. 18-31.
Both wardens say there are reports of lots of turkeys in both Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties. The fall gun turkey season runs Nov. 2-22. Bag limit is one gobbler only for the season “It’s shotgun only,” they said. The fall turkey archery season goes from Oct. 1 through Jan. 15.
They noted that a new Youth Super license can be purchased which covers everything except waterfowl.
That is one of the many changes passed by the Legislature.
“Anyone under 18 is considered a youth,” they said.
Another one concerns hunting OLAP properties. “You need a Land Access permit which costs $100,” they commented, “and that is for anyone who hunts OLAP properties, including lifetime license holders,” stressed.
Hunters can no longer purchase only a lifetime hunting license either. While Oklahoman residents can buy a lifetime fishing license for $375, if they want a lifetime hunting license they must purchase a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license for $1,024, the two wardens emphasized.
A resident 65 and older with six month residency can buy a senior lifetime combination fishing and hunting license for $60. A senior lifetime fishing license cost only $30.
They point out that everyone between the ages of 10 and 30 must have Hunter Education certification or have an apprentice designate. That means a person may hunt with someone who is at least 18 and hunter education certified.