HUNTING SEASONS IN OKLAHOMA 2025–26: Deer Hunting, Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 OK hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to pronghorn to ducks. Whether you’re glassing a rutting buck on a cedar‑lined ridge, slipping decoys for teal over a flooded playa, or honing your predator‑control skills on coyote, the Sooner State’s prairies, woodlands, and wetlands deliver world‑class big game and small game hunts under clear regulations. What Is There to Hunt in Oklahoma? Oklahoma supports a broad array of species: Big Game: Whitetail deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep, black bear, mountain lion Small Game & Upland Birds: Cottontail rabbit, swamp rabbit, fox & gray squirrels, bobwhite quail, scaled quail, ring‑necked pheasant (select WMAs), ruffed grouse, woodcock Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, pintail), Canada geese, snow geese, coots, rails, mourning dove Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, bobcat, fox, raccoon, nutria From the Panhandle’s high plains to the Cross Timbers woodlands, Oklahoma hunters pursue healthy state animal populations year‑round. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in Oklahoma? On private lands with landowner permission—and a valid license—you may harvest nuisance species such as coyote, nutria, bobcat, and raccoon with no closed season and no bag limits, providing off‑season predator‑control opportunities. Public Wildlife Management Areas enforce posted season dates and method restrictions. Oklahoma Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail Deer Archery: Oct 1 – Jan 15, 2026 (Statewide) Youth Firearms: Oct 18–19, 2025 Firearms: Dec 5 – Dec 20, 2025 Muzzleloader: Oct 25 – Nov 2, 2025 Antlerless Only: Jan 1 – Jan 15, 2026 (Statewide) Pronghorn Antelope General Rifle & Archery: Sept 19 – Sept 27, 2025 Limited‑Entry (draw): Oct 1 – Oct 10, 2025 Combined season limit 2 antelope; at most 1 buck with black cheek patch. Elk Archery: Oct 1 – Oct 31, 2025 (WMUs vary) Gun: Nov 8 – Nov 30, 2025 Muzzleloader: Dec 1 – Dec 15, 2025 Elk tags via OTC or draw; one bull or cow per tag. Bighorn Sheep & Mountain Lion Bighorn Sheep (draw): Aug 15 – Dec 31, 2025 Mountain Lion: Feb 1 – Mar 31 & Aug 1 – Oct 31, 2025 Sheep and lion hunts require quota permits; harvests reported within 48 hrs. Oklahoma Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Upland Game & Small Mammals Cottontail Rabbit: Oct 1 – Mar 15, 2026 (8/day) Swamp Rabbit: Oct 1 – Mar 15, 2026 (4/day) Fox/Gray Squirrel: Year‑round (25/day) Bobwhite Quail: Nov 8 – Feb 15, 2026 (8/day) Ring‑Necked Pheasant: Dec 1 – Jan 31, 2026 (2/day; select NW counties) Ruffed & Prairie Grouse: Nov 15 – Jan 31, 2026 (2/day) Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Early Teal: Sept 13 – Sept 21, 2025 Regular Duck (zones): Oct 4 – Jan 7 & Dec 6 – Jan 25 (Panhandle & Plains); Nov 8 – Nov 30 & Dec 6 – Jan 25 (Zones 1&2) Canada Geese: Nov 1 – Feb 8, 2026 (8/day) Light Goose Conservation Order: Feb 13 – Mar 30, 2026 (no limits) Sandhill Crane: Oct 18 – Jan 18, 2026 (West of I‑35) Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Nov 9, 2025 (25 & 15/day) Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 9 & Dec 1 – Jan 15, 2026 (15/day) Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; Federal Duck Stamp, HIP, state waterfowl stamp required State Hunting. Bag Limits by Species Whitetail Deer: 2 total; max 1 buck under gun/muzzleloader, 2 bucks archery Pronghorn Antelope: 2 total; max 1 buck Elk: 1 per tag Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Lion: 1 per harvest permit Ducks: 6/day; species sub‑limits apply Geese: 8/day (dark geese); light geese no limit during CO Crane: 3/day Rails & Coots: 25 & 15/day Quail: 8/day Rabbit & Squirrel: 8 & 25/day Coyote & Furbearers: No limits on private lands License & Tags Information for Oklahoma Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must carry a valid Oklahoma hunting license and required tags/permits: Resident License: $28.50; Nonresident: $213.50 Big Game Tags: $23–$443 (OTC or draw) Waterfowl Stamp & HIP: $17; Federal Duck Stamp required Furbearer License: $52; includes bobcat, nutria, coyote Hunter Education: Mandatory for hunters born after Jan 1 1966 Licenses fund habitat restoration, wildlife research, and regulation enforcement. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader Oklahoma authorizes: Archery: Compound, recurve bows, crossbows (archery seasons) Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) during gun seasons Muzzleloaders: Single‑shot black‑powder firearms Dogs & Bait: Allowed for waterfowl retrievers; predator hunts may use dogs and bait on private lands Ensure compliance with caliber, draw weight, and non‑toxic shot requirements. Regulations & Resources Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation regulations cover: Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset (youth hunts may differ) Hunt Unit Maps: GIS maps for deer, pronghorn, elk, sheep, goat units Harvest Reporting: Mandatory for big game within 48 hrs via ODWC website Special Areas: Wildlife management areas, refuge zones, and predator control regions Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC): https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/hunting/seasons With structured seasons, clear bag limits, and accessible license systems, Oklahoma delivers exceptional hunts for whitetail deer, pronghorn, ducks, and predators. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure proper tags, and immerse yourself in the Sooner State’s