CHANGES ARE HERE FOR THE 2026–27 HUNTING SEASONS

OKLAHOMA — For those of you who like to hunt, here’s some news for y’all. This past Monday, three new emergency rules, along with five resolutions, were approved by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. These rules and resolutions are effective immediately in Oklahoma.

So if you like to hunt or fish, you may want to keep reading.

The rules approved include a 2-day waiting period for nonresidents who want to purchase a deer hunting license during the season, a requirement for outfitters and hunting guides who provide waterfowl and sandhill crane hunting services to obtain an established license, and updates to the Chronic Wasting Disease Improvement Program regarding the release of deer located on private property.

The five resolutions also bring several changes for the 2026 through 2027 hunting seasons.

For those who hunt migratory game birds, the upcoming 2026–27 season will have new season dates and bag limits. The changes are also expected to better line up the woodcock and quail seasons.

For antlerless deer, season dates and bag limits will now vary by hunting zone. Another change prohibits the harvest of female mule deer statewide during both muzzleloader and modern gun seasons.

There are also updates for elk hunting in the Special Southeast Zone, which includes parts of Carter and Murray counties that are east of the I-35. Hunters in that area, as well as in the Panhandle, will see increased harvest quotas and additional hunting days during the season.

Finally, the Commission approved removing the muzzleloader harvest quota for black bears and if you enjoy crappie fishing, there are a few changes coming to certain lakes, including Lake Eufaula and Atoka Lake. The limits at those lakes are changing, but the statewide daily limit will still be 37 crappie per angler.

So, if you plan on spending time in the woods this season, these changes are worth knowing. Taking a few minutes to review the updated rules now could save you a headache later.