Five Bonus Hunts Set for Oklahoma Beginning Hunters

Beginning deer hunters have a unique opportunity to participate in five bonus antlerless deer hunts that will take place on private land this season in Oklahoma.

Five private land bonus hunts are set for Oklahoma youngsters this season. (Photo: The Oklahoman)

The private land hunts will be in Osage County (Oct 5-7), Ellis County (Oct 12-13), Kingfisher County (Oct. 13), Carter County (Nov 23-24), and Alfalfa County (Jan 11-13).

This year 55 youth will be drawn to receive one of the bonus private lands antlerless deer gun permits. To be eligible, youth must have completed their hunter education requirements prior to applying and must be 12-17 years old at the time of their scheduled hunt.

“These hunts are on private property and should provide young hunters a great opportunity to see some deer as well as a chance to harvest a doe,” said Bill Dinkines, assistant chief of wildlife for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission has endorsed the youth hunt program and we are thankful for the landowners’ willingness to allow these kids the opportunity to hunt on their property.”

To apply for a hunt, applicants must submit (mail or walk-in only) an index card with the following information:

Hunter’s first & last name
Date of birth
Mailing address
Telephone number
Hunter education certification number
Social security or driver’s license number
Lifetime License number, if applicable

Accompanying adult’s first & last name (each child participating in this hunt must have a licensed or unlicensed adult who is at least 21 years of age accompanying them on the hunt).

List of hunts by order of preference (please do not list any hunt that you are not interested in or know in advance you cannot attend).

Envelope should be addressed to: OK DEPT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, Attn: Wildlife Division: “Private Lands Youth Deer Hunts,” PO BOX 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. All applications must be received by Friday, Aug. 17.

Antlerless deer taken by selected applicants during these hunts will be considered a “bonus deer” and will not count toward the hunter’s season statewide limit.

Applicants who are successfully drawn will receive a notification letter in the mail that includes specific information about their hunt and the deadline for purchasing required license(s) as listed below:

Resident Options (Ages 12-15):
Lifetime Hunting or Lifetime Combination License, or;
$10 CH Private Lands Youth Deer License***

Resident Options (Age 16-17):
Lifetime Hunting or Lifetime Combination License, or;
Resident Annual Youth Hunting + $10 CH Private Lands Youth Deer License*** or;
Resident Fiscal Year Hunting + $10 CH Private Lands Youth Deer License***
Non-Resident Options (Ages 12-17):
CH Nonresident Private Lands Youth Deer License***

***NOTE: The $10 resident or the $201 non-resident CH Private Lands Youth Deer Hunt Permits will be issued in lieu of the open season license and must be purchased through the Wildlife Department’s central office. Apprentice-designated licenses will not be allowed due to the hunter education requirement.

For additional information, contact the Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Division at (405) 521-2730.

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