Oklahoma Deer News
 Oklahoma officer saves fawn after tornados June 6, 2013 WCSH-TV ... "He still had his umbilical cord, it was still attached. So he was just a few days old," Tanksley says... Officials there say the fawn is doing well and will eventually be released back into the wild... Remove predators prior to fawning May 23, 2013 Oklahoma, Southwest Farm Press ... Deer are one of the most intensively-managed game species in Oklahoma and Texas... Removing predators such as coyotes can benefit fawn recruitment in the short term and may be necessary in areas with low deer numbers or poor habitat. On the other hand, if you fail to harvest enough does, causing herd densities to exceed the carrying capacity of your property, coyotes and other predators may actually benefit your herd by helping keep deer numbers in check... Oklahoma hunters harvesting more older bucks, fewer younger bucks April 3, 2013 Thecollinsvillenews ... The Quality Deer Management Association recently issued a report on a list of states that provided the organization with their 2011 buck harvest data, and Oklahoma was in the top five states with the highest harvest of bucks age 3.5 years old and older. In Oklahoma, 51 percent of the deer jaw bones aged from the 2011 buck harvest was comprised of deer that were 3.5 years old or older. In comparison, the national average of states from which QDMA was able to collect harvest data is about 33 percent... Deer limit proposal scrapped ... February 5, 2013 Oklahoma, Tulsa World ... Commissioners said a proposal to limit deer hunters to just one buck killed with a firearm was one of the most controversial they've seen in years with nearly 2,000 public comments received.... "We thought we were not really in a position where we have any science that would back up that proposal ... Buck limit rule shot down February 4, 2013 Oklahoma, NewsOK.com ... Apparently, the conventional wisdom that “if it’s brown, it’s down” still prevails in Oklahoma. On Monday, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission decided against the proposed hunting regulation that would have reduced the buck limit to one ... Deer becoming more watchable at Quartz Mountain December 11, 2012 Oklahoma, Altus Times ... People love to drive through the park to deer watch ... Deer are most likely to be feeding mornings and evenings-though if it is very cold they’ll be “fueling up” throughout the day ... During the winter the deer really become more watchable... Deer population healthier than ever, drought and antler restrictions. December 4, 2012 Oklahoma, Tahlequah Daily Press ... in Cherokee County ... Unseasonably warm weather and drought conditions in 2012 have impacted the availability of food and water, and have caused deer to move outside their normal patterns. This has brought them in closer contact with populated areas and human activity... “There is some discussion about trying to reduce the number of younger bucks harvested... Game Ranger Brady May ... Public Input Needed On Proposed New Deer Hunting Rules In Oklahoma December 3, 2012 KTEN ... Deer hunters would be allowed a total of two bucks. But under the proposal, one buck would have to be taken with a bow and the other harvested during either muzzleloader or gun season... Public input link: http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/aboutodwc/public_meeting.htm Proposed legislation to change limit on number of bucks killed November 30, 2012 Oklahoma, Grandlakenews ... Many feel the recommendation is the way the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife is helping the deer herds in Oklahoma become bigger and create more trophy bucks. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will officially open a public comment period on hunting and fishing rule changes beginning Dec. 3 on its website, www.wildlifedepartment.com until Jan. 11. ... Hunter kills deer unlike any other November 30, 2012 Oklahoma, KFOR.com ... “It was a beautiful, healthy doe with horns.” ... The chances of a hunter seeing a doe with antlers is one in 1,000.... it usually happens because the animal has a hormonal imbalance. Change looms for deer hunters November 23, 2012 Oklahoma, Muskogee Daily Phoenix ... state wildlife officials will propose that only one buck be taken during the combined muzzleloader and gun seasons... A public hearing on the proposed rule change will also be held Jan.8 in Oklahoma City at Wildlife Headquarters on 1801 N.Lincoln ... According to Heath Herje, the man who started Oklahoma’s first Quality Deer Management chapter in the state ... “I think it is going to be a great compromise for the guys who are still interested in having two buck tags, and the hunters interested in some better quality, and older age class bucks,” .... Deer Population Out of Balance November 23, 2012 Oklahoma, Ponca City News For a healthy deer population, the sex ratio of does to bucks should be about one to three... the sex ratio in Oklahoma is approximately one to 15. “The more skewed the sex ratio, the faster the population grows and the fewer trophy bucks it produces ... said Jim Shaw, emeritus professor of natural resources ecology management at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater ... A survey was given a few years back, which asked hunters is they would prefer to see more deer when hunting or fewer deer, but more bucks with big racks... the reply was in the favor of people wanting to see more deer. Oklahoma state wildlife officials to propose combined limit during gun season November 17, 2012 NewsOK.com ... Deer hunters still would be allowed a total of two bucks for all seasons, but under the proposal, one buck would have to be taken with a bow and the other harvested during either muzzleloader or gun season... The proposal is another step in the direction by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to manage the state's deer herd for bigger, or trophy, bucks... public comment period Dec. 3 on its website, www.wildlifedepartment.com ... until Jan. 11... Deer in 'good shape' for hunting season, biologist reports November 16, 2012 Oklahoma, Tulsa World In spite of extraordinary heat and drought the past two years, deer have by and large remained healthy across Oklahoma thanks to scattered and well-timed precipitation and plentiful mast in some areas of the state this fall... Last fall 195,821 deer hunters participated in either the general gun ... Rut Report November 15, 2012 Oklahoma, NewsOK.com (blog) ... According to Erik Bartholomew, big game biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the overall deer harvest this year is down slightly from last year, but antlerless deer harvest is up from where it was this time last year. “Field reports say the rut is ramping up in parts of the state,” Bartholomew said. The rut, or deer breeding season, is a biological process that typically occurs around mid-November. Deer activity during the rut picks up, but the amount of activity can be influenced by a host of factors such as day length, temperatures, moon phase and herd condition. Deer-auto collision risk requires caution November 7, 2012 Oklahoma, Tulsa World AAA-Oklahoma spokesman Chuck Mai warned motorists Oct. 23 that October through December is the time of the year when more deer will be on Oklahoma roadways and to look out for them, especially at dusk and dawn ... Never shine or flash your vehicle's lights, as this causes deer to fixate on your vehicle... Deer travel in groups ... Deer hunting in Oklahoma November 2, 2012 Pryor Daily Times ... harvested 111,427 deer in 2008. The statewide management goal continues to place emphasis on reducing harvests pressure on the young buck segment of the herd and increasing the harvest of does... The best habitat is a patchwork of woodlands and openings. Deer have $6 million impact on Oklahoma October 29, 2012 NormanTranscript.com ... Deer hunting and management is the most popular form of hunting and wildlife management in Oklahoma and, according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, deer hunting has an economic impact of more than $6 million. According to the ODWC website, their statewide deer management goals continue to place emphasis on reducing harvest pressure on young bucks and increasing the harvest of does... | Search for news and information by keyword above or find links to state news stories organized by topic. Other useful links: - Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality - Oklahoma Deer Farmers - Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation - Hunting RegulationsMission Statement: The mission of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is to manage Oklahoma’s wildlife resources and habitat to provide scientific, educational, aesthetic, economic and recreational benefits for present and future generations of hunters, anglers and others who appreciate wildlife. |
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