Oklahoma Population and Management Archive -  Oklahoma

View the archive by scrolling through the window below.  Historic deer hunt data is below the Archive window on the left column with links to sources.    A list of all articles in the Archive is below the window.

Oklahoma Deer Population and Management Archive

Annual Deer Kill

(In some years County is reported separately from DMA, County Details Below)

1933:         235

1936:         375

1939:         384

1940:         318

1944:  379

1945:  469

1954:      1,147

1972:      7,670

1976:    11,548

1979:    15,000

1989     38,341

1990:    44,070

1999:    82,724

2000:  102,100

2001:    96,004

2002:  101,635

2003:  100,602

2004:    94,659

2005:   94,908

2006:  119,349

2007:  101,100

2008:  111,427

2009:  110,112

2010:  109,314

2011:  112,863

2012:  107,848

2013:    88,009

2014:    97,265

2015:    88,467

2016:    99,023

2017:  107,914

2018:  109,260

2019106,604

2020:  126,290

2021: 117,629

2022:  131,781*

*The 2022 report understates hunter participation



Elk

2015:   308

2016:   315


Big Game Reports with Details

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22


County Details:

1999:     

2000:    96,110

2001:    96,004

2002:  101,635

2003:  100,602

2004:    94,659

2005:   94,908

2006:  119,349

2007:  101,100

2008:  111,427

2009:  110,112


A List of Articles in the Archive

2021

Elk in the Arbuckles? Wildlife Department may relocate elk to the mountain range May 16, 2021 Oklahoma

New wildlife laws proposed February 7, 2021 Oklahoma

2020

2020 was an active year for spotting mountain lions in Oklahoma January 8, 2020

Deer season right around corner September 20, 2020 Oklahoma

Firearm season descends on hunters November 21, 2020 Oklahoma

2019

Bill to legalize hunting guides on public lands advances to House April 7, 2019 Oklahoma

Deer gun season is nigh November 17, 2019 Oklahoma

Deer were being trapped, killed on Tulsa County property, game wardens say March 3, 2019 Oklahoma

Department Of Agriculture Order Bans Rehabbers From Helping Injured Deer May 7, 2019 Oklahoma,

Distribution and Status of Mule Deer in Oklahoma SC Vrla, BK McDonald, CJ Butler - The Southwestern Naturalist, 2019

It's time to speak up if a 23-day deer gun season means something to you December 14, 2019 Oklahoma

Legislator creates deer preserve January 13, 2019 Oklahoma

Oklahoma Game Wardens Concerned Over New Technology For Hunters November 29, 2019

Oklahoma's elk population continues to grow October 13, 2019

State's most-popular deer hunting season opening soon November 14, 2019 Oklahoma, Claremore Daily Progress

The Whitetail Deer Conservation Story in Oklahoma, October 7, 2019

2018

2017-18 Oklahoma Big Game Report

2018 Oklahoma Deer Forecast November 1, 2018

Deer Gun Hunting Starts With Youths This Weekend October 17, 2018 Oklahoma

Deer Gun Season Opens Nov. 17, Bringing High Hopes for Hunters November 11, 2018 Oklahoma

Deer hunting is a family tradition in Oklahoma November 11, 2018

Deer season 2018 opens Oct. 1 with promise September 23, 2018 Oklahoma

Oklahoma keeps producing trophy bucks December 2, 2018

2017

2016-17 Oklahoma Big Game Report

Archers hope for more of same after record 2016 September 28, 2017 Oklahoma

Oklahoma Wildlife Services surpassed 2016 goal for elimination of feral swine January 27, 2017

Oklahoma's deer gun season opens Saturday November 11, 2017

Wildlife Commission passes deer tracking, walk-in hunting rules February 7, 2017 Oklahoma

2016

2015-16 Oklahoma Big Game Report

Finding The Perfect Buck-Doe Ratio December 12, 2016 Oklahoma

Local fawn crop strong August 7, 2016 Oklahoma,

Man Violates Wildlife Laws That Keep Oklahoma Deer Population Thriving January 15, 2016

Oklahoma deer hunters seem to be having more success than last season December 3, 2016

Proposal would allow use of dogs to tracked wounded deer December 28, 2016 Oklahoma

Total deer harvest likely lower this season January 10, 2016 Oklahoma

Wildlife Director Hatcher retires after 37-year career with the agency October 2, 2016 Oklahoma,

2015

2014 Deer Harvest Total, September 28, 2015

2015 Trophy Deer Forecast: Oklahoma October 21, 2015

Another record archery deer season may lay ahead September 28, 2015 Oklahoma,

As bowhunting season opens in US, animal rights groups are hopping mad September 6, 2015 Oklahoma,

Big game archery seasons open Thursday September 26, 2015 Oklahoma

Colder forecast ushers in deer rifle season February 20, 2015 Oklahoma

Colder weather, rut, positive signs for Saturday deer season opener November 15, 2015 Oklahoma

Deer counts higher except out west January 23, 2015 Oklahoma

Deer harvest total near average January 19, 2015 Oklahoma

Deer population down across Oklahoma June 30, 2015 KOCO Oklahoma

Deer population down November 26, 2015 Oklahoma,

Deer season begins, but not with a bang November 17, 2015 Oklahoma

Fatal Shooting Shows Game Wardens Have A Dangerous Job April 27, 2015 Oklahoma

Gov. Mary Fallin signs three-year hunting and fishing compact with Cherokee Nation May 29, 2015 Oklahoma

Growing Bear Population Causes Trouble For NE Oklahoma Deer Hunters October 1, 2015

How far has quality deer management come in Oklahoma? October 16, 2015 Oklahoma,

Miniature Sicilian donkey named Bambi begins protecting deer at Wild Heart Ranch November 24, 2015 Oklahoma,

Oklahoma Deer Forecast for 2015 September 9, 2015

Oklahoma Deer Harvest Total Near Average January 16, 2015

Oklahoma deer hunters have enjoyed record success the past decade November 15, 2015

Oklahoma Game Wardens Swamped With Poaching Cases November 10, 2015

Petitioners seek to stop Cherokee hunting-fishing compact with Oklahoma August 10, 2015

Record deer harvest expected as archery season begins October 1, 2015 Oklahoma,

Rut Report November 18, 2015 Oklahoma

State's deer harvest up, but drought-stricken west suffers January 25, 2015 Oklahoma

With deer season comes hunter responsibility October 1, 2015 Oklahoma,

Youth gun deer season opens Friday October 15, 2015 Oklahoma,

2014

'Outdoor Oklahoma' Big Game Report details lower deer harvest July 31, 2014 Oklahoma

2014 Deer Hunting Season Underway October 10, 2014 Oklahoma

Chances of drivers hitting deer in Oklahoma may be down this fall September 21, 2014 Oklahoma

Charges Pending After Deer Shot In Oklahoma Is Brought To Tennesse Illegally February 18, 2014 Oklahoma

Coming soon: deer season ... November 18, 2014 Oklahoma

Deer appearing earlier in Oklahoma this year September 9, 2014

Deer cooperatives catching on in Oklahoma November 16, 2014 Oklahoma

Deer harvest numbers expected to bounce back after 18.4 percent decline August 2, 2014 Oklahoma

Deer hunters asked to provide age information on their kills August 19, 2014 Oklahoma

Deer hunters worry the drought will dampen hunting season July 3, 2014 Oklahoma

Deer rifle season begins Saturday November 21, 2014 Oklahoma

Deer season kill total down over previous years January 12, 2014 Oklahoma

Food plots to increase deer harvest August 20, 2014 Oklahoma

Gun season opens Saturday in Oklahoma November 17, 2014

Holiday deer season boosts state doe harvest December 18, 2014 Oklahoma

Last days of deer rifle season show promise December 2, 2014 Oklahoma

Looking ahead to big-game archery seasons September 28, 2014 Oklahoma

Missouri law to impact Oklahoma deer farmers November 9, 2014 Oklahoma

Moore man takes first elk on private land October 5, 2014 Oklahoma

Muzzleloader Seasons Open Oct. 25 for Deer, Elk, Bear October 22, 2014 Oklahoma

Not everyone is a fan of E-check for deer November 23, 2014 Oklahoma

Oklahoma Commission Reviews Redesigned Wildlifedepartment.com Deer Page August 8, 2014

Oklahoma deer hunting: Could drought, weather be responsible for a slow hunting season? May 18, 2014

Oklahoma ready for statewide elk hunting March 9, 2014

Proposed deer hunting legislation incorrectly written, riles hunters February 11, 2014 Oklahoma

Rut reports raise optimism for good deer gun season November 23, 2014 Oklahoma

Statewide elk hunting season approved by Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission May 25, 2014

The rut is all around us November 16, 2014 Oklahoma

Whitetail deer fawns increasing in area June 22, 2014 Oklahoma,

Wildlife Department 'rut report' holds good news for deer hunters November 20, 2014 Oklahoma

Wildlife Department tries to appease both trophy hunters and meat hunters February 15, 2014 Oklahoma

2013

2013 rut report from the ODWC November 19, 2013 Oklahoma

5000 deer killed in Oklahoma youth season October 12, 2013

Accuracy and implications of visually estimating age of male white‐tailed deer using physical characteristics from photographs KL Gee, SL Webb, JH Holman - Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2013

Deer food plot workshop planned July 19, 2013 Oklahoma

Deer gun season opens Saturday statewide November 17, 2013 Oklahoma

Deer numbers are slightly down November 10, 2013 Oklahoma

Deer rifle harvest numbers down December 10, 2013 Oklahoma

Deer rifle season gets underway in Oklahoma November 24, 2013

Deer season opens on high note ... November 26, 2013 Oklahoma

Hunting and fishing proposals for 2014 December 28, 2013 Oklahoma

Hunting land proves to be valuable asset for state agency October 13, 2013 Oklahoma

Hunting moving into the digital age August 6, 2013 Oklahoma

Landowners using food plots to attract wildlife July 27, 2013 Oklahoma

Merogonic stages of Theileria cervi in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) J Wood, EM Johnson, KE Allen, GA Campbell… Oklahoma, Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 2013

Oklahoma Deer Hunt Check Stations Go Online September 26, 2013 Oklahoma

Oklahoma Deer Hunting July 22, 2013 Oklahoma

Oklahoma Herd Management October 14, 2013

Oklahoma hunters harvesting more older bucks, fewer younger bucks April 3, 2013

Remove predators prior to fawning May 23, 2013 Oklahoma

State's gun deer season nears November 18, 2013 Oklahoma

Statewide deer season is open November 25, 2013 Oklahoma,

The Rut Report November 18, 2013 Oklahoma

Whitetail Deer Range July 23, 2013 Oklahoma

2012

'Good Old Days' of deer hunting now October 14, 2012 Oklahoma

Buck limit rule shot down February 4, 2013 Oklahoma

Change looms for deer hunters November 23, 2012 Oklahoma

Deer have $6 million impact on Oklahoma October 29, 2012

Deer hunting in Oklahoma November 2, 2012 Pryor Daily Times

Deer in 'good shape' for hunting season, biologist reports November 16, 2012 Oklahoma

Deer population healthier than ever, drought and antler restrictions. December 4, 2012 Oklahoma

Deer Population Out of Balance November 23, 2012 Oklahoma

Hunting regulation on white deer repealed April 19, 2012 Oklahoma

Myths surround deer antler genetics October 5, 2012 Oklahoma

Oklahoma state wildlife officials to propose combined limit during gun season November 17, 2012

Wildlife Conservation Commission passes new hunting and fishing regulations March 5, 2012 Oklahoma

Oklahoma's best deer hunting counties August 8, 2012

Proposed legislation to change limit on number of bucks killed November 30, 2012 Oklahoma

QDMA Receives $50K to Establish Three Wildlife Management Cooperatives September 27, 2012 Oklahoma

Rut Report November 15, 2012 Oklahoma

Should Oklahoma deer hunters have a one-buck limit? October 13, 2012

Signs of deer population growth as hunting gets under way October 10, 2012 Oklahoma

Upcoming deer season is important for many reasons September 27, 2012 Oklahoma

Warming trend worries wildlife managers June 3, 2012 Oklahoma

White deer makes Edmond appearance February 23, 2012 Oklahoma

White-tailed Deer Management in Cleveland County [PDF] January 16, 2012 Oklahoma

2011

Arcadia Lake deer and small game will be counted Thursday August 10, 2011 Oklahoma

Bill Starry balances wildlife management with military mission August 14, 2011 Oklahoma

Deer season by the numbers November 20, 2011 Oklahoma

Oklahoma City company maintains pedigree registry for trophy whitetails October 23, 2011 Oklahoma

Oklahoma producing more trophy bucks November 26, 2011

Wild game species weathering the extremes September 25, 2011 Oklahoma