2008 Deer Season: Oklahoma
Southwest - State by State
For full season details, click here
ESPNOutdoors.com rating (1-10): 6
2007 harvest: 95,891
Sq. Miles: 69,898
Deer/ sq. mile harvested in 2007: 1.37
2008 Outlook:
According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation website, deer populations are at an adequate or even slightly high level. That means increased focus on managing the herd and taking does to prevent overpopulation.
The harvest has been relatively stable, with hunters harvesting around 100,000 deer for each of the last few years. 2006 was actually a record high, followed by a 20% decline in harvest the following year.
2006 saw ideal conditions line up for record numbers of deer harvest, while conditions were much worse in 2007. The weather always plays a big role in the number of deer harvested, and it is likely that the deer population actually remains the same.
For hunters looking for a trophy opportunity, the land in the northwest part of the state may be the best place to start.
"Soils in the northwest part of the state are deeper and more fertile than soils in eastern Oklahoma which are often shallow, rocky, and infertile. Agricultural crops, which provide plenty of nutrition, are also more abundant in the western part of the state."
Hunters should note that mule deer are also available in the western part of the state.
"Mule deer are not as productive as white-tailed deer and availability of good quality habitat is always going to be a limiting factor."
— Rob Russow
