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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022)
SENATE BILL 1828 By: Bullard
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to wildlife; authorizing velvet buck
season; setting season and bad limit; specifying
muzzle loaders; providing for permit, stamp or
license; applying velvet bucks harvest to deer bag
limits; directing the Wildlife Conservation
Commission to promulgate rules; authorizing
cancelation for certain conditions; prohibiting
certain refunds of fees; requiring valid license,
permit or stamp; providing for enforcement of laws
and rules; setting licenses, permits or stamps by
rule; requiring season to be based on normal deer
populations; providing for codification; providing an
effective date; and declaring an emergency .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5-114.1 of Title 29, unless
there is created a duplication in numb ering, reads as follows:
A. Pursuant to Section 5-401 of Title 29 of the Oklahoma
Statutes, the Wildlife Conservation Commission is authorized to
declare an open season to hunt and harvest velvet bucks during the
last week of August only in those counties or parts of cou nties of
this state where, in the judgment of the Commission, the population
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of deer exist in sufficient quantity and health to warrant an open
season. An open season to hunt and harvest velvet bu cks shall be
declared by a Commission resolution not less t han ten (10) days
before the season is opened. The duration of a declared open season
shall not exceed more than four (4) days and be restricted to a
limit of one (1) velvet buck per hunt during the season.
B. The Commission shall authorize muzzle loaders as the sole
method for shooting, hunting, killing, wounding, taking or
attempting to shoot, hunt, kill, wound or take any velvet buck
during a declared open season .
C. During a declared open season legal residents of Oklahoma
and non-residents may hunt velvet bucks provided the person has a
valid deer license, velvet buck permit or stamp as otherwise
provided by law in this state. All velvet bucks shot, killed,
wounded, taken and harvested shall count against the licensee’s
annual bag limit for deer in this state.
D. The Commission is authorized to prescribe rules necessary
for the proper conduct and policing of a declared open season for
the hunting and harvestin g of velvet bucks; the velvet antler size;
the kind of bucks that may be taken; and the dates and time limits
of such season. The Commission shall be authorized to cancel a
declared velvet buck open season for any reason deemed appropriate
including, but not limited to, disease, we ather, deer population and
herd health. Any cancelation of a declared velvet buck open season
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shall prohibit the Commission from refunding or crediting any fees
paid for a velvet buck permit, stamp or license.
E. All laws and rules pertaining to velvet bucks in this state
shall be enforceable by the Department of Wil dlife Conservation and
its agents. The Commission shall set velvet buck licenses, pe rmits
and/or stamps by rule.
F. The Commission is authorized to require by rule that any
person participating in a declared velvet buck open season or
hunting in open areas during a declared velvet buck open season to
procure a special permit, stamp or license to participate in a
declared velvet buck open season or to hunt in such open areas
during a declared velvet buck open season and may charge residents
and nonresidents fees and such other compensation for those Oklahoma
surface holders participating in the Acres for Wildlife Pro gram.
The rate of such fees and compensation shall be determined by the
Wildlife Conservation Commission. No exemptions shall be permitted.
G. Velvet buck open seasons, closed seasons, bag limits, catch
limits, possession limits and territorial limitations set forth in
law or rule are hereby declared to be based on the existence of a
normal population of deer prior to the Commission declaring a velvet
buck open season. Such seasons, catch limits, bag limits,
possession limits and territorial limitations as se t by law or rule
shall prevail and be in fu ll force and effect for deer so long as
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the population or numbers of deer remain normal in areas of this
state.
H. For purposes of this section :
1. “Velvet buck” means a male deer with velvet antler; and
2. “Velvet antler” means the whole cartilaginous ant ler is
exhibited in a precalcified growth stage of the Cervidae family .
The deer antler must be covered in velvet-like hair that is
essentially skin that supplies nutrients and blood flow to the
growing bone and antler underneath.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effec tive July 1, 2022.
SECTION 3. It being immediat ely necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and a fter its passage and approval.
58-2-2231 BG 1/20/2022 8:21:04 PM