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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
SENATE BILL 1857 By: Hamilton
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to wildlife; amending 29 O.S. 2021,
Section 4-112, as last amended by Section 1, Cha pter
96, O.S.L. 2023 (29 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 4-112),
which relates to hunting license; raising fees for
certain license; amending 29 O.S. 2021, Section 5-
401, which relates to Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation
Commission powers regarding seasons and bag limits;
authorizing the Commission to limit certain limits
for nonresidents; and providing an effective date .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 29 O.S. 2021, Section 4 -112, as
last amended by Section 1, Chapter 96, O.S.L. 2023 (29 O.S. Supp.
2023, Section 4-112), is amended to read as follows:
Section 4-112. A. Except as otherwise provided for in the
Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Code or the Oklahoma Farmed Cervidae
Act, no person may hunt, pursue, trap, haras s, catch, kill, take or
attempt to take in a ny manner, use, have in possession, sell, or
transport all or any portion of any wildlife except fish, without
having first procure d a license from the Department of Wildlife
Conservation. The Wildlife Conservat ion Commission shall designate
a consecutive Saturday an d Sunday in September of each year as free
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hunting days in which residents of this state may hunt without first
procuring a hunting license pursuant to the provisions of this
section.
B. The following legal residents of Oklahoma shall be exemp t
from the annual hunting license r equirement of paragraph 1 of
subsection F of this section and the following nonresidents shall b e
exempt from the annual nonresident hunting licenses required
pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection C of this section:
1. Legal residents under sixteen (16) years of age;
2. Legal residents sixty-five (65) years of age or older
provided they have obtained a senior citizen lifetime hunting or
combination hunting and fishing li cense pursuant to the provisions
of Section 4-114 of this title;
3. Legal residents born on or before Janua ry 1, 1923;
4. Legal resident veterans having a disability of sixt y percent
(60%) or more;
5. Legal resident owners or tenants who hunt on land ow ned or
leased by them;
6. Any nonresident under fourtee n (14) years of age;
7. Legal residents having a proven disability which renders
them nonambulatory and confines them to a wheelchair, as certified
by a physician licensed in this state or in any sta te which borders
this state;
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8. Any legal resident or nonresident under eighte en (18) years
of age who is in the physical custody of a child care facility as
defined by Section 402 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and
9. Any legal resident or nonres ident hunting, pursuing,
trapping, harassing, catching, killing, taking, or attempting to
take in any manner any species of rattlesnake during an organized
rattlesnake-hunting event or festival and who has a rattlesnake
permit issued pursuant to Section 4 -143 of this title.
C. Except as otherwise p rovided for in the Oklahoma Wildlif e
Conservation Code, the nonresident hunting licenses issued pursuant
to this section and the fe e for each license shall be:
1. Annual hunting license for nonresidents hunting game other
than deer, antelope, elk or bear which expire s on December 31 of the
year purchased – One Hundred Forty-one Dollars ($141.00) Two Hundred
Eighty-two Dollars ($282.00). Nonresidents hunting big game,
combination big game and upland game or exotic wildlife in a
commercial hunting area shall be req uired to have this license;
2. Annual hunting license for nonresidents hunting game other
than deer, antelope, elk or bear which expires on June 30 of the
fiscal year purchased – One Hundred Seventy-five Dollars ($175.00)
Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ( $350.00). Nonresidents hunting big
game, combination big game and upland game or exoti c wildlife in a
commercial hunting area shall be required to have this license;
3. Gun hunting license for deer:
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a. during deer gun seasons for youth nonresidents
seventeen (17) years of age or young er which shall be
valid for hunting one antlerless deer allowed during
the current calendar year de er gun seasons – Thirty
Dollars ($30.00) Sixty Dollars ($60.00),
b. during deer gun seasons for you th nonresidents
seventeen (17) years of age or younger which shall be
valid for hunting one antlered or antlerless deer
allowed during the current calendar year deer gun
seasons – Ninety-nine Dollars ($99.00) Two Hundred
Dollars ($200.00), and
c. during deer gun seasons for nonresident s which shall
be valid for hunting all deer allowed during the
current calendar year deer gun season - Two Hundred
Ninety-nine Dollars ($299.00) Six Hundred Dollars
($600.00);
4. Archery hunting license f or deer for nonresidents which
shall expire on January 15 of the calendar year af ter the year
purchased or, if purchased during the deer arch ery season, it shall
expire at the end of that deer archery season:
a. during deer archery seasons for youth nonres idents
seventeen (17) years of age or younger which shall be
valid for hunting one antlerless deer allowed during
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the current deer archery se asons – Thirty Dollars
($30.00) Sixty Dollars ($60.00),
b. during deer archery seasons for youth non residents
seventeen (17) years of age or younger which shall be
valid for hunting one antlered or antlerless deer
allowed during the current deer archery seasons –
Ninety-nine Dollars ($99.00) Two Hundred Dollars
($200.00), and
c. during deer archery seasons for nonresid ents which
shall be valid for hunting all deer allow ed during the
current deer archery season - Two Hundred Ninety-nine
Dollars ($299.00) Six Hundred Dollars ($ 600.00);
5. Primitive firearms hunting license for deer for:
a. during deer primitive firearms seasons for youth
nonresidents seventeen (17) years of age or younger
which shall be valid for hunting one antlerless deer
allowed during the current calendar year deer
primitive firearms seasons – Thirty Dollars ($30.00)
Sixty Dollars ($60.00),
b. during deer primitive firearms seasons for youth
nonresidents seventeen (17) years of age or younger
which shall be valid for hunting one antlered or
antlerless deer allowe d during the current c alendar
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year deer primitive firearms seasons – Ninety-nine
Dollars ($99.00) Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) , and
c. during deer primitive firearms seasons for
nonresidents which shall be valid for huntin g all deer
allowed during the current calendar year deer
primitive firearms season - Two Hundred Ninety-nine
Dollars ($299.00) Six Hundred Dollars ($ 600.00);
6. Hunting license for antelope for nonresid ents – Three
Hundred Five Dollars ($305.00);
7. Hunting license for elk for nonr esidents – Three Hundred
Five Dollars ($305.00);
8. Five-day hunting license for nonresidents hunting game other
than deer, antelope, elk, quail, turkey or bear – Seventy-four
Dollars ($74.00). Nonresidents hunting big gam e, combination big
game and upland game or exotic wildlife in a commercial hunting area
shall be required to have this license;
9. Ten-day hunting license for nonresidents hunting small game
in a commercial hunting area – Five Dollars ($5.00) ; and
10. Five-day hunting license for n onresidents hunting winged
upland game, excluding wild turkey, in a commercial hunting area –
Fifteen Dollars ($15.00).
D. The Department of Wildl ife Conservation shall provide a
report to both the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House of Represent atives by February 1 of 2019 and
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2020 setting forth information rega rding licenses issued pursuant to
paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of subsection C of this section, wh ich shall
include, but not be limited to:
1. The number of licenses issued during the most recent
respective deer hunting seasons; and
2. A fiscal analysis compari ng revenue generated from the fees
of the licenses issued d uring the most recent respective deer
hunting seasons compared to previous years and whether the deer
hunting license structure i s beneficial to the Department.
E. Of the fees collected pursuant t o the provisions of
subsection C of this section:
1. Five Dollars ($5.00) of the license f ee of each license
issued pursuant to paragraphs 1 through 7 of subsecti on C of this
section and Two Dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) of the license fee
for each license issued pursuant to paragraph 8 of subsection C of
this section shall be deposited in the Wildlife Land Acquisition
Fund created pursuan t to the provisions of S ection 4-132 of this
title; and
2. Five Dollars ($5.00) of the license fee for each license
issued pursuant to paragraphs 1 through 8 o f subsection C of this
section shall be for the Oklahoma Wildlife Land Stamp and shall be
deposited in the Oklahoma Wil dlife Land Fund created pursuant to the
provisions of Section 4 -141 of this title.
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F. Except as otherwise provided, the resident hunting licenses
issued pursuant to this section and the fee for each license shall
be:
1. Annual hunting license for residents eighteen (18) years of
age and older which expires on December 31 of the year purchased -
Twenty-four Dollars ($24.00);
2. Annual hunting license for residents eighteen (18) years o f
age and older which expires on June 30 of the fiscal year purchased
– Thirty-one Dollars ($31.00);
3. Annual hunting license for residents sixteen (16) or
seventeen (17) years of age which expires on December 31 of the ye ar
purchased - Four Dollars ($4.00);
4. Annual hunting license for residents si xteen (16) or
seventeen (17) years of age which e xpires on June 30 of the fiscal
year purchased – Six Dollars ($6.00);
5. Ten-day hunting license for residents for small game in a
commercial hunting area - Five Dollars ($5.00);
6. Five-year disability hunting license for residents of this
state for at least six (6) months who are receiving Social Security
Disability benefits, Supplemental Security Income benefits or
disability benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act, 45 U.S.C.A.,
Section 231a, or resid ents who are one-hundred-percent disabled and
are receiving disability payments from the Multiple Injury Trust
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Fund pursuant to Section 31 of Title 85A of the O klahoma Statutes -
Ten Dollars ($10.00);
7. Gun hunting license for deer for residents eighteen (18)
years of age or older - Nineteen Dollars ($19.00). The following
persons shall be exempt:
a. residents with proper certification from the United
States Department of Vet erans Affairs or its
successor, certifying that the person is a disabled
veteran in receipt of compensation at the one -hundred-
percent rate, and
b. residents hunting in big game or combination big game
and upland game commercial hunting are as;
8. Gun hunting license for deer for residen ts under eighteen
(18) years of age – Nine Dollars ($9.00);
9. Archery hunting licens e for deer for residents eighteen (18)
years of age or older - Nineteen Dollars ($19.00). The following
persons shall be exempt:
a. residents with proper certification from the United
States Department of Veterans Aff airs or its
successor, certifying that the person is a disabled
veteran in receipt of compensation at the one -hundred-
percent rate, and
b. residents hunting in big game or combination big game
and upland game commercial hunting areas;
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10. Archery hunting license for deer for residents under
eighteen (18) years of age - Nine Dollars ($9.00);
11. Primitive firearms hunting license for deer for residents
eighteen (18) years of ag e or older - Nineteen Dollars ($19.00) .
The following persons shall be exempt:
a. residents with proper certification from the U nited
States Department of Veterans Affairs or its
successor, certifying that the person is a disabled
veteran in receipt of compensation at the one-hundred-
percent rate, and
b. residents hunting in big game or combination big game
and upland game commercial hunting areas;
12. Primitive firearms hunting licen se for deer for residents
under eighteen (18) years of age - Nine Dollars ($9.00);
13. Hunting license for elk for residents - Fifty Dollars
($50.00). Residents hunting in big game or combination big game and
upland game commercial hunting areas shall b e exempt from this
license;
14. Hunting license for ante lope for residents – Fifty Dollars
($50.00). Residents hunting in big game or combination big g ame and
upland game commercial hunting areas shall be exempt from this
license; and
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15. Bonus, special or additional gun hunting license for deer
for residents - Nineteen Dollars ($19.00). The following persons
shall be exempt:
a. residents with proper c ertification from the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs or its
successor, certifying that the person is a disabled
veteran in receipt of compensation at the one-hundred-
percent rate, and
b. residents hunting in big game or combination big game
and upland game commercial hunting area s.
G. Residents hunting big game, combination big game and upland
game or exotic wildlife in a commercial hunting area shall be
required to have one of the following license s:
1. An annual hunting license issued pu rsuant to paragraph 1, 2,
3 or 4 of subsection F of this section;
2. An annual hunting and fishing combination license issued
pursuant to Section 4-113 of this title;
3. A five-year hunting license or five -year combination hunting
and fishing license i ssued pursuant to Section 4 -113.1 of this
title; or
4. A lifetime hunting license or lifetime comb ination hunting
and fishing license issued pursuant to Section 4 -114 of this title.
H. Of the fees collected pursuan t to the provisions of
paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection F of this section, Five Dollars
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($5.00) of the license fee shall be for the Oklaho ma Wildlife Land
Stamp and shall be deposited in the Oklahoma Wild life Land Fund
created pursuant to the provision s of Section 4-141 of this title.
I. The provisions of this section shall not be cons trued to
require a hunting license, resident or nonresi dent, of any person
merely because the person participates, as owner or handler of an
entry, as an official, or as a sp ectator in the conduct of a field
trial or performance test of dogs, whether a resident or no nresident
of the State of Oklahoma . No license to hunt shall be required of
any person engaged in training or working dogs, provided that person
is in no way engaged in hunting and does not take or a ttempt to take
in any manner any game.
J. 1. Any person arrested for hunting game other than deer ,
antelope, elk, bear or turkey without a valid hunting license as
required by the provisions of subsection A of this se ction may
purchase a substitute temp orary thirty-day license from the
arresting game warden i n lieu of posting bond . Proof of hunter
safety certification will not be required for the temporary
substitute license. The fee for a substitute license purc hased
pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be:
a. for legal residents, Fifty Dollars ($50.00), and
b. for nonresidents, One Hundred Forty-five Dollars
($145.00).
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2. Except as otherwise provided for by this su bsection, the
fees from licenses pur chased pursuant to the provisions of this
subsection shall be deposited in the Wildlife Conse rvation Fund to
be used exclusively for developing, managing, preserving, and
protecting wildlife and wildlife habitat.
K. Any person producing proof in court that a current hunting
license issued by the Department of Wildlife Conservation to t hat
person was in force at the time of the allege d offense shall be
entitled to dismissal of a charge of violating this section upon
payment of court costs. If proof of a current hunting license
issued by the Department to the person that was in force at the time
of the alleged offense is presented to t he court or district
attorney within seventy-two (72) hours after the vio lation, the
charge shall be dismissed without pa yment of court costs.
L. Unless a substitute license is purchased as provided for by
subsection J of this section, any resident convi cted of violating
the provisions of this section shall be punished by the imposition
of a fine of not less than Twenty -five Dollars ($25.00) nor more
than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), or by imprisonment in the county
jail for a period not to exceed thirt y (30) days, or by both.
M. Unless a substitute license is purchased as p rovided for by
subsection J of this section, any nonresident convicted of violatin g
the provisions of this section shall be punished b y the imposition
of a fine of not less than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) nor more
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than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the
county jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months, or by both.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 29 O.S. 2021, Section 5 -401, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 5-401. A. The Wildlife Conservation Commission is
authorized to declare an open season on wildl ife in any counties or
parts of counties of this state where, in the judgment of the
Commission, such wildlife exists in sufficient quantity to warrant
such open season, and suc h open season shall be declared by
Commission resolution not less than ten (10) days before the season
is opened.
B. The Commission may designate any two (2) consecutive days
after the open season declared for hunting deer to be senior
citizen’s hunting days. During those two (2) days only legal
residents of Oklahoma who are sixty -four (64) years of age or older
may hunt deer provided the person has a valid license as otherwise
provided by law.
C. The Commission is further authorized to declare an open
season on mountain lions and black bears.
D. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, the
Commission is further authorized to prescribe rules necessary to the
proper conduct and policing of such open season, the amount and kind
of wildlife that may be taken, and the dates and time limits of such
season.
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E. Any bowfishing season set for nongame fish by the Commission
for the Upper Illinois River shall inclu de the following:
1. Upstream from the Horseshoe Bend boat ramp to where State
Highway 51 crosses the Illinois River bowfishing is permitted from
June 1 to March 31; and
2. Upstream from where State Highway 51 crosses the Illinois
River bowfishing is permitted from Dece mber 1 through March 31.
F. The Commission is further authorize d to require any person
participating in such open season or hunting in open areas during
open season to procure, under rules prescribed by the Commission, a
special permit or license to participate in such season or hunt in
such areas during open season and to charg e residents not to exceed
Twenty Dollars ($20.00), nonresidents not to exceed Seventy -five
Dollars ($75.00) and further providing that Five Dollars ($5.00) of
this fee shall be set aside for compensation to Oklahoma surface
holders participating in the Acres for Wildlife Program at a rate to
be determined by the Wildlife Conservation Commission. No
exemptions shall be permitted.
G. Open seasons, closed seasons, bag limits, catch limits,
possession limits and territorial limitations set forth in the
statutes of this state, pertaining to wildlife of every sort, are
hereby declared to be based on the existence of a normal population
of such species of wildlife, compatible with and not damaging to the
proper agricultural use of the lands of the stat e; provided, that
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the bag limits set by the Commission for nonresident hunters shall
not exceed more than half of the limit established for resident
hunters.
H. Such seasons, catch limits, bag limits, possession limits
and territorial limitations as set by statute s hall prevail and be
in full force and effect for each and every species of wildlife to
which they pertain so long as the population or numbers of such
wildlife species remain normal or are not damaging or endangering
crops or proper agricultural use of the lands of the state.
I. The Commission in session, and after having given ten (10)
days’ public notice of such meeting being called and the purp ose of
such meeting, the species of wildlife to be considered and the
reasons therefor, shall have the right to determine if there does or
does not exist a normal population of the wildlife species under
consideration, which does or does not endanger the crops of the
state or of any certain areas, or the agricultural use of the lands
therein. In the event the cons ideration is other than statewide,
the Commission shall meet at the most conven ient place to the people
of the area in the area being considered. All meetings shall be
open to the public and proper records of those appearing and
testifying shall be made. If the Commission, after hearing and
after investigation, finds that the populations of the wildlife
species under hearing are not normal or that they are not compatible
to the agricultural use of the lands or are damaging or endangering
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the farm crops of the area, they shall, by administrative order,
make the necessary changes by e ither extending, shortening, opening
or closing such seasons, and change such bag limits, catch limits
and possession limits, and regulate methods or devices for taking,
killing or capturing of the wildlife species affected in any area or
areas covered by the notice of meeting and hearing, except as
otherwise set by the Legislature.
J. Such administrative order shall take effect after
publication in at least one newspaper of gen eral state circulation,
or in a newspaper having circulation in the territory a ffected. A
copy of all such orders shall, before publication, be filed with the
Secretary of State, and such order shall not be construed as
authorizing the Commission to chang e any penalty for violating any
game law or regulation or change the amount of any license
established by the Legislature.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024.
59-2-3077 MR 1/17/2024 5:55:10 PM