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Fire Management

hunt_elkThe Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge hosts two of Oklahoma's most popular controlled hunts, the annual elk and deer hunts. The hunts are 2 1/2 days of exhilarating scenery and are known as some of the best-managed hunts in the country. While the white-tailed deer herd is native to the area, the elk herd started with introductions in 1911-1912 when Rocky Mountain elk* were reintroduced from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The original herd had been wiped out by indiscriminate hunting before this area was protected as a wildlife refuge. Today, careful management insures their survival, controls their numbers, and allows a portion to be harvested. *The elk hunt is a once-in-a-lifetime hunt and, once drawn, hunters may not reapply for this hunt.

Applying

Application deadlines are generally in early May for that year's hunt. Applications are available online at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) web site.

To apply, visit the application web site. Closely follow the directions, as any discrepancy will disqualify you. Names go into a drawing and the lucky few are chosen. Usually, several thousand applicants (approximately 30,000 for the elk hunt alone) vie for very few slots, so the competition is tough. Non-residents of Oklahoma will have to purchase a state hunting license prior to filing an application.

More information on applying

 

Drawing Results

Results of the drawings for the public elk and deer hunts on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge are available online at the ODWC web site.

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Hunter Notification

Hunters successfully drawn to participate in the Refuge's elk or deer hunts will be notified by email from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). NOTE: This is a new procedure in 2009. Paper mailings will no longer go out to those drawn for the hunt.

Included in your notification packet will be instructions on mailing appropriate fees. You will be sent confirmation of fee receipt.

Your information packet will include detailed instructions and information about your hunt, including regulations of the Refuge, how your hunt will be conducted, and schedules.

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2008 Hunt Results

Deer Elk
100  Permits Issued 190  Permits Issued
86  Participating Hunters 165  Participating Hunters
46  Animals Removed 84  Animals Removed
53%  Success Rate 56%  Success Rate
36  Buck Hunters 39  Bull Hunters
50  Doe Hunters 122  Doe Hunters

The elk and deer hunts on the Refuge are a cooperative effort between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Resources

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (external links)

 

Page 2 - Applying

Application deadlines are generally in early May for that year's hunt. Applications are available online at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) web site.

To apply, visit the application web site. Closely follow the directions, as any discrepancy will disqualify you. Names go into a drawing and the lucky few are chosen. Usually, several thousand applicants (approximately 30,000 for the elk hunt alone) vie for very few slots, so the competition is tough. Non-residents of Oklahoma will have to purchase a state hunting license prior to filing an application.

More information on applying 

 

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Last Updated: Nov 30, 2011
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