Muzzleloader deer among several hunt seasons to start Saturday

Scouting for deer sign, these muzzleloader hunters have discovered a rub in the area they intend to hunt. Muzzleloader deer season will begin this Saturday in Oklahoma. (wildlifedepartment.com)

Several hunting seasons will be opening this Saturday, Oct. 26, including muzzleloader deer season. Also opening will be private lands elk muzzleloader, muzzleloader bear, sandhill crane and Zone 1 duck seasons.

Hunting seasons already open this Saturday include deer archery, private lands archery elk, archery bear, squirrel, rabbit, dove and crow.

Hunting with a muzzleloader — sometimes referred to as “primitive firearms” — pays homage to a traditional form of gun hunting from the early pioneering days of Oklahoma’s history.

Last year, more than 77,000 hunters participated in muzzleloader deer season, according to the annual Big Game Report published in the September/October issue of Outdoor Oklahoma. Muzzleloader hunters reported 14,306 deer harvested during the nine-day season in 2018, about 13 percent of all deer taken during all 2018-19 seasons.

This year’s muzzleloader deer season will close Nov. 3. Muzzleloader elk season remains open until Nov. 3 only in elk hunting zones where the seasonal harvest quotas have not yet been reached. Elk hunters must go online to the Elk Quota Page at wildlifedepartment.com to check the quota status of the zone they intend to hunt before they go afield.

Muzzleloader bear season will run through Nov. 3, or until the 20-bear season quota is reached. All bear hunters must buy a license before the season starts, and they must call (888) 901-3256 before going afield to check the status of the bear harvest quota.

Hunter orange clothing regulations are in effect when any big game firearms season is open, except for those hunting waterfowl, crow or sandhill crane.

For complete information and license requirements, consult the current Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing Regulations Guide found online at wildlifedepartment.com, on the Go Outdoors Oklahoma free mobile app for Apple or Android devices, or in print across the state wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.