Tribal members and citizens of the Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Muscogee Nation and very soon Seminole Nation can utilize their tribal membership to enjoy hunting and fishing in participating tribes’ treaty territories.
The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes announced the Five Tribe Wildlife Management Reciprocity Agreement at its July quarterly meeting at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa July 12, allowing hunting and fishing licenses issued through each tribe to be recognized by the other tribes that are party to the agreement, on respective reservation land. Most tribes allow for their tribal membership cards to serve as their credential or license.
All Oklahoma residents with valid state-issued hunting and fishing licenses are eligible to hunt and fish within these tribal treaty territories in accordance with all applicable laws.
Hunting and fishing licenses were made available to tribal members and citizens in October 2022.
This agreement will allow the Five Tribes to collaborate on wildlife management within their reservations and enhance their ability to effectively manage natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Today’s agreement states hunting and fishing activities by tribal members and citizens under this agreement will be subject to the laws of the tribe on whose reservation the activity is taking place. It is the responsibility of the individuals engaging in these activities in the various reservations to know and abide by any applicable laws. Tribal citizens will also be responsible for securing permissions to access land owned by others to engage in hunting and fishing, though each Tribe will manage programs to provide access to Tribally owned areas.
Tribal citizens or members reporting harvests will report this to the tribe to which they are a citizen or member. Hunting and fishing limits are considered aggregate statewide, and limits do not reset in or outside each reservation.
Each tribe will report basic harvest data each year by Feb. 28 to help regulate and manage wildlife.
State game wardens cross-deputized with the respective tribes can ticket and enforce laws on these reservations, as well. The Tribes indicated that they look forward to working with State and Federal partners as they implement this agreement and continue to identify partnerships for advancing wildlife conservation.
Contact information for each tribal wildlife management program is below:
Cherokee Nation Wildlife Conservation
918-453-5333 wildlife@cherokee.org
Chickasaw Nation Fish and Wildlife Service
580-310-6466 cnrangers@chickasaw.net
Choctaw Nation Wildlife Conservation
800-522-6170 wildlife@choctawnation.com
Muscogee Nation Wildlife Program
918-490-7074 wildlife@muscogeenation.com
Seminole Nation Wildlife, Park & Recreation Department 405-666-0620 wpr@sno-nsn.gov
