The biggest news for bowhunters in 2024 is a new deer archery license that, when combined with an annual hunting license, covers the hunter for all deer hunted within the archery bag limit. Previously, annual hunting license buyers were required to possess a separate archery license for each deer hunted.

The new deer archery license is $36 and allows archers to take up to six deer (no more than two antlered), all of which count toward the hunter’s combined season limit of six deer. This new structure paves the way for archers to harvest more antlerless deer in a cost-effective manner, while helping secure more funding for conservation.

In fact, the same change has been implemented for other deer seasons as well. For more details, check out our latest blog on the Outdoor Oklahoma Journal.

The deer archery opener is Oct. 1, along with the opener of several other major archery seasons including game like elk, antelope, black bear and turkey. The new license structure that requires only one archery license for the entire deer archery season is only applicable to deer hunting. For complete rules for archery hunting, check out the Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations here or on the Go Outdoor Oklahoma mobile app.

With archery seasons fast approaching, and with opportunities open now for certain migratory birds and other game like squirrels, now is the time to get your hunting license and be ready!