Antelope season moved back
The archery season for antelope in the Oklahoma Panhandle is moving to October.
The antelope archery season will start more than two weeks later this year.
On Monday, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to change the bow hunting season for antelope to Oct. 1-13. The 2010 season was Sept. 13-26.
State wildlife official requested the later season dates so hunters who win the once-in-a-lifetime” antelope gun hunts through the controlled hunts program would get the first crack at the prairie goats.
Oklahoma has a huntable population of pronghorn antelope in the Panhandle counties of Cimarron and Texas.
Gun hunts are only available through the controlled hunts program (a random drawing for hunts through the Wildlife Department).
Most of the antelope hunting iin Oklahoma is on private land. Hunters winning a controlled gun hunt still must obtain landowner permission. Most landowners sell trespass permits for the hunts.
Two years ago, the state Wildlife Department opened a two-week archery season in mid-September for all antelope hunters who bought a license.
Last year, 257 antelope were taken by Oklahoma hunters in both the archery season and special gun hunts.
State wildlife officials say that represents less than 10 percent of the estimated population of antelope in the Oklahoma Panhandle.
Hunters can apply now through May 15 for the antelope gun hunts and other 2011-12 controlled hunts online at www.wildlifedepartment.com.
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First I would like to say I have been putting in for the antelope controlled hunt for many years and hope to one day draw. Now with that said I want to state I do not believe there is any better means than another to harvest an animal ,but a rifle season before archery? I was fortunate enough to participate in the 2011 antelope archery hunt. It was a blast saw a ton of goats and had many opportunities ,but was unable to tag out. It really is awesome we here in Oklahoma now have another big game species to take to the field for each year! However the reason I am commenting and the question every hunter who spends invaluable amounts revenue each year is why? Why is our Wildlife Department making me and you choose between DEER,BEAR, and now ANTELOPE? Seriously we have three big game species that open on the same day. Now I have great deer hunting opportunities, a lease with several bears on camera. and now an antelope season that all open the same day? If some one can give me a valid reason to why they now are making hunters miss out on this new and exciting seasons please do. Until my wildlife department is able to make a distinction between seasons I am forced to take my revenue out of state to antelope hunt. Also I did a little research and as far I as could find were are the only state that have an antelope season and allow rifle before archery. I understand it is a once in a lifetime draw I do.