Bear

License Requirements

• Residents: Must possess a hunting license (see Licenses & Permits) or proof of exemption. In addition, resident bear hunters must possess a bear license.

Lifetime License holders are not exempt from the purchase of a bear license.

• Nonresidents: Nonresident bear hunters are exempt from a hunting license while hunting bear but must possess a nonresident bear license.

Lifetime License holders are not exempt from the purchase of a bear license.

• License Purchasing Deadlines: Bear licenses for the archery season must be purchased prior to Oct. 1, 2012. No bear licenses will be sold after Sept. 30 for the archery season. An unfilled bear license from the archery season is valid for muzzleloader season.

Bear licenses for the muzzleloader season must be purchased prior to Oct. 27, 2012. No bear licenses will be sold after Oct. 26 for the muzzleloader season.

Dates & Open Areas

• Archery: Oct. 1 – 21, 2012; only in Latimer, Le Flore, McCurtain and Pushmataha counties.
• Muzzleloader: Oct. 27 – Nov. 4, 2012; only in Latimer, Le Flore, McCurtain and Pushmataha counties.

Public Lands

Seasons on public lands may vary from statewide seasons. Consult List of Public Lands section.

Combined Season Limit

One bear, regardless of season hunted.

Shooting Hours

One-half hour before official sunrise to one-half hour after official sunset.

Prohibited Activities

No baiting is allowed on wildlife management areas. Shooting of cubs or females with cubs is prohibited. No den shooting of bears. Pursuing bears with dogs is prohibited.

Field Tagging & Checking

Upon harvesting a bear, all hunters must immediately attach their name and license number securely to the carcass and complete the “Record of Game” section on the license form.

The attached item can be anything, as long as it contains the required information. This information must remain attached to the carcass until it is checked.

Upon harvesting a bear, all hunters must call Joe Hemphill, Southeast Region Supervisor at (580) 421-7226 or Jeff Ford, Biologist at (918) 527-9918.

The carcass will be checked and a carcass tag issued. The carcass tag must remain with the carcass to its final destination or through processing and/or storage at commercial processing or storage facilities.

The head must remain attached to the carcass until the bear is checked. Bear carcasses may be checked in quartered, but sex organs must remain naturally attached until checked by a Department employee.

Legal Means of Taking

• Archery: Equipment described as legal for deer archery season. See Deer Regulations.
• Muzzleloader: Equipment described as legal for deer muzzleloader season. See Deer Regulations.

Hunter Orange

For hunter orange requirements, see General Hunting Regulations.

Muzzleloader Bear Harvest Quota

The Wildlife Department has set the 2012 muzzleloader harvest quota at 20 bears. The muzzleloader season listed above will be open until 20 bears have been harvested or the season ends. Hunters must check, by phone or online, before hunting each day to see if the quota has been reached. Once the quota has been reached, the season will close.

To check the status of the harvest quota: Call (888) 901-3256 or visit wildlifedepartment.com