License Exemptions

Proof of exemption from a license or permit must be carried while in the field.

Oklahoma Residents

• Under 18 years of age are exempt from the purchase of:
  • Fishing license
  • Oklahoma waterfowl license (covered by youth super license)
  • Wildlife Conservation Passport
  • Land access permit
  • Special Use Land Access permit
  • HIP (except required if hunting waterfowl)
  • 5-day rattlesnake permit

In addition to the licenses listed above, residents under 16 are also exempt from the federal duck stamp and Lake Texoma permit.

• 64 years or older are exempt from the purchase of:
  • Land access permit
  • HIP requirements (including those who will turn 64 during the calendar year in which they intend to hunt migratory birds)
  • Residents 65 years old or older are exempt from the purchase of the Oklahoma waterfowl license
• Landowners or Tenants
  • Resident owners or tenants, their spouses, parents, grandparents, children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses who fish in private ponds on land owned or leased by such owner or tenant are exempt from a fishing license.
  • Resident landowners or tenants who hunt or trap only on land owned or agriculturally leased by them (not including hunting leases) are exempt from the hunting license.
  • Resident landowners who hunt waterfowl and other migratory game birds only on their own property are exempt from the Oklahoma waterfowl license and HIP requirements.
  • Persons residing in another state who own land in Oklahoma but do not live on that land are considered nonresidents and are not exempt.
• Lifetime License Holders
  • Annual hunting and/or fishing license
  • Deer, elk, antelope, bear, and turkey licenses
  • Oklahoma waterfowl license

Holders of these lifetime licenses are not exempt from the purchase of the federal duck stamp, land access permit, HIP requirements or sandhill crane permit or Lake Texoma license or paddlefish permit, unless exempt by age as listed above.

• Disability
  • Residents having a proven permanent disability which renders them non-ambulatory and confines them to a wheelchair, as certified by a medical doctor, are exempt from the hunting and fishing license.
  • Resident disabled veterans with a disability rating of 60 percent or more are exempt from the purchase of:
    • Fishing License
    • Hunting License
    • In addition to the hunting and fishing license, resident disabled veterans with a disability rating of 100 percent are also exempt from the purchase of deer licenses. Call State Department of Veterans Affairs, (888) 655-2838 to acquire proof of exemption.
• Other Exemptions
  • Those participating in Oklahoma’s Free Fishing Days are exempt from a fishing license.
  • Residents participating in Oklahoma’s Free Hunting Days are exempt from a hunting license.
  • Any person who fishes with pole and line, trotline or throw line in streams, natural ponds and mine pits in or forming the boundary of the county in which he is a bona fide resident, when using any bait other than commercial or artificial bait, blood, stink bait, cut fish, and shrimp is exempt from a fishing license.
  • Any person legally blind or physically impaired who is unable to properly use fishing apparatus and one accompanying companion while the blind or physically impaired person is fishing is exempt from a fishing license.
  • Any patient of a state institution in Oklahoma established for the care and treatment of mental illness or alcohol or drug dependency or any person developmentally disabled residing in any group home or other institution or persons developmentally disabled when accompanied by an attendant of such institution or legal guardian or when fishing on institutional property is exempt from a fishing license.
  • Job Corps trainees of this state, having a proper identification card are exempt from a fishing license.
  • Any person participating in an aquatic education event or clinic sanctioned by the Wildlife Department is exempt from a fishing license.

Nonresidents

• Under 18 years of age are exempt from the purchase of:
  • Fishing license
  • HIP (except required if hunting waterfowl)

In addition to the licenses listed above, nonresidents under 16 are also exempt from the Federal Duck Stamp, Oklahoma waterfowl stamp, and Lake Texoma Permit.

• 64 years or older are exempt from the purchase of HIP requirements (including those who will turn 64 during the calendar year in which they intend to hunt migratory birds).
• Lifetime Licenses held by former residents
  • Nonresidents who formerly lived in Oklahoma and purchased a resident lifetime hunting, resident lifetime combination, resident senior citizen hunting, resident senior citizen combination or lifetime disabled veteran license may still use the license with all the same privileges. Those privileges are listed in Special Licenses & Permits.
• Landowners
  • There are no license or permit exemptions for nonresident landowners.
• Other exemptions
  • Nonresidents 65 and older who are residents of Texas (Valid ID required) are exempt from a fishing license.
  • Any person legally blind or physically impaired who is unable to properly use fishing apparatus and one accompanying companion while the blind or physically impaired person is fishing is exempt from a fishing license.
  • Any patient of a state institution in Oklahoma established for the care and treatment of mental illness or alcohol or drug dependency or any person developmentally disabled residing in any group home or other institution or persons developmentally disabled when accompanied by an attendant of such institution or legal guardian or when fishing on institutional property is exempt from a fishing license.
  • Job Corps trainees of this state, having a proper identification card are exempt from a fishing license.
  • Any person participating in an aquatic education event or clinic sanctioned by the Wildlife Department is exempt from a fishing license.