Oklahoma Considers Black Bear Hunting Season

First posted on 04-01-2009

Oklahoma lawmakers are moving quickly to establish a black bear hunting license. Both the state House and Senate have approved the measure and action is now pending with the Oklahoma Wildlife Commission and with Gov. Brad Henry.

The Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Oklahoma State University has conducted field research that estimates a black bear population of between 700 and 800, mostly concentrated in the southeastern part of the state near the Ouachita National Forest region in LeFlore, Latimer and McCurtain counties.

The bears are believed to be migrating in from Arkansas where black bears were introduced through conservation efforts in the 1950s and 1960s.

Oklahoma plans to regulate the hunt very closely by allowing just 20 bears to be harvested during the season which is slated for October. The state is considering an extended season with archery then muzzleloaders if the 20 bear limit is not met during the initial season.

If signed into law, the cost of a license would be $100 for residents of Oklahoma and $500 for non-residents.

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