Page 75 - 2020 - 2021 Oklahoma Hunting & Fishing Regulations

jawed, double-spring offset jawed, foot-hold Sale of Carcasses the official method used by the issuing agency.
steel traps with a jaw spread no greater than Skinned carcasses or parts of legally ac- If an identification is not required by the issuing
eight inches; enclosed trigger traps (dog-proof quired furbearing animals and coyotes (ex- agency, a hunting or trapping license appropri-
traps). Any trap not listed here is illegal. cluding the hide/pelt/fur) may be purchased, ate to the species taken is required as proof.
• Setting traps: No trap may be set in the open bartered, traded, sold or offered for sale.
or in paths, roads, or runways commonly used Tagging Hints
by persons, dogs or other domestic animals. All bobcats and otters are usually tagged
• Visiting traps: Traps must be tended once Buying/Selling of Furs with a plastic tag looped under the skin from
each 24-hour period. Persons buying fur in Oklahoma must pos- the eye to the mouth. If you choose to freeze
• Legal number of traps: Residents trapping sess a current Fur Dealers License. Rules and your bobcat or otter whole prior to tagging, it
under the general annual resident trapping regulations for purchasing fur in Oklahoma is best to open a 1/2-inch wide slot under the
license may use no more than 20 traps. Resi- can be given upon request from the Furbearer skin from the eye to the gum line with a knife
dents possessing a lifetime hunting license or Biologist. Persons taking pelts during the sea- or sharp screwdriver and install some sort of
a professional trapping license, and nonresi- son shall have 10 working days after the close spacer that can be removed later to allow tag-
dent trapping license holders have no limit of the season to sell or dispose of the pelts or ging once the bobcat or otter is frozen. Taking
on the number of traps. notify the Department in writing of intent to these few simple steps will allow the spacer to
• Identification of traps: All traps shall bear the hold pelts after the 10-day deadline. All pelts be removed and the tag attached in the proper
name of the owner of the traps, except for any held after the 10-day deadline must be inven- location without having to thaw the bobcat or
traps set on property owned or leased by the toried on a form provided by an authorized otter. Otherwise, partially thaw the carcass
owner of the traps. All traps on Department- Department employee. All bobcats and river before taking it to be tagged.
managed lands, regardless of species being otters must have a permanent tag affixed for the
sought, must have the owner’s name attached. current year, prior to being held for later sale.
• Posting of traps: When smooth-jawed Exemptions from
doublespring offset traps are used, the posting Possession of Carcasses Regulations
of signs shall be required at all entrances from Nothing in this regulation prevents the kill-
public roads and highways. The requirement or Hides ing of furbearers actually found destroying
to post signs shall not apply if the person is It shall be illegal to possess live animals, livestock or poultry. In addition, nothing in
trapping on property owned or leased by the carcasses or raw furs of ringtail, spotted skunk this regulation prevents the running or chasing
person. Signs must have minimum dimensions or swift fox unless it can be proven that each of coyote, bobcat, fox or raccoon with dogs for
of five inches by eight inches and the wording carcass or hide was taken legally outside of sport only, except on those public lands where
“Traps” must be included and be conspicu- Oklahoma. Proof of legality or origin for car- such activity is prohibited. Bobcats and foxes
ous on the signs and printed in letters at least casses or green hides shall be a tag or other taken with this exemption cannot be removed
two inches tall. Persons trapping on their own marking or device attached to or imprinted on from the property. Only furbearers taken with-
property are not subject to this requirement. each and every hide in such a way that it cannot in season and with a fur license may be sold or
• Permission to trap: No person may trap on be removed intact. The tag or marking must be removed from property.
the inhabited land of another without first
obtaining from the owner or occupant there-
of a written permit to do so. This permit
must be carried whenever traps are being
tended. Said permission is also required to
hunt but it need not be in writing.
Public Lands
Seasons on public lands may vary from state-
wide seasons. Consult public hunting lands
special regulations on page 81.
Hunter Orange
For hunter orange requirements, see page 52.
Bobcat & River Otter
Tagging Requirements
No bobcat or river otter pelt may be held in
possession after 10 working days after the close
of furbearer season by the taker or buyer, sold,
purchased or bartered within Oklahoma, nor
taken out of Oklahoma, without having first af-
fixed a permanent tag to the pelt. This tag shall
serve as an export tag. The tag must be affixed
by an authorized employee of the Department
or designated private tagging agent. It is the
responsibility of the possessor of the bobcat or
river otter pelt, not the Department, to ensure
that the pelt is legally tagged. No untagged
bobcat or river otter harvested in another state
may be possessed in Oklahoma. Tags are avail-
able from any game warden, wildlife biologist,
state fish hatchery, Department field office and
specifically designated private tagging station.
Designated private tagging stations may
charge a fee of 75 cents per tag. Bobcat or river ot-
ter export tags will not be affixed after March 14.

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