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permits and half of the antelope hunt permits will 2023-24 DEER HUNTS
be conducted from a pool of only those appli- • Total applicants (includes first, second, third,
cants having 20 or more preference points in the fourth, and fifth choice preferences): 68,515.
category. The winners for the remaining half of • Total permits available: 3,775.
hunt permits in each category will be drawn from • Overall odds of getting drawn for any one
the pool of all applicants (excluding those who permit: 1 in 18.2.
were drawn out for hunts in the initial drawing). • NOTE: Steer clear of the most popular
In some categories, hunters may apply in hunts in order to have better chances of
groups of up to four people. An average of the getting drawn. Controlled hunts such as
total preference points of all hunters is used for those at the McAlester Army Ammunition
each hunter in the group. If not drawn in that Plant, the Wichita
category, each applicant in the group will earn Mountains buck
a single preference point that carries forward gun hunt, the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
with the rest of their points to future drawings. Sandy Sanders If I apply for controlled hunts long
Once you are drawn for a hunt, all preference buck gun hunt, enough, is it guaranteed my name will
points that you have built up in that hunt category and Salt Plains be drawn?
are cleared. You can begin building preference National Wildlife No; drawings are random from the
points again with your application next year in the Refuge either- entire pool of applicants. But your odds
deer and turkey categories. (Elk and pronghorn sex hunts will not get better every year you submit an
controlled hunts are once-in-a-lifetime draws; offer the better application because you earn preference
previous winners are not allowed to apply again.) odds of selection. points in future drawings.
Here are some other tips for increasing your
chances of winning a controlled hunt: 2023 DEER HUNTS FOR PEOPLE
• Consider the ratio of permits to applicants WITH DISABILITIES
to help you decide which hunts might give • Total applicants (includes first, second,
you the best chance of selection. A selec- and third choice preferences): 327.
tion ratio of 1-in-25 is better odds than a • Total permits available: 112.
ratio of 1-in-80. • Overall odds of getting drawn for any one
• For those locations that offer multiple hunts permit: 1 in 2.9.
in the same category, the second or third • NOTE: Northeastern Oklahoma areas
hunts (the later hunts) are often easier to generally attract the most applications.
get selected for than the earliest hunts. Examples are Cherokee, Cookson Hills,
• You can increase your odds of being Gruber, and Spavinaw WMAs. Consider
drawn when you apply for hunts that hap- hunts in other parts of the state.
pen on key dates of the regular statewide
seasons, such as the opening weekend 2023 YOUTH DEER HUNTS
of muzzleloader or gun season. Many • Total applicants (includes first, second,
hunters may skip those dates because of and third choice preferences): 3,744.
already-planned hunts. • Total permits available: 855.
• By designating additional hunt choices, • Overall odds of getting drawn for any one
you increase your overall odds of being permit: 1 in 4.4.
selected for at least one of the choices, • NOTE: Select hunt dates that are with-
so make as many selections as a category in the regular statewide season dates,
allows (five in the deer category, for exam- especially those that fall on opening
ple), rather than just three, two or one. weekends, since many hunters already
Then consider adding even more hunt have other hunting plans in place at those
choices at $3 each, no limit. times. Controlled hunts that take place
• Hunts that are considered by some to be outside the regular muzzleloader and
less desirable, such as antlerless deer gun seasons typically draw more appli-
hunts, may be just the right choice for a cations and therefore lower the odds of
meat hunter looking to raise his chances getting selected.
of getting to hunt at a premier location.
(Compiled by Outdoor Oklahoma Staff)

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