The Young Hunter's All-Season Pass to the Outdoors
A new license is simplifying access to hunting for youth in Oklahoma, making it easier and more affordable for parents to get (and keep) their kids involved in the outdoors while cashing in on more valuable family time.
The new hunting license is called the youth annual super hunting license, and it works a bit like an all-season pass to an amusement park. It’s valid for 365 days from date of purchase and covers the youth for all the Oklahoma hunting seasons that require a hunting license. Gone are the days of needing a separate license for each deer hunted or for each method of take. Gone are the days of having to choose an antlered or antlerless deer license (or both) before heading afield. Gone are the days of wading through youth license requirements for 16- and 17-year-olds vs. younger hunters. Certain federal stamps or permits are still required in some cases, but the end result means more access to hunting than ever before for today’s youth hunters.
The youth annual super hunting license is part of a larger hunting and fishing license overhaul known as the Oklahoma Wildlife License Modernization Act, a bill that condenses some 50 hunting and fishing licenses down to about 14 and helps secure more funding for conservation. Before the bill went into effect July 1, there hadn’t been any notable changes to the state’s fishing and hunting licenses or fee structure in over 20 years.
We’ve compiled what you need to know about the new youth annual super hunting license here.
Table of contents:
- What is the youth annual super hunting license?
- How much does the youth annual super hunting license cost?
- Is the youth annual super hunting license the same for residents and nonresidents?
- What are the benefits of the youth annual super hunting license?
- Besides the youth annual super hunting license, is there any other permit that might be required of a youth hunter?
- How do you get a youth annual super hunting license?
- What about fishing?
- Making the most of the youth annual super hunting license.
What is the youth annual super license?
The Wildlife Department’s new youth annual super hunting license is like a season pass to the outdoors for those under 18 wanting to hunt deer, turkey, waterfowl, elk, bear, antelope, and furbearers, or for youth who plan to trap. It’s a new license as of July 1, 2024, and is designed to simplify requirements for youth hunters.
Although there are a few federal permits that are still required in certain situations, such as for youth who hunt waterfowl, no other state hunting licenses are required. In fact, as of July 1, no other Oklahoma youth hunting license even exists! The youth annual super hunting license is valid for all seasons and all species listed above, and a state hunting license is not required for any species not listed.
How much does the youth annual super license cost?
The new youth annual super hunting license is $26 for residents and $151 for nonresidents.
Is the youth annual super license the same for residents and nonresidents?
The privileges provided with the $26 resident and $151 nonresident youth annual super hunting licenses are the same, and both are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. Nonresidents also have the option to purchase a youth 5-day super hunting license with the same privileges for $76
What are the benefits of the youth annual super license?
Right from the start, the youth annual super hunting license provides convenience and value for both resident and nonresident youth, not to mention for the adults who supervise their hunting endeavors. Not only is it an annual hunting license valid for 365 days from the date of issue, but it also covers the hunter for all of the game animals in their annual bag limit. No more individual youth licenses for each deer hunted. No more licenses good for archery season only; or muzzleloader, gun or holiday antlerless seasons. No more individual turkey licenses. No more elk, bear or antelope licenses. It’s all covered with the youth super license. And a youth can get the license every year until they are 18.
This greatly expands hunting options for youth, at a price hunters can afford. The one license is the only option for these hunters, and it carries all of the privileges needed to go hunting. Now that’s a bargain!
Besides the youth annual super license, is there any other permit that might be required of a youth hunter?
It should be noted that certain federal stamps and permits may still be required in some cases, such as for waterfowl or migratory bird hunting. For example, resident and nonresident youth (those under 18) are required to have a youth super hunting license and Harvest Information Permit (HIP) to hunt waterfowl. They are exempt from the Oklahoma Waterfowl license. And of course, federal law requires that all waterfowl hunters age 16 and older must have a Federal Duck Stamp. Youth under 18 who are not hunting waterfowl but hunting other migratory birds (such as doves) are exempt from the Harvest Information Permit (HIP)
How do you get a youth annual super license?
All licenses can be purchased online through your Go Outdoors Oklahoma profile. If you’ve never purchased a license, you’ll be guided to set up your profile.
What about fishing?
Under the Oklahoma Wildlife License Modernization Act, youth under 18 years of age are now exempt from the purchase of a state fishing license.
Making the most of the youth annual super license
Once you have the new youth annual super hunting license (plus any federal permits needed if hunting waterfowl), the only thing left to do is go hunting. Here are some suggestions to make the most of it.
- Take it easy; the journey is the destination: With the youth annual super hunting license, you’re covered for every hunting season and bag limit that requires a license. This is especially helpful if you are the parent of a youth hunter who is learning patience, grows restless quickly, or who is easily distracted. If your hunting time is cut short for any reason - the weather isn't ideal, there’s a ballgame conflicting with the weekend hunt, or things just aren't going like you want - no worries! Come back to the woods when the opportunity is right for you and your youth hunter. You can hunt archery season, then return for youth deer gun, muzzleloader, regular deer gun, and holiday antlerless seasons - all with the same, single license, and at a fraction of the cost that it would have been in previous years.
- Make plans to experience more hunting throughout the year: If your reason for getting a youth annual super hunting license is to participate the youth deer gun season, or maybe to be part of that annual family gathering on the opening day of deer gun season, then go ahead and put holiday antlerless deer or spring turkey season on the calendar as well. Or try something really unique like trapping while at deer camp. You’ll already have the right license in your pocket, so why not?
- Get it when you need it: The youth annual super hunting license is only required of youth age 17 and under who are pursuing deer, turkey, waterfowl, elk, bear, antelope, furbearers or who are trapping. Youth who go dove hunting on a Saturday, for example, don't need a hunting license at all. But if those same youth go waterfowl hunting on Sunday, they would be required to have the youth annual super hunting license. The license is easy to purchase online at gooutdoorsoklahoma.com.
- Carry your license on a collectible license card: For just $6, you can have your youth annual super hunting license printed on one of our collectible license cards featuring wildlife paintings by local artist Shea Meyer. The cards are durable to withstand your hunt, and make it easy to comply with regulations that require hunters to carry their licenses in the field. You can also download the Go Outdoors Oklahoma mobile app and carry your license that way.
- Create teachable moments: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation does not receive state tax appropriations, and the sale of hunting licenses is one of the primary ways conservation efforts are funded statewide. Through repeated outdoor experiences where nature is encountered and explored, youth gain a deeper appreciation for wildlife and the mechanisms in place to ensure a future for conservation through hunting.
- Go fishing: Okay ... so you don't need the annual youth super hunting license to go fishing. We already covered that. But that's kind of our point with this tip. As part of the Oklahoma Wildlife License Modernization Act, youth under 18 years of age are now exempt from the purchase of a state fishing license. So get the super license for the youth in your life and go hunting as much as possible. But be sure to take time for fishing as well. The quality time you'll bag is a trophy in itself.