In-person Hearing Among Three Ways to Provide Input

Each year, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation proposes changes in Title 800, the administrative rules that govern hunting, fishing and Wildlife Department operations. The public comment period for proposed rule changes for 2023 will open Dec. 1 and will close at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 6, 2023.

Many proposed changes are simple housekeeping matters, while some are more substantial. Some of this year's rule change proposals:

• Change the state’s hunter education course length from eight to six hours.
• Add archery range rules for ODWC’s public shooting ranges, and allow use of ODWC ranges until 30 minutes after sunset.
• Authorize air-powered arrow rifles as legal means of take for deer gun season. (This allowance was already in effect for the 2022 deer gun season as an emergency rule and simply adds it officially into state statutes.)
• Change waterfowl hunting blinds on all reservoirs to daily blinds only.
• Modify agriculture depredation complaints policy to include nuisance wildlife control guidelines for black bears.
• Allow controlled waterfowl and muzzleloader deer hunts in Keystone State Park.
• Piecemeal changes for areas managed by ODWC regarding hunting zones, methods of take, camping, etc. For a summary, go to www.wildlifedepartment.com/public-meeting and click on Rule Change Proposals 2023 Agenda (PDF).

To read all of the proposed rule changes, go to www.wildlifedepartment.com/public-meeting.

Anyone wishing to make comments on any of the proposed rule changes may do so in one of three ways:

• Fill out the online public comment form at www.wildlifedepartment.com/public-meeting. The online public comment period closes at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 6, 2023.
• Write your comments in a letter and mail to Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Re: Public Comment, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. Letters must be postmarked by Jan. 6, 2023.
• Voice your comments in person during a public hearing beginning at 7 p.m. Jan. 5, 2023, at the John D. Groendyke Wildlife Conservation Building, 1801 N. Lincoln Blvd. in Oklahoma City.

All public comments are collected and reviewed by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. Commissioners usually consider all of the proposed changes at their regular February meeting, which is set for Feb. 6, 2023.