Starting December 1 through January 6, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation announced they are giving the public an opportunity for input regarding proposed 2023 rule changes for hunters. Some of the proposed rule changes on the agenda include the following changes; shortening the hunter safety courselengthfromeighttosix hours, clarifying ambiguous language that allows Hunter Education Coordinators to reinstate Hunter Education Instructors, allow controlled waterfowl and muzzleloader deer hunts in Keystone State Park, re-zone two areas on Fort Gibson Lake to allow archery and shotgun with pellets, changing waterfowl hunting blinds on all reservoirs to daily blinds only, add permit requirement for the use of air powered arrow rifles when hunting, authorize air powered arrow rifles as a legal means of take for deer gun season, remove handgun minimum length and clarify requirements for handgun bullets and extend squirrel season from May 15 – February 28.
Otheritemsontheagenda include adding bear into the list of big game species under Nuisance Wildlife Control to better regulate when nonlethal measures should be taken during agricultural depredation complaints. Another agenda item of discussion is Carcass Import Requirementstoincludeadding Chronic Wasting Disease Selected Surveillance Areas (SSA) as defined by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Chronic Wasting Disease Response Plan to carcass transport ban.
For a complete list of the proposals and to leave an online public comment visit wildlifedepartment.com/publicmeeting.
A public hearing has been scheduled for January 5 at 7 p.m. at the Department of Wildlife Conservation at 1801 N. Lincoln Blvd., OklahomaCity,OK. Written comments will be accepted through January 6, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. Mail written comments to Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Re: Public Comment, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152.