See what hunters everywhere are saying about the outstanding deer hunting in the state of Oklahoma.
National Deer Association
Oklahoma has the ninth-highest success rate.
“In total, 25 of 37 states (68%) shot more antlerless deer in 2022 than their five-year average, with Oklahoma increasing its harvest 35%, and Maine jumped by 59%.”– 2024, National Deer Association Deer Report
Deer Hunter Success Varies Widely by State. Southeast Hunters Punch Tags While Northeast Hunters Eat Tag Soup (msn.com)
OK ranks top five in the nation in several of NDA’s categories:
- Lowest % of Yearling Bucks in the Harvest: OK ranks 2nd!
- Highest % of 3 ½ plus year old bucks in the harvest: OK ranks 3rd!
- Highest % of 3 ½ plus year-olds in the antlerless harvest: OK ranks 4th!
Field & Stream
“With over 100 P&Y nontypicals-the top ten of which were all killed since 2000-and a state-record buck as good as they come (Travis Ocker’s 245-2/8-inch whopper, tagged in 2016), the Sooner State is a bowhunter’s dream.”– Apr 27, 2023, Scott Bestful: Best Deer Hunting States for Big Whitetails
Best Deer Hunting States for Big Whitetails | Field & Stream (fieldandstream.com)
The 12 Best Deer Hunting States To Bag a Monster Whitetail
#4 Oklahoma
“Bordered by more famous neighbors Texas and Kansas, Oklahoma flew under everyone’s radar for many years—until it became impossible to ignore. With over 100 P&Y nontypicals-the top ten of which were all killed since 2000-and a state-record buck as good as they come (Travis Ocker’s 245-2/8-inch whopper, tagged in 2016), the Sooner State is a bowhunter’s dream. Overall management is excellent, as the NDA reports 83 percent of harvested bucks are 3½ years old or older—a stat that leads the nation in that category. Even more exciting is the amount of public land opportunities, which include state WMA’s (some managed for quality deer), national forests, and Army Corps of Engineers’ ground.”
A-Z Animals
“With over 700,000 white-tailed deer and nearly a million acres of public hunting land, Oklahoma easily ranks among the states with the best deer hunting.”- Dec 2023, Joyce Nash: The 15 States with the Absolute Best Deer Hunting
The 15 States With the Absolute Best Deer Hunting – A-Z Animals (a-z-animals.com)
“Typically, most states begin their deer hunting season either in the middle of September or early October. Oklahoma’s archery season begins October 1st. But instead of closing at the end of the year like many states, Oklahoma’s archery extends until January 15th.”- Oct 26, 2023. Claire Wilson: The Top 6 Reasons Oklahoma Is The Best State for Deer Hunting
The Top 6 Reasons Oklahoma Is the Best State for Deer Hunting – A-Z Animals (a-z-animals.com)
Grade “A” from Realtree
“We know, it’s surprising to see such an overlooked state receive an A grade. But that’s exactly why it does, among other reasons. Licenses and tags are affordable, deer populations are abundant, trophy potential abounds, hunter numbers are pretty low, and there’s even some good public land to hunt.”– Realtree: Deer Hunting in Oklahoma
Deer Hunting in Oklahoma – Realtree Store
onX Hunt
“With nearly 3.9 million acres of accessible land and just under 200,000 deer hunters, finding seclusion in a treestand in Oklahoma should be very doable.”…. ““Harvest success rates of bagging at least one deer came in at 53%, and the state’s deer hunting mantra, “Hunters in the know… let young bucks grow!” led to 66% of the bucks harvested aging out at 3.5 years or older.” – Apr 17, 2021, Hunt: The Five Top Whitetail States That Aren’t on Your Radar
Best Whitetail Deer Hunting States that Aren’t on Your Radar | onX (onxmaps.com)
North American Whitetail
“Ask most people what they think of when someone mentions Oklahoma, and the answer is likely to include college football or Broadway musicals. But that’s only because most people aren’t serious whitetail bowhunters. Although somewhat off the radar for hunters outside the region, the Sooner State really is one of the best places for chasing big deer. ” – May 04, 2017, Gordon Whittington: Oklahoma Hunting Can Be Top Notch
Gordon Whittington: Oklahoma Hunting Can Be Top Notch
“You’re probably well aware that Oklahoma is part of an ongoing record book rewrite currently taking the deer hunting world by storm.” – Jan. 27, 2020, Bryant Buck: Oklahoma Hunter Tags Top-5 Typical Whitetail
Bryant Buck: Oklahoma Hunter Tags Top-5 Typical Whitetail – North American Whitetail
BowhuntingMag.com
“A definite sleeper state, Oklahoma is incredibly overlooked. Licenses are affordable, habitat is diverse, and it doesn’t receive too much hunting pressure (in most areas). Overall, the deer herd is strong and buck age structure is quite good.”- October 12, 2023, Josh Honeycutt: 10 Serious Whitetail Sleeper States
10 Serious Whitetail Sleeper States – Petersen’s Bowhunting (bowhuntingmag.com)
24/7 Wall Street – msn.com
States with the Most Bow Hunters (msn.com)
- Oklahoma is #7 for states with the most bowhunters
- Bowhunters in 2021: 29.4 per 1,000 people (117,216 total)
- Share of deer harvested by a bow: 31%
North American Bow Hunter
“Mississippi hunts harvest more older-age class bucks than any other state. Nebraska just seems magical; so does Oklahoma.” – Dec 27, 2022, Josh Honeycutt: Best States for Hunting Whitetail
Best States for Hunting Whitetail – North American Bow Hunter (nabowhunter.com)
Game & Fish:
Ground Zero: Oklahoma’s Record Bucks
Petersen’s Bowhunting
10 Serious Whitetail Sleeper States
“A definite sleeper state, Oklahoma is incredibly overlooked.”- Petersen’s Bowhunting
Oklahoma has more typical and non-typical Boone & Crocket bucks (115 typical/155 non-typical) than any of the other states on Petersen’s top 10 sleeper states list.
