Gov. Stitt brings changes to fishing and hunting licenses

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Governor Kevin Stitt signed the Oklahoma Wildlife License Modernization Act into law on March 26 after it passed state House of Representatives and Senate.

The measure will provide funding for the Wildlife Conservation Department by adjusting the cost of license to more regional averages and will simplify the hunting and fishing licenses.

It has been more than two decades since any notable changes have been made to Oklahoma's fishing and hunting licenses including the fee structure. The plan will reduce the amount of licenses that were previously required for activities and will modify license fees to support steady funding for fish and wildlife in the state moving forward.

“After more than 20 years, we have finally simplified our hunting and fishing licenses, and given residents more for their money. We also were able to get out-of-state licenses up to the regional average. This is a big step forward for Oklahoma outdoorsman especially residents,” said state Sen. David Bullard.

More than 50 of the current hunting and fishing licenses will be merged into just 15 and will include defining the "youth" as anyone younger than 18 years of age. With this, the creation of a "youth super license" will replace 15 different types of current youth licenses.

With many changes coming to the way the hunting and fishing licenses will proceed, comes changes to the costs. In some instances the license cost will see an increase and in other cases the cost could come at a decrease.

Last year local deer archery hunters had to pay the annual cost of a hunting license, $32, and a deer license cost of $20 for each animal taken home. So, harvesting the six deer allowed in the season, altogether equaled out to $152.

With the new fee structure, a hunter could now pay a total of $72. That includes the annual hunting license and a full-limit deer archery season license costing $36 each.

“The license restructuring provides simplification, and is a big boost for conservation in Oklahoma, and it will be a significant improvement for everyone who hunts and fishes in the state,” said Interim Director of the Wildlife Conservation Wade Free.

The act is expected to bring in as much as $10 million in additional revenue which will help fund and make improvements to the Oklahoma fish and wildlife conservation.