It’s Not All the
Luck of the Draw
Study Stats and Boost Your
Odds for Controlled Hunts
Oklahoma is a place where hunters are richly blessed with
many outdoor opportunities. But there’s an additional way each
year for hunters to possibly add to a successful year afield. It’s
the Wildlife Department’s Controlled Hunts Program.
Whether a hunter enjoys his sport on the roughly 1.4 million acres managed for public hunting in the state, or on
the remaining 40 million acres in Oklahoma that is privately
owned, he or she is usually in for a first-rate outing.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s
Controlled Hunts Program gives sportsmen
the chance to win one
of the state’s mostsought-af ter hunt s.
And many of the winners will tell you they
had luck on their side.
While luck certainly
has something to do
with the drawing, it’s
not the only factor that can influence whether your name is
drawn for one of these unique hunts.
For the 2016-17 Controlled Hunts program, about one out
of every 19 applicants had his or her name drawn. A total of
98,607 applications were received from about 20,000 hunters
for one of the 5,164 individual hunt permits available last year.
Many of those applicants will apply again when the 201718 Controlled Hunts applications are made available online
around April 1. And while it may seem obvious, the most
important thing you can do to improve your chances is to
submit an online application each year.
Applications are accepted at wildlifedepartment.com, and
the deadline for submitting an application is May 15. The
application process is easy. And our website will not accept
any application that is not completed correctly, so you can be
assured that your application submission was successful and
that your name is in the drawing.
Winners of the Controlled Hunts are randomly selected
through a computerized process that draws applications from
the pool of those who applied. But hunters have the option to
apply for several hunts, which increases your overall chances
of being selected.
Each consecutive year that you apply but are not selected,
you will collect preference points. Those points can help
increase your odds in
the next year’s drawings.
Aside from making
sure to apply year after
year, those who are
hoping to draw a hunt
can do a few things to
increase their chances
of being drawn for what
could be the hunt of a
lifetime. Some hunt categories allow you to apply with a group
of other hunters, which ups your odds of success as a member
of a successful group.
This article is designed to give you some insight into how
the Controlled Hunts Program works, by the numbers, which
could give you an edge in getting your name drawn for a hunt
that you won’t soon forget.
Don’t miss your chance to take part in a hunt you won’t forget. And make sure to gather a few friends to apply as a group,
because when it comes to hunting, the only thing that makes
being in the woods better is being there with family or friends.
One out of every 19
applicants was successful
in the 2016-17 Controlled
Hunts drawings.
14
Controlled Hunts Basics
Controlled hunts are offered for deer, elk, antelope and
turkey. These hunts are held in locations where unrestricted
OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA
LARRY E SMITH
public hunting would pose safety concerns or where overharvest might occur. Hunters wishing to go on one of these
controlled hunts must submit an application, which goes into
the running with all other applications. Names are selected
through a random computer drawing for a range of hunting
opportunities across the state.
Several of the controlled hunt choices are highly sought after
and often have many times more applicants than available permits. To date, many thousands of hunters have enjoyed unique
adventures through the Controlled Hunts program, including
youth hunters and people with disabilities.
Getting drawn for a hunt through the Controlled Hunts
program is a matter of odds, and if you continue to apply year
after year, it’s likely you’ll get at least one chance to enjoy a
controlled hunt offered through the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation.
Participation is easy. You start by submitting a simple, easyto-complete application online. This gives you a chance to
be drawn for one of the hunts for which you applied. Choices
include opportunities such as hunting for a bull elk at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, hunting for pronghorn antelope
in northwestern Oklahoma, or hunting for deer at one of many
Wildlife Management Areas across the state, often with exclusive privileges not offered at other times of the year.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
Even though getting drawn is a matter of odds, you can
still increase your chances of getting drawn by doing a little
research first. And we’ve done a lot of the hard work for you
in this article. All you have to do is study the data here and
determine which hunts you want to apply for based on the
information provided. And yes, there are ways to sway the
odds in your direction.
For example, every time you apply and do not get selected, you earn a preference point for the next year. So, when
you apply the next year, it’s like getting your name put in
the hat an extra time for the drawing. Therefore, your odds
of being drawn improve if you apply again the next year.
By submitting an application year after year, you can build
your chances far more than those who don’t continue to
apply because they believe the odds are too hard to beat.
Additionally, some hunt categories allow you to apply with a
group of other hunters, so that if one of the group is drawn,
the entire group gets to hunt.
Helpful Tips
If you want to increase your chances of being selected,
one of the best things you can do is to make sure you apply
each and every year like clockwork. Again, your odds of being
drawn for a controlled hunt improve each year you apply
15
because each preference point you earn acts like an extra
application the next time you apply.
For example, if you have been applying for the controlled
hunt of your dreams for five
years straight without having
your name drawn, you will
have five “tickets in the hopper” compared to a first-time
applicant, who will have only
one. Those who say they have
stopped applying because
they never get drawn are actually giving you an advantage,
as long as you just keep on
applying. Your chances will
get better each year that you apply when others with preference points decide to quit.
Although hunters with more preference points have greater chances of being drawn for a controlled hunt, it is not a
guarantee that those with the most points will be drawn for
a hunt. What is guaranteed is that their odds improve.
First-time applicants with no preference points can and
do get drawn over those with many points, because names
are selected randomly from the entire pool of applicants.
But remember, if you’ve amassed preference points for past
years, your name will be in the hopper many more times than
the name of the first-time applicant.
In some categories, hunters may apply in groups of up to
four people. For group applications, the preference points
of each hunter in the group will be averaged. If four hunters
apply together — one with no points, one with two points,
and the other two with three points each — the group’s
preference points will be two, which is the average of all
four hunters on the application. If not drawn in that category, each applicant in the hunt
group will be given a single
preference point.
When your name is selected in a hunt category, all preference points that you have
built up in that category are
cleared. It’s very important
to make sure you can attend
the hunt dates that are listed
before you apply. Remember,
once you are selected, you will
lose your advantageous preference points you earned over
the years. You can begin building preference points with the
next year’s application again, but it would be disappointing
to apply year after year only to be selected for a hunt that
you cannot attend.
So, regardless of whether your name has been drawn, it’s
important to keep applying, if for no other reason than to
gain preference points.
(Compiled by the “Outdoor Oklahoma” Staff)
SARAH RICHTER/FLICKR CC-BY NC ND2.0
A one-time $5 entry
fee is required of each
applicant, regardless of
how many hunt choices
are applied for.
Other Tips to Consider Include:
• Rather than looking at the number of permits available
for each hunt, it could be in your favor to consider the
ratio of permits to applicants before making a decision
on which hunts you believe will give you the best chance.
• By designating additional choices, you increase your
overall odds of being selected for at least one of the
choices, so make as many selections as a category
allows (five in the deer category, for example), rather
than just three, two or one.
• You can increase your odds of being drawn when you
apply for hunts that happen on key dates of the regular
statewide seasons, such as the opening weekend of
muzzleloader or gun season. Many hunters may skip
those dates because of previous plans.
• For those locations that offer multiple hunts in the
same category, the second or third hunts (the later
hunts) are often easier to draw than the first hunts
offered at that location.
• You cannot submit more than one application form per
category. Now that applications are completed and
submitted online, you will receive confirmation that
your application was processed correctly. This system
will help you avoid mistakes, so make sure you receive
confirmation of a successful application.
• Hunts that are considered by some to be less desirable,
such as antlerless deer hunts, may be just the right
choice for a meat hunter looking to raise his chances
at getting to hunt at a premier location.
16
OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA
2016-17 Deer Hunts
2016-17 Deer Hunts for
2016-17 Youth Deer Hunts
• Total hunt applications (includes first, Persons with Disabilities
• Total hunt applications (includes first, secsecond, third, fourth and fifth choice • Total hunt applications (includes first, second and third choice preferences): 3,006
ond and third choice preferences): 246
preferences): 57,438
• Total permits available: 816
• Total permits available: 98
• Total permits available: 3,939
• Overall odds of getting drawn for any
• Overall odds of getting drawn for any • Overall odds of getting drawn for any
one permit: 1 in 3.7
one permit: 1 in 2.5
one permit: 1 in 14.6
2016 Deer Hunts
Hunt Location
Atoka WMA
Beaver River WMA, McFarland Unit
Beaver River WMA, McFarland Unit
Beaver River WMA
Candy Creek WMA
Candy Creek WMA
Canton WMA
Cherokee GMA
Cherokee GMA
Cherokee GMA
Cherokee GMA
Cookson WMA
Cookson WMA
Cookson WMA
Cookson WMA
Cookson WMA
Cookson WMA
Cross Timbers WMA
Deep Fork NWR
Deep Fork NWR
Four Canyon Preserve
Four Canyon Preserve
Four Canyon Preserve
Four Canyon Preserve
Fort Gibson WRP
Fort Gibson WRP
Fort Gibson WRP
Fort Gibson WRP
Fort Gibson WRP
Grady County WMA
Grady County WMA
James Collins WMA
Lexington WMA
Lexington WMA
Lexington WMA
Lexington WMA
Little River NWR
Little River NWR
McAlester AAP Physically
Challenged
McAlester AAP
McAlester AAP
McAlester AAP
McAlester AAP
McAlester AAP
McCurtain Co. WA
McGee Creek WMA
McGee Creek WMA
Okmulgee GMA
Okmulgee GMA
Osage-Western Wall WMA
Pushmataha WMA
Salt Plains NWR
Salt Plains NWR Wilderness Area
Salt Plains NWR
Salt Plains NWR Wilderness Area
Salt Plains NWR
Salt Plains NWR Wilderness Area
Sandy Sanders WMA
Sequoyah NWR
Sequoyah NWR
Spavinaw GMA
Spavinaw GMA
Waurika WMA & COE Public
Waurika WMA & COE Public
Wichita Mts. NWR
Wichita Mts. NWR
Great Salt Plains SP
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
Hunt
Number
3001
3001
3007
3008
3020
3021
3030
3044
3045
3046
3047
3060
3061
3062
3063
3064
3065
3070
3080
3081
3090
3091
3092
3093
3110
3111
3112
3113
3114
3120
3121
3140
3150
3151
3152
3153
3160
3161
Hunt Type
Begin Date
End Date
Permit Type
Applicants
Gun
Muzzleloader
Gun
Gun
Muzzleloader
Gun
Gun
Gun
Gun
Gun
Gun
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Gun
Gun
Gun
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Gun
Gun
Archery
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Gun
Gun
Gun
Gun
Gun
Gun
Gun
Gun
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
Antlerless Only
Either Sex
Antlerless Only
Either Sex
Antlerless Only
Antlerless Only
Either Sex
Antlerless Only
Antlerless Only
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
Antlerless Only
(2) Only 1 Antlered
Antlerless Only
Either Sex
Antlerless Only
Either Sex
(2) Only 1 Antlered
Antlerless Only
Antlerless Only
Either Sex
Antlerless Only
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
Either Sex
Either Sex
3170
Archery
11/5/2016
11/6/2016
3171
3172
3173
3174
3175
3190
3200
3201
3210
3211
3220
3230
3242
3243
3244
3245
3246
3247
3270
3280
3281
3290
3291
3330
3331
3340
3341
3350
Archery
Archery
Archery
Archery
Archery
Gun
Muzzleloader
Gun
Gun
Gun
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Gun
Gun
Gun
Gun
Muzzleloader
Archery
Muzzleloader
Gun
Gun
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
Gun
Gun
Archery
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/5/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
2,084
302
328
418
171
263
1,495
1,646
240
1,117
157
1,271
122
53
1,437
109
56
679
165
782
42
293
40
420
614
238
230
1,066
134
234
284
1,487
736
385
335
259
602
527
Permits
Allowed
75
15
5
15
12
12
75
50
75
50
75
18
35
35
18
35
35
50
50
50
4
2
4
2
50
50
50
25
25
10
10
50
135
135
135
135
30
30
Draw
Ratio
1:27
1:20
1:65
1:27
1:14
1:21
1:19
1:32
1:3
1:22
1:2
1:70
1:3
1:1.6
1:79
1:3
1:1.6
1:13
1:3.3
1:15
1:10
1:146
1:10
1:210
1:12
1:4
1:4
1:42
1:5
1:23
1:28
1:29
1:5
1:2.8
1:2.5
1:1.9
1:20
1:17
Either Sex
129
100
1:0.9
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
(2) Only 1 Antlered
(2) Only 1 Antlered
Either Sex
Either Sex
(2) Antlerless Only
(2) Antlerless Only
(2) Antlerless Only
(2) Antlerless Only
(2) Antlerless Only
(2) Antlerless Only
Either Sex
(2) Only 1 Antlered
(2) Antlerless Only
Either Sex
Antlerless Only
Either Sex
Antlerless Only
Antlered Only
Antlerless Only
(2) Only 1 Antlered
1,824
2,124
3,253
4,311
4,305
496
1,024
1,567
638
353
1,075
1,928
212
88
342
164
262
134
952
800
346
1,617
211
494
68
6,705
596
599
275
275
275
275
275
16
100
75
60
60
25
75
25
12
25
12
25
12
35
20
30
30
40
15
25
30
40
10
1:6
1:7
1:11
1:15
1:15
1:31
1:10
1:20
1:10
1:5
1:43
1:25
1:8
1:7
1:13
1:13
1:10
1:11
1:27
1:40
1:11
1:53
1:5
1:32
1:2.7
1:223
1:14
1:59
Rank
17
PROVIDED VIA FACEBOOK
Kayle Ivey, Pushmataha WMA
2016 Youth Deer Hunts
Hunt Location
Atoka WMA
Beaver River WMA, McFarland Unit
Camp Gruber Cantonment
Cherokee GMA
Cookson WMA
Deep Fork NWR
Ft. Cobb WMA and SP
Ft. Gibson WRP
Kaw Lake COE
Hugo WMA
James Collins WMA
James Collins WMA
Little River NWR
McAlester AAP
Okmulgee GMA
Okmulgee GMA
Pine Creek WMA
Pushmataha WMA
Pushmataha WMA
Salt Plains NWR
Sequoyah NWR
Spavinaw GMA
Spavinaw GMA
Tenkiller COE
Texoma COE (Burns Run)
Texoma COE (Lakeside)
Tishomingo NWR
USDA Grazinglands R.L.
Washita NWR Youth Exemption
Washita NWR Youth Exemption
Hunt
Hunt Type
Begin Date
Number
5001
Gun
10/29/2016
5006
Gun
10/15/2016
5009
Muzzleloader 11/25/2016
5010
Gun
11/5/2016
5020
Gun
10/22/2016
5030
Gun
10/14/2016
Muzzleloader/
5040
10/15/2016
Shotgun
5050
Muzzleloader
11/5/2016
5055
Gun
11/4/2016
5060
Gun
10/7/2016
5070
Gun
10/21/2016
5071
Gun
10/28/2016
5085
Gun
10/28/2016
5090
Shotgun
11/25/2016
5110
Gun
11/5/2016
5111
Gun
11/12/2016
5130
Gun
11/11/2016
5140
Gun
10/21/2016
5141
Gun
10/28/2016
5150
Gun
10/14/2016
5160
Muzzleloader 10/21/2016
5180
Muzzleloader 10/29/2016
5181
Gun
11/4/2016
5190
Gun
11/4/2016
5200
Gun
11/4/2016
5201
Gun
11/11/2016
5210
Gun
10/20/2016
5220
Gun
11/4/2016
5240
Gun
10/7/2016
5260
Gun
11/4/2016
End Date
Permit Type
Applicants
10/30/2016
10/16/2016
11/27/2016
11/6/2016
10/23/2016
10/16/2016
Either Sex
Either Sex
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
Either Sex
Either Sex
(2) Only 1 Antlered
111
39
96
196
120
121
Permits
Allowed
50
15
25
50
45
25
Draw
Ratio
1:2
1:2
1:3
1:3
1:2
1:4
Rank
3
4
12
13
5
17
10/16/2016
Antlerless Only
42
40
1:1
1
11/5/2016
11/6/2016
10/9/2016
10/23/2016
10/30/2016
10/30/2016
11/27/2016
11/6/2016
11/13/2016
11/13/2016
10/23/2016
10/30/2016
10/16/2016
10/23/2016
10/30/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/6/2016
11/13/2016
10/21/2016
11/5/2016
10/8/2016
11/5/2016
(2) Only 1 Antlered
(2) 1 Either Sex, 1 Doe
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
Antlerless Only
(2) Only 1 Antlered
(2) Only 1 Antlered
Either Sex
Either Sex
Either Sex
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
(2) Only 1 Antlered
Either Sex
Either Sex
(2) Only 1 Antlered
(2) Only 1 Antlered
(2) Only 1 Antlered
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
Antlerless Only
Antlerless Only
115
61
60
191
211
45
57
66
51
40
108
97
143
114
93
156
105
76
70
123
180
70
49
20
4
25
50
50
10
25
24
24
12
50
50
25
25
40
50
10
6
6
20
20
10
10
1:5
1:15
1:2
1:3
1:4
1:4
1:2
1:2
1:2
1:3
1:2
1:1
1:5
1:4
1:2
1:3
1:10
1:12
1:11
1:6
1:9
1:7
1:4
22
30
6
14
18
19
7
8
9
15
10
2
23
20
11
16
27
29
28
24
26
25
21
Begin Date
End Date
Permit Type
Applicants
10/29/2016
10/30/2016
11/1/2016
11/1/2016
11/16/2016
11/9/2016
10/31/2016
11/14/2016
11/7/2016
10/30/2016
10/30/2016
10/19/2016
11/3/2016
11/17/2016
11/10/2016
11/13/2016
11/16/2016
11/9/2016
Either Sex
Either Sex
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
(2) Antlerless Only
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
(2) Only 1 Antlered
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
(2) 1st Antlerless, 2nd E-S
47
42
3
17
12
44
53
12
16
Permits
Allowed
40
25
2
6
3
10
8
2
2
Draw
Ratio
1:1
1:1
1:1
1:2
1:4
1:4
1:6
1:6
1:8
2016 Deer Hunts for Persons With Disabilities
Hunt Location
Cherokee GMA
Cookson WMA
Salt Plains NWR
Waurika Lake COE
Sequoyah NWR
Tishomingo NWR
Oologah Lake COE
Salt Plains NWR
Salt Plains NWR
18
Hunt
Hunt Type
Number
4001
Gun
4010
Gun
4050
Muzzleloader
4090
Gun
4060
Muzzleloader
4080
Gun
4040
Gun
4052
Gun
4051
Gun
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA
PROVIDED VIA FACEBOOK
PROVIDED VIA FACEBOOK
Quinton Picone, McAlester AAP
Ally Rae Qualls, James Collins WMA
Deer Hunt Application Tips
• Steer clear of the most popular hunts, such as the Wichita
Mountains buck gun hunt, the Sandy Sanders buck gun
hunt and Salt Plains NWR hunts that allow either sex hunting. If you avoid these, your odds go up for getting drawn.
• Controlled hunts held during the regular muzzleloader and
gun seasons, especially those held during the opening
weekends, often offer better odds of getting drawn than
those held outside the regular statewide season dates
since many would-be applicants already have their hunting
plans in place for those dates.
W
Whitney
Jenkins, Cimarron County
PROVIDED VIA FACEBOOK
PROVIDED VIA FACEBOOK
Controlled Hunts
Provide Excellent
Opportunities
for Thousands
of Hunters.
Alysse Horton, Beaver River WMA
• Areas in the northeast such as Cherokee, Cookson Hills,
Gruber and Spavinaw WMAs typically have higher numbers of applicants. Consider applying for hunts in other
parts of the state.
• Archery hunts are historically easier to draw on average
than muzzleloader or gun hunts
• Scouting is key to the success of a hunter in bringing
home game.
• Finding sign such as tracks, rubs, scrapes or even heavily
used trails and feeding areas help hunters locate areas
where they may have the best chance of seeing game.
• Antlerless-only hunts traditionally see fewer applicants
compared to buck-only or either-sex hunts.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
19
<NO INTERSECTING LINK>
Rich Fuller, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
2016-17 Elk Hunts
Elk Hunt Application Tip
• Total hunt applications (includes first, second and third choice preferences): 18,168
• If you apply for a cow hunt, your odds of being drawn are much higher than if
you apply for a bull hunt.
• Total permits available: 91
• Overall odds of getting drawn for any
one permit: 1 in 199.6
2016 Elk Hunts
Hunt Location
Cookson WMA
Wichita Mountains NWR
Wichita Mountains NWR
Hunt
Number
1001
1022
1023
Hunt Type
Begin Date
End Date
Permit Type
Applicants
Gun
Rifle
Rifle
10/22/16
1/12/16
1/12/16
10/23/16
1/14/16
1/14/16
Either Sex
Bull
Cow
6,416
10,567
1,185
What is the Controlled Hunts Program?
This annual Wildlife Department Program awards hunting
opportunities to applicants selected in a random drawing.
These controlled hunts are held in places where unrestricted hunting would pose safety concerns or where overharvest might occur, such as in a wildlife management area of
a smaller size. Several of the controlled hunts choices are
highly-sought-after and often have many more applicants
than number of hunts available.
Who can apply?
Any resident or nonresident who possesses a valid hunting
license or who is otherwise exempt may apply for controlled
hunts. A full of listing of valid hunting licenses is available
online at wildlifedepartment.com. Applicants must purchase
the license prior to applying for controlled hunts. Applicants
who are eligible for, and possess, apprentice-designated
20
Permits
Allowed
1
30
60
Draw
Ratio
1:6,416
1:352
1:19
Rank
3
2
1
hunting licenses may also apply (although some hunts require
hunter education certification by the date of the hunt).
What does it cost?
All applicants (including lifetime license holders) must
pay a $5 application fee to enter the controlled hunts drawing. This fee is paid only once per person per year regardless of the number of categories entered. You may pay the
application fee with a Visa or MasterCard debit or credit
card. If drawn, additional license and user fees may apply.
If I apply for controlled hunts long
enough, am I guaranteed to be drawn?
There is no guarantee that anyone will be drawn, but
your odds get better every year you submit an application
in a particular hunt because you earn preference points in
subsequent drawings.
OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA
2016-17 Antelope Hunts
Antelope Hunt Application Tip
• Total hunt applications (includes first
and second choice preferences): 8,631
• Put your name in for both the buck and the doe hunts to have the best chance
of getting drawn.
• Total permits available: 95
LISA PHILLIPS/BLM CC-BYNCND2.0
• Overall odds of getting drawn for any
one permit: 1 in 90.9
2016 Antelope Hunts
Hunt Location
Cimarron County
Cimarron County
Texas County
Texas County
Hunt
Number
2001
2002
2010
2011
Hunt Type
Begin Date
End Date
Permit Type
Applicants
Gun
Gun
Gun
Gun
9/8/16
9/12/16
9/8/16
9/12/16
9/11/16
9/21/16
9/11/16
9/21/16
Either Sex
Doe Only
Either Sex
Doe Only
4,023
887
3,394
327
Can I keep accumulating points
indefinitely?
Yes, until your name is drawn or if you do not apply in a
given category for five consecutive years.
If I can’t make my hunt, do I get my
preference points back?
No. Once selected, your points in that category are reset
to zero.
Can I apply with a group of friends for
a hunt?
Yes, but make sure all of the information is correct for
each member or your group could be disqualified.
Why not use a true preference point
system for the controlled hunts?
Permits
Allowed
20
50
5
20
Draw
Ratio
1:201
1:17
1:678
1:16
Rank
3
2
4
1
If I apply with a group of four for a
hunt, how are our preference points
calculated?
Example: One person has 1 preference point, one has 2,
one has 3 and one has 4. The total for the group is 10 preference points. The group total is averaged for each member,
which equals 2.5 points each, which is then rounded to 3
points. The group is assigned 3 preference points.
What if I have an address change after
I apply?
Notify the Wildlife Department’s License Section by
calling (405) 521-3852.
If I am a nonresident hunter, can I apply
for a controlled hunt?
Yes! Go to wildlifedepartment.com for more information.
There are too many hunters applying for too few hunts
for that type of system to work.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
21
LARRY SMITH/FLICKR CC-BY2.0
2016-17 Spring Turkey Hunts
• Total hunt applications (includes
first, second and third choice preferences): 10,249
• Total permits available: 105
• Overall odds of getting drawn for any
one permit: 1 in 97.6
Spring Turkey Hunt Application Tips
• Among the most difficult spring turkey hunts to get drawn for are the hunts
held at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. These hunts always have some
of the highest application rates.
• Consider upping your selection odds by choosing a hunt held later in the
season, especially in areas where two hunts are offered.
2016 Spring Turkey Hunts
Hunt Location
Cross Timbers WMA
Cross Timbers WMA
Deep Fork NWR
Four Canyon Preserve
Four Canyon Preserve
Little River NWR
McAlester Army Ammo Plant
McAlester Army Ammo Plant
McCurtain Co. Wild. Area
Hunt
Number
6000
6001
6010
6020
6021
6040
6050
6051
6060
Hunt Type
Begin Date
End Date
Permit Type
Applicants
Shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
4/6/16
4/27/16
4/22/16
4/6/16
4/9/16
4/22/16
4/15/16
4/22/16
4/22/16
4/10/16
5/1/16
4/24/16
4/7/16
4/10/16
4/24/16
4/17/16
4/24/16
4/24/16
Tom
Tom
Tom
Tom
Tom
Tom
Tom
Tom
Tom
1,290
700
510
568
373
953
2,562
2,227
1,066
2016-17 Youth Turkey Hunts
• Total hunt applications (includes first, second and third choice preferences): 869
• Total permits available: 20
Permits
Allowed
10
10
5
2
2
20
20
20
16
Draw
Ratio
1:129
1:70
1:102
1:284
1:186
1:47
1:128
1:111
1:66
Rank
7
3
4
9
8
1
6
5
2
Youth Turkey Hunt Application Tip
• Remember that hunts with fewer overall permits could be more difficult to
draw than other hunts that have even more applications. Be sure to consider
the success ratios when making your hunt choices.
• Overall odds of getting drawn for any
one permit: 1 in 43.5
2016 Youth Turkey Hunts
Hunt Location
Deep Fork NWR
James Collins WMA
Hugo Lake COE
22
Hunt
Number
7010
7030
7050
Hunt Type
Begin Date
End Date
Permit Type
Applicants
Shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
4/8/16
4/9/16
4/9/16
4/10/16
4/10/16
4/10/16
Tom
Tom
Tom
298
306
265
Permits
Allowed
7
8
5
Draw
Ratio
1:42
1:38
1:53
Rank
2
1
3
OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA