Published: November 10, 2007 10:26 pm         

Don’t forget regulation, habitat changes

There is no weekend bigger for Oklahoma hunters than the next.

Last season it was a weekend that kicked off the harvest of more than 72,000 deer in the two-week regular gun season. The tables have turned for the opener of the 2007 regular gun season with regulation changes, habitat changes and a rut that is now a week underway.

There are certainly far more experiences that are memorable from a trip afield beyond a harvest and last weekend provided this hunter some great memories.

It was about 5:30 p.m. on the final day of muzzleloader season when a doe came by my tree stand at an Olympic sprinters pace. I looked for more deer and saw none, causing me to immediately think she had been spooked.

The wheels continued to turn as I scrambled to figure out the date. It was Nov. 4, and no sooner than the thought of the rut being close popped into my head, a 31⁄2 year old buck popped out along the edge of the woods searching for the fleeing doe.

I did not see any more deer that evening, but the buck chased the doe for approximately two hours before darkness fell. And that was a week ago.

The rut will undoubtedly be in full swing when the 2007 gun opener comes Nov. 17. The upcoming week could be exciting for bow hunters looking to capitalize before the fury of gun season cuts loose.

Deer movement picked up as muzzleloader season progressed with bucks making scrapes and rubs and then beginning to chase does.

Hunters have more opportunities to harvest deer during gun season this year. Three deer may be harvested with two does and one buck being the limit. Combine these new regulations with a season that has recently expanded a week, and Oklahoma hunters have more to look forward too than ever.

Those same regulation changes have made the decision to harvest a buck more cumbersome. No more than two can be taken through all seasons — archery, muzzleloader and gun.

Hunters will also have a different view from their hunting spots when the sun rises next Saturday. Last season, Oklahoma’s habitat was sparse and tattered from drought. This season is the exact opposite with grass tall enough to completely hide a deer.

The dense vegetation means hunters will have to be extra careful when verifying their target. As always, hunter orange is required.

As always, safety should be a top priority. Good luck to all hunting next weekend. Temperatures look to be in the 60s with lows in the 40s and clear skies.



Waterfowl hunting picking up

The great migrations are beginning to mean success for local waterfowl hunters. The weather has not turned great, but birds are now in the area in huntable numbers.

Species in the area include mallards, widgeons, gadwalls, green-wing teal and more. Some snow geese are in the area as well with goose movement not as good as duck movement.

Birds have been flying early and farm ponds have been offering good hunting. Lakes are producing good hunting activity as well, but more cold fronts will be needed to continue driving birds down the plains through Kansas and into our area.

With little signs of a cold front coming our way in the forecast, it may be second half of the season before waterfowl hunting hits it’s peak.

     

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