Oklahoma's deer gun season to open

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Published: November 21, 2008

Oklahoma’s 16-day deer gun season opens Saturday and state wildlife officials say it’s just in time for the rut in much of the state.

"The rut seems to be in full swing, and weather permitting, opening weekend of gun season should be a good one,” said Joe Hemphill, southeast region wildlife supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Steve Scorsone of Edmond took this buck with his bow Thursday morning in Logan County.Photo provided

The rut is the breeding season for whitetails and normally occurs around the second week of November.

Deer movement picks up as bucks begin to aggressively chase does, making them more susceptible to hunters.

The rut is influenced by a host of factors such as temperatures, moon phase and herd condition, state wildlife officials said.

Hemphill said acorns — a popular food source for deer — are not as plentiful in southeast Oklahoma this year and hunters there should instead focus their hunting near persimmons.

In southwest Oklahoma — where it has been very dry — the rut already is going strong and might be just past its peak by the time rifle season arrives, said Rod Smith, southwest region supervisor for the state Wildlife Department.

In northwest Oklahoma, the rut appears to be just beginning, said Wade Free, the northwest region chief for the state Wildlife Department.

"Lots of recent scrapes, fresh rubs and chasing does just got underway this past weekend,” he said.

Adult does are being chased hard by bucks, but the mild temperatures and a recent full moon have kept deer mostly active during the night, Free said.

Hunters in northeast Oklahoma should hope for colder weather to put deer on the move, said Craig Endicott, northeast region wildlife supervisor.

Buck activity has increased since muzzleloader season, Endicott said.

The rut in northeast Oklahoma may be winding down by the time gun season opens Saturday, but it will still be going on, he said. Deer gun season runs through Dec. 7.