History of Oklahoma game wardens and hunting seasons

By ED GODFREY, Outdoors Editor, egodfrey@opubco.com Comments 0
Published: October 11, 2009

→1895: Game and fish laws passed in the Oklahoma Territory and enforced by county and township officers. Quail, prairie chicken, turkey doves and plover received their own special seasons.

Oklahoma’s first deer gun season opened in 1933. Photo courtesy Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

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→1903: Creation of the Territorial Game and Fish Protective Association. Market hunting becomes illegal.

→1909: State wildlife department created. Gov. Charles Haskell appoints Jude S. Askew as state’s first game warden and authorizes eight other salaried deputy game wardens. The nine individuals become Oklahoma’s first statewide law enforcement group. First hunting license issued at a cost of $1.25

→1925: First fishing licenses issued and furbearing mammals receive protection by law

→1933: Oklahoma’s first deer season opens

→1947. State Fish and Game Warden position changed to Director of Fish and Game

→1948: Oklahoma’s first pheasant season opens

→1949: Fishing and hunting licenses increase to $2, or $3.50 for combination license

→1957: State wildlife department becomes a constitutional body

→1960: Oklahoma’s first turkey season opens

→1962: Oklahoma’s first elk hunt

→1965: Game wardens begin teaching hunter safety classes

→1966: First antelope season in Oklahoma

→1979: Establishment of Operation Game Thief, where anonymous callers can report game and fish violations

→2009: Oklahoma opens first black bear hunting season