Applications open for controlled hunts across Oklahoma

The application window is now open controlled hunts in Oklahoma for deer, elk, antelope and turkey. The deadline is May 20, 2025.

Tuesday, April 15th 2025, 10:36 am

By: Lacie Lowry

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife has opened the application period for controlled hunts. Hunters can enter drawings for many agency-sanctioned hunts for deer, elk, antelope and turkey.

Controlled hunts operate on a preference point system, by which your points act like an extra application for that category, increasing your chances of being randomly selected by the computerized drawing system.

One change hunters need to know about this year is the ability to buy one extra Preference Point to add to your totals for each hunt category. In 2024, this option was only available in the elk and pronghorn hunt categories.

Applicants can also add more hunt choices above the standard number allowed in each category. These add-on choices cost $3 each, and there is no limit.

To apply now, log into your Go Outdoors Oklahoma profile and select the "Controlled Hunts" tile.

The deadline to apply is May 20, 2025.

Lacie Lowry

Lacie Lowry is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and has been part of the Griffin Media team since 2010. She loves helping Oklahomans wake up on weekday mornings while co-anchoring News 9 This Morning and News 9 at 9a. You can also catch Lacie’s Flavor of Oklahoma segments where she highlights restaurants and talented chefs in the Oklahoma City metro.