Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 800 - Department of Wildlife Conservation › Chapter 25 - Wildlife Rules › Subchapter 37 - Nuisance Wildlife Control Program › Part 3 - WILDLIFE AND FERAL HOG NUISANCE AND DEPREDATION RULES › Section 800:25-37-16 - Feral swine night shooting exemptions

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
The following rules detail exemptions to shoot feral swine
					 at night under provisions of T29 4-135:
(1) Night Shooting exemptions will only be
				  issued to the deed-holding landowner or a written designee. Only one exemption
				  will be issued per property. The landowner or their written designee may obtain
				  an immediate exemption to night shoot by contacting their game warden in the
				  county in which their property is located. A game warden in an adjoining county
				  may also be contacted to immediately issue the exemption. If the landowner or
				  their written designee does not speak to the game warden by telephone, the
				  landowner or their written designee may leave a voice mail message, send a text
				  message or email to the game warden which will serve as sufficient means for an
				  immediate exemption to shoot feral swine at night. The Wildlife Department may
				  also create an electronic exemption issuance and notification system.
(2) If the initial contact is
				  through the game warden, then the game warden will be responsible for following
				  up with the requesting party to issue a night shooting exemption.
(3) Exemptions shall be valid for one year.
				  Exemptions shall contain the landowner's name, the name of the written designee
				  (if landowner designates someone in place of himself or herself) claiming the
				  exemption, the person's address, and contact information, plus either a legal
				  description or a listing of the landowner's acreage and location relative to
				  the nearest roadways (e.g.: 1/2 mile west of the intersection of Hwy 177 and
				  Tooley Rd; on the north side of the roadway; 280 acres). Persons shooting feral
				  swine on a night exemption may not shoot from, to, on or across any public
				  roadway. Anyone under age 18 is recommended to be immediately accompanied by an
				  adult.
(4) Exemptions may be
				  revoked for violations within the last three years of Title 800:25-37-16; Title
				  29 Section 5-411; Title 29 Section
				  5-203.1;
				  or municipal law violations (night shooting in a prohibited area).
(5) During the period outside of the regular
				  deer gun season - and in areas where firearms deer season(s) is/are not in
				  effect - the landowner or their written designee can allow anyone to night
				  shoot on the landowner's property by providing written or electronic
				  (text/email) permission. At least one person in the group must have a copy of
				  the landowner's or written designee's exemption (written or electronic copy).
				  Any person night shooting during this time period is encouraged to provide some
				  type of advance notification to the local game warden, but advanced
				  notification is not required.
(6)
				  During the regular deer gun season - only the landowner or their written
				  designee can night shoot on the property listed on their exemption, and he or
				  she is required to provide some type of advanced notification to the local game
				  warden. The advanced notification can be by text message, voice mail message,
				  email, or through an electronic notification system. Family members (parents,
				  children, grandchildren, sons-in-laws and daughters-in-laws) can assist an
				  exemption holder. At least one person in the group must have a copy of the
				  exemption while night shooting.
(7) Night vision equipment, including
				  image-enhancement technology and thermal imaging technology will be allowed, as
				  will infra-red or what are commonly called 'night scopes'. The use of a
				  hand-held or other powerful light (firearms mounted) shall be allowed and for
				  the purposes of night shooting feral swine, vehicle headlights and vehicle
				  mounted headlights will be allowed. Motor-driven land conveyances to pursue or
				  follow feral swine will be allowed.
(8) There are no firearm restrictions for
				  night shooting feral swine.
(9)
				  Persons controlling only feral swine shall be exempt from possessing the
				  hunting license and Fishing and Hunting Legacy permit.