Okla. Admin. Code § 800:25-37-16
Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024
Section 800:25-37-16 - Feral swine night shooting exemptions 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. Okla. Admin. Code § 800:25-37-16
Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 34, Issue 24, September 1, 2017, eff. 9/11/2017Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 37, Issue 24, September 1, 2020, eff. 9/11/2020