Oklahoma youth, 17 and younger, who want to go deer hunting can take to the woods this coming Friday through Sunday for the 2018 Oklahoma Youth Deer Gun Season.

This season is designed to allow youths the first opportunity of the fall to harvest deer with modern firearms. Deer archery season has been open since Oct. 1, and Deer Muzzleloader Season will open Oct. 27.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Department's 2017-18 Big Game Report, published in the October/November issue of Outdoor Oklahoma magazine, 3,867 harvested deer were reported via E-Check for last year’s three-day season.

Dallas Barber, big game biologist for the ODWC, reported in an article in Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine that good habitat conditions should contribute to overall success. A mild summer has yielded some fantastic habitat across much of the state. Key in on stands of mast producing oak trees as the acorns are starting to drop. Take advantage of harvesting a buck while the deer are still in their daily movement patterns. Travel corridors between bedding areas and newly planted agriculture are a great place to start your hunt.

For complete information and license requirements, consult the current Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing Regulations Guide found online at wildlifedepartment.com, in the free OK Hunting and Fishing mobile app for Apple or Android users, or in print across the state wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

Photo courtesy wildlifedepartment.com