Controlled Hunt Application Closes Soon
The controlled hunt application period is open April to May.
There are several categories available in the controlled hunt program.
- Deer
- Youth
- Turkey
- Antelope
- Elk
Hunters should be prepared when they apply for a controlled hunt. Hunters must have a valid hunting license and hunter education certification unless exempt. Successful applicants will receive notification by e-mail. Here you can pay for your hunt and print the specific hunt instructions and maps.
Point Guard
This option protects a winning hunter’s preference points and eligibility for Controlled Hunt drawings in future years in case the hunter cannot attend the hunt he or she wins. For example, a hunter submits applications for Controlled Hunts in the categories of Deer, Youth Deer, and Elk. The hunter pays $5 total to apply in all three categories. When applying, the hunter is offered the opportunity to buy PointGuard at a cost of $5 additional. The insurance will protect the hunter in the event he or she is drawn for a Controlled Hunt but ends up not attending the hunt. The insurance can be claimed anytime before midnight on the day before the winner’s scheduled hunt. It insures the hunter’s category preference points going forward that would have been forfeited because the hunter was selected and unable to attend. PointGuard also allows the hunter to remain eligible for future drawings for once-in-a-lifetime Controlled Hunts since the hunter wasn’t able to attend the current year’s hunt.
When hunters apply as a group, each hunter will be given the option to buy PointGuard individually; all group members are not required to choose the option. But those who do choose to buy PointGuard and end up missing the hunt will have their individual points protected for future drawings.
Preference Point Only
This option is for hunters who do not want to put their name in a hunt drawing but still want to obtain an additional preference point for future drawings. This option will only be available during the online Controlled Hunt application period from April 1 to May 20. To choose the PPO option, the hunter will apply for Controlled Hunts as he or she normally would for the standard $5 fee, but this year the hunter will have an option to select Preference Point Only in each category.
In lieu of the hunter’s name going into the drawings, the hunter will get one additional preference point in that hunt category, and all of their preference points will carry over for next year’s drawing. Hunters may purchase only one point per year per category. The PPO is designed for hunters who already know when they apply that they will not be able to attend hunts during certain times of the year if they are drawn for those hunts.
Controlled Hunt applications are submitted through a hunter’s personal account at GoOutdoorsOklahoma.com, the Wildlife Department’s online licensing and customer service site. During the application process, hunters will be asked whether they want to add either of these new options.