Title 29, Game and Fish

"Processed paddlefish eggs" are any eggs taken from paddlefish that have gone through a process which makes the eggs into the product caviar or into a caviar-like product. Added by Laws 1998, c. 121, § 4, emerg. eff. April 15, 1998.

"Protected wildlife" is all wildlife which is accorded some measure of protection in the time or manner of taking other than restrictions in the use of artificial lights or poison. Laws 1974, c. 17, § 2-133, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974.

"Public road" means any governmental or corporate roadway where ingress and egress by vehicular traffic is not restricted and the roadway is routinely used by the general public. Added by Laws 1995, c. 199, § 1, emerg. eff. May 19, 1995.

"Threatened" refers to any wildlife species or subspecies in the wild or in captivity that, although not presently threatened with extinction, are in such small numbers throughout their range that they may become an endangered species within the foreseeable future or that they ma…

"Regulation" refers to an instrument which is legislative in nature, is of general effect, has statewide application, is either substantive or procedural, and which is promulgated pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act. Laws 1974, c. 17, § 2-136, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974;…

"Reservoir" is defined as a body of water formed by an impounding dam structure, the size of which shall be designated by the surface at water supply, conservation, designated or power pool elevation as indicated by the governing agency. Laws 1974, c. 17, § 2-137, emerg. eff. Apr…

"Resident" is any individual who has an established bona fide or actual residence in Oklahoma for a period of not less than sixty (60) consecutive days immediately preceding the date the application for a license, permit, stamp, or any other issue of the Department is submitted. …

"Safety zone" is only that water area below any dam for the distance of fifty (50) yards from the base of the dam; or, if there is a turbine outlet extending from the dam, then the area between the base of the dam and the furthermost point of the turbine outlet. In no instance sh…

"Sell or sale" is to exchange for consideration and includes barter, the offer to sell or possession with intent to sell. Laws 1974, c. 17, § 2-140, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974.

"Shall" is used in this Code as imposing an obligation to act. Laws 1974, c. 17, § 2-141, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974.

"Tailwater" is the first one thousand (1,000) feet of stream below the base of the reservoir dam. Laws 1974, c. 17, § 2-142, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974.

"Transport" is the carrying or moving by any means, causing to be carried or moved by any means, or accepting and receiving wildlife for such carrying or movement. Laws 1974, c. 17, § 2-143, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974.

"Trap" or "trapping" is the use of traps, nets, snares, deadfalls or other devices used for the purpose of killing, capturing, netting or ensnaring any wildlife. Laws 1974, c. 17, § 2-144, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974.

"Upland game" is all game that does not normally live near water, and includes only squirrels, rabbits, quail, pheasant, partridge, grouse, prairie chicken, wild turkey, deer, elk and antelope. Laws 1974, c. 17, § 2-145, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974.

"Vehicle mounted spotlight" is any light attached to a motor vehicle or water conveyance or of the type designed to be so attached. Laws 1974, c. 17, § 2-146, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974.

"Waters of this state" shall mean any river, stream, creek, bayou, oxbow and any impoundment constructed with public funds, provided, that impoundments constructed on private lands under the watershed protection and flood prevention programs of the U. S. Department of Agriculture…

"Wild" means any wildlife, whether or not raised in captivity, that normally are found in a state of nature. Laws 1991, c. 182, § 11, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.

"Wildlife" means all wild birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and other wild aquatic forms, and all other animals which normally can be found in the wild state, regardless of classification, whether resident, migratory or imported, protected or unprotected, dead or alive, …

A. There is hereby created a Department of Wildlife Conservation and a Wildlife Conservation Commission in and for the State of Oklahoma, under Section 1, Article XXVI, of the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma, and such Department shall be governed by the State Wildlife Conse…

A. The Commission shall consist of one member from each of eight districts of the state, such districts to include the areas as follows: District No. 1: Ottawa, Delaware, Craig, Mayes, Nowata, Rogers, Washington, Tulsa, Pawnee and Osage Counties. District No. 2: Adair, Sequoyah, …

A. The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission shall constitute an advisory, administrative and policymaking board for the protection, restoration, perpetuation, conservation, supervision, maintenance, enhancement, and management of wildlife in this state as provided in the Okl…

The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission may, by order, authorize the Department of Wildlife Conservation to issue, in addition to regular permits issued under this title, up to five special permits each year for designated species. The special permits, which may be co-brand…

A. The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Department of Wildlife Conservation shall not enter into or approve a setback or conservation easement that includes a setback related to energy or agricultural structures and regarding a threatened, endangered or candidate…

There is hereby created the office of Director of Wildlife Conservation, under Section 3, Article XXVI of the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma, to be appointed by a majority vote of the entire Commission, who shall be removed only for cause and after public hearing by the Co…

A. Immediately upon the appointment of the Director, he shall become vested with the duties and powers of the management and control of the Department under such provisions, orders, rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Commission, and in addition thereto shall have t…

A. All things being equal, veterans of World War II, the Korean, the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars shall be appointed as game wardens when vacancies occur. B. All persons appointed game wardens shall be peace officers and have the full powers of peace officers of the State of Okl…

A. No person shall represent himself to be an authorized agent of the Commission, the Department or the Director unless such person has been so appointed by written order of the Director or the Commission, which order shall specifically state the purpose and limits of authority t…

A. Oaths of office are required from the following and in the following order: 1. Each member of the Commission shall take the oath required of other state officers, under Section 36.2A of Title 51 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 2. Each game warden and any other employee the Commissio…

The Commission shall operate under the provisions of the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act in adopting, amending or repealing any rule or regulation. Laws 1974, c. 17, § 3-204, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974.

The jurisdiction for the commission of an offense of the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Code shall be in the county in which such offense occurred unless the wildlife offense is committed on the boundary of two or more counties, then the jurisdiction for the commission of an offe…

A game warden without warrant may arrest a person for any wildlife violation of which the arresting game warden or another peace officer or wildlife enforcement officer in communication with the arresting game warden has visual or electronic perception including perception by air…

A. All monies received from fines and forfeitures for violation of the Wildlife Conservation laws shall, when collected by the court clerk, be deposited by such clerk as follows: 1. Fifty percent (50%) thereof with the county treasurer to be credited to the general fund of the co…

A. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund to be known as the Wildlife Conservation Fund, which shall consist of all monies heretofore or hereafter appropriated to, on deposit in, or credited to the State Game and Fish Fund created by Section 115 of Title 2…

A. The Commission may acquire, by purchase, gift, grants, grant-in-aid from the federal government, or from any other source public or private, all property or money necessary, useful or convenient for its use in carrying out the objects and purposes of this Code. B. Any and all …

A. The Commission is hereby authorized to lease any lands owned by the State of Oklahoma under the control and management of said Commission under such terms and conditions as the Commission may prescribe and for the following purposes: 1. For grazing or agricultural purposes whe…

In order to equalize the expenditure of fees derived from the sale of lifetime licenses, the Department may invest such fees in any investment permitted by a written investment policy adopted by the Wildlife Conservation Commission; provided, all investments shall be made in acco…

A. There is hereby created an Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Department Retirement Fund for the purpose of providing revenues for any retirement plan adopted by the Commission for the employees of the Department. B. The method of calculation of benefits shall be the same for all …

The Commission is hereby empowered and authorized to provide worker's compensation insurance for the Director and all Department employees. Laws 1974, c. 17, § 3-307, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974.

The Department may offer and pay a standing reward in any amount not to exceed the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for the capture and conviction, or for evidence leading to the capture and conviction, of any person violating any of the wildlife conservation laws of this st…

In addition to any of the other benefits provided under the laws relating to the retirement and pension fund of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, a retired game warden shall be entitled to receive upon retirement, by reason of disability or after twenty (20) years' service…

A. The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall include on each state individual income tax return form for tax years beginning after December 31, 2001, and each state corporate tax return form for tax years beginning after December 31, 2001, an opportunity for the taxpayer to donate from a…

It is the intent of the Legislature to review the performance of the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Department of Wildlife Conservation in the utilization of the monies received pursuant to the provisions of Section 3-310 of this title. Added by Laws 1986, c. 2…

A. In order to encourage wildlife habitat conservation on private lands, the Department of Wildlife Conservation shall establish a program for wildlife habitat maintenance, enhancement, development, preservation, restoration, and management on private lands. To implement the prog…

There is hereby created within the Wildlife Conservation Fund an account designated as the "Law Enforcement Officer Training Account". The account shall consist of monies designated for deposit to the account by law. All monies accruing to the credit of said account shall be budg…

The Department of Wildlife Conservation may sell advertising in any Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission-approved publication, media production or other informational material produced by the Department. The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission shall promulgate rules es…

A. The Department of Wildlife Conservation may administer, either directly or through contract with nonprofit or charitable organizations, a program or programs for the distribution of lawfully harvested fish or game animals, or the meat from such fish or game animals, to charita…

A. All licenses and permits issued by the Director of Wildlife Conservation, the Department of Wildlife Conservation or by any of its agents shall be used only in conformity with the provisions of this title and the rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commissi…

A. No person may take for commercial purposes, by the use of nets, traps, seines and other similar devices, nongame fish from the waters of this state without having first procured a license for such from the Director. B. Prior to the issuance of each license, the applicant must …

A. Except as otherwise provided by subsection B of this section, no person may take for commercial purposes, by the use of nets, traps, seines and other similar devices, turtles from this state without having first procured a commercial turtle harvester license from the Director.…

A. No person may buy, transport out of state or export aquatic turtles from this state without having first procured a commercial turtle buyer's license from the Director. B. The fee for an annual license under this section shall be Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for residents and…