Oklahoma › Species › Sandhill Crane
Ducks, geese and sandhill cranes
Sandhill crane hunting in Oklahoma, 2026-27
The 2026-27 ODWC rules for sandhill cranes, with public land and computed legal light.
Photo: John Fowler (CC BY 2.0)
Sandhill Crane hunting at a glance
ODWC opens sandhill cranes on October 17, 2026 and the last crane window shuts on January 17, 2027, 1 segment in all. The ODWC limit summary for sandhill cranes reads: Three daily.
- Season shape (crane): Oct 17-Jan 17 west of I-35; federal crane permit; falconry Jan 18-31.
- Limit (crane): Three daily.
From ODWC season dates page, ODWC migratory bird regulations and 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations p. 44 (as of November 2, 2026), checked November 3, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Every crane season row
Every crane row below shares the same reach.
| Season | Zone | Bag | From | To | Days | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | West of I-35 | See limits | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | 93 | |
| Extended Falconry | West of I-35 | See limits | Jan 18, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | 14 |
Footnotes for sandhill cranes
- Federal sandhill crane permit required (free online, $3 from dealers); no state waterfowl license or duck stamp needed.
- Hawking hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
From ODWC regulation page, ODWC teal, geese and crane page and 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations p. 48, checked November 3, 2026.
The Oklahoma crane bag
Oklahoma sets the crane limit in these rows; season rows sometimes add a zone quota or a possession rule of their own.
| Row | Limit |
|---|---|
| Sandhill crane | 3 daily. |
| Migratory possession rule | One daily limit after one day hunted, two after two days, never more than three daily limits; field possession one daily limit. |
| Season, West of I-35 | Three daily; possession three daily limits. |
| Extended Falconry, West of I-35 | Three daily, nine in possession, migratory game birds singly or in aggregate. |
From ODWC teal, geese and crane page, ODWC migratory bird regulations and 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations p. 48, checked November 3, 2026.
Where sandhill cranes may be hunted in Oklahoma
Statewide except east of I-35 (closed). 40 counties lie wholly or partly west of I-35.
Sandhill Crane: county list
Alfalfa County, Beaver County, Beckham County, Blaine County, Caddo County, Canadian County, Carter County, Cimarron County, Cleveland County, Comanche County, Cotton County, Custer County, Dewey County, Ellis County, Garfield County, Garvin County, Grady County, Grant County, Greer County, Harmon County, Harper County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Kay County, Kingfisher County, Kiowa County, Logan County, Love County, Major County, McClain County, Murray County, Noble County, Oklahoma County, Roger Mills County, Stephens County, Texas County, Tillman County, Washita County, Woods County, Woodward County
The list includes every county the crane area touches, whole or in part.
From ODWC teal, geese and crane page, checked November 3, 2026.
Harvest figures for sandhill cranes
For sandhill cranes the harvest data gap is complete: no county table and no statewide survey row.
From 2025 Game Harvest Survey and ODWC Big Game Harvest Report, checked November 3, 2026.
Public land for sandhill cranes in Oklahoma
29 public places carry a crane season in their 2026-27 special regulations or species list; the biggest are below.
| Area | Type | Counties | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Plains NWR | Refuge | Alfalfa | 32,464 |
| Black Kettle WMA | WMA | Roger Mills | 30,710 |
| Packsaddle WMA | WMA | Ellis | 19,659 |
| Sandy Sanders WMA | WMA | Beckham, Greer +1 | 19,100 |
| Beaver River WMA | WMA | Beaver | 18,624 |
| Hal and Fern Cooper WMA | WMA | Harper, Woodward | 16,120 |
| Rita Blanca WMA | WMA | Cimarron | 15,575 |
| Canton WMA | WMA | Blaine, Dewey | 14,877 |
| Waurika WMA | WMA | Cotton, Jefferson +1 | 10,580 |
| Washita NWR | Refuge | Custer | 8,088 |
| Optima WMA | WMA | Texas | 8,062 |
| Hackberry Flat WMA | WMA | Tillman | 7,566 |
| Fort Supply WMA | WMA | Woodward | 5,462 |
| Drummond Flats WMA | WMA | Garfield | 5,122 |
| Beaver River WMA – McFarland Unit | WMA unit | Beaver | 5,110 |
From lands.json (ODWC area pages, special regulations, OLAP layer and federal rules), checked November 3, 2026.
How sandhill cranes may be taken
| Rule | Legal arms | Banned |
|---|---|---|
| Migratory birds | For sandhill cranes: Shotgun 10 ga or smaller holding 3 shells, archery, raptors; nontoxic shot for waterfowl and coots statewide and all shotgun hunting on WDUs and refuges. | Not for sandhill cranes: traps, nets, rifles, pistols, slugs, guns over 10 ga, sink boxes, vehicles/aircraft, moving motorboats, live decoys, recordings (except crow and COLGS), bait. |
- Baiting (crane): No turkey hunting within 100 yards of bait; no placing or hunting over bait on ODWC-owned or managed lands (incl. licensed Corps lands); no bear baiting on WMAs; federal migratory bird baiting rules (10-day rule). No general private-land deer baiting ban found.
- Motor vehicles (crane): No hunting or harassing wildlife from motor-driven land, air or water conveyances except non-ambulatory/motor vehicle permit holders (vehicle stopped, engine off); vehicles may follow dogs on public roads/waterways and on private land with permission.
- Possession and transfer (crane): Transfers need written/electronic statement with names, addresses, customer ID, date, number/type and harvest confirmation number; no payment; selling protected wildlife prohibited except as provided (hides, antlers of legally taken big game may be sold, antlers off the skull).
Drones may help recover a wounded crane on private land only after a game warden is notified; they are banned on ODWC lands.
From ODWC migratory bird regulations, ODWC turkey regulations and ODWC general hunting regulations, checked November 3, 2026.
Field rules for crane hunters
- Orange rule (crane): ODWC exempts waterfowl, crow, crane and dove hunters, so crane hunters may go without orange even during deer gun dates.
- Reporting sandhill cranes: Reporting for sandhill cranes works through the federal HIP survey rather than E-Check. HIP certification is required each license year.
- Sandhill Crane transfers: Give written or electronic transfer information (names, addresses, customer ID, date taken, number/type, confirmation number); no compensation.
From the ODWC big game regulations, ODWC general hunting regulations and the 2026-2027 regulations guide, checked November 3, 2026.
What crane hunters buy in Oklahoma
Residents 18+ and nonresidents 18+ need a hunting license unless exempt; youth 17 and under are exempt from the base license but need the Youth Annual Super license for deer, turkey, waterfowl, elk, bear, antelope, furbearers or trapping. Resident landowners/tenants hunting only their own (or agriculturally leased) land are exempt from the hunting license. Permanently disabled non-ambulatory residents are exempt. No license for feral hogs on private land (except big game licenses during big game firearm seasons).
| Name | Residency | Category | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Hunting | Resident | Age 18+ | $36 | 365 days |
| Youth Annual Super Hunting | Resident | Age 17 and under | $26 | 365 days |
| Harvest Information Program (HIP) Permit | Both | Migratory bird hunters 63 and younger (youth not hunting wat | $3 (free online) | July 1-June 30 |
| Federal Sandhill Crane Permit | Both | All crane hunters | $3 (free online) | July 1-June 30 |
From the ODWC license fee page and the ODWC license requirements, checked November 3, 2026.
Sandhill Crane shooting light on key dates
Legal light for sandhill cranes on key dates, in Central Time, for counties where the crane season applies.
Sandhill cranes, legal time: One-half hour before official sunrise to official sunset unless otherwise provided; COLGS extends to one-half hour after sunset; WDUs waterfowl close 1 p.m.
| Day | Marker | County | Town | Sun up | Sun down | Hunting window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 2026 | Opens | Cimarron County | Boise City area | 7:58 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Opens | Woodward County | Woodward area | 7:45 a.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Opens | Comanche County | Lawton area | 7:40 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Opens | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma City area | 7:37 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. |
| Jan 17, 2027 | Closing day | Cimarron County | Boise City area | 8:01 a.m. | 5:58 p.m. | 7:31 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. |
| Jan 17, 2027 | Closing day | Woodward County | Woodward area | 7:47 a.m. | 5:46 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. |
| Jan 17, 2027 | Closing day | Comanche County | Lawton area | 7:40 a.m. | 5:46 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. |
| Jan 17, 2027 | Closing day | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma City area | 7:38 a.m. | 5:40 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. |
Rules from the ODWC big game regulations and ODWC migratory bird regulations; sunrise and sunset worked out with the NOAA solar formula (Central Time); checked November 3, 2026. Legal hours for all 77 counties.
Three sandhill cranes walking on green grass beside a pond. Photo: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Two sandhill cranes flying with wings spread against white clouds. Photo: Larry Lamsa (CC BY 2.0)
Small flock of sandhill cranes flying across a blue sky. Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Sandhill Crane questions
What licenses apply to sandhill cranes?
Look at Annual Hunting (resident, $36); Youth Annual Super Hunting (resident, $26); Harvest Information Program (HIP) Permit (both, $3 (free online)); Federal Sandhill Crane Permit (both, $3 (free online)).
Which weapons may be used on sandhill cranes in Oklahoma?
The crane weapons rule allows shotgun 10 ga or smaller holding 3 shells, archery, raptors; nontoxic shot for waterfowl and coots statewide and all shotgun hunting on WDUs and refuges.
Can I hunt sandhill cranes at night in Oklahoma?
The crane rule on hours: One-half hour before official sunrise to official sunset unless otherwise provided; COLGS extends to one-half hour after sunset; WDUs waterfowl close 1 p.m.
Is there public land for crane hunting in Oklahoma?
29 public areas in this guide list sandhill cranes; the largest are Salt Plains NWR, Black Kettle WMA and Packsaddle WMA.
Do crane hunters need hunter orange in Oklahoma?
ODWC exempts waterfowl, crow, crane and dove hunters, so crane hunters may go without orange even during deer gun dates.
Is there a harvest report for sandhill cranes?
Reporting for sandhill cranes works through the federal HIP survey rather than E-Check. HIP certification is required each license year.
Can crane hunters go out on Sundays?
Yes; no Sunday restriction appears in the 2026-27 regulations or Title 29, so crane seasons run every day.
Is crane season open east of I-35?
Only west of I-35: the season touches 40 counties wholly or partly west of the interstate, and east of I-35 is closed.
Is a plugged shotgun required for sandhill cranes?
Shotgun 10 ga or smaller holding 3 shells, archery, raptors; nontoxic shot for waterfowl and coots statewide and all shotgun hunting on WDUs and refuges. Not legal: Traps, nets, rifles, pistols, slugs, guns over 10 ga, sink boxes, vehicles/aircraft, moving motorboats, live decoys, recordings (except crow and COLGS), bait.
When do sandhill cranes open and close in Oklahoma?
1 season row cover October 17, 2026 to January 17, 2027.
How many sandhill cranes may one hunter keep?
The crane limit reads: 3 daily. One daily limit after one day hunted, two after two days, never more than three daily limits; field possession one daily limit.
Other photos on this page: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0); Larry Lamsa (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).