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Southeast Oklahoma county
Le Flore County Hunting
Hunting Le Flore County, Oklahoma: county deer numbers back to 1999, the 2026-27 season table, antlerless zone limits, bird rules, mapped public land and the ODWC region office that covers Poteau.
Photo: DoulosBen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Le Flore County antlerless zone and deer limits
The zone map carves Le Flore County into Zone 10 (about 83%) and Zone 4 (about 17%). Because the zone edges are roads drawn on an ODWC map image, treat the county shares here as a guide and confirm your stand on the map.
| Zone | Area share | ML antlerless | Rifle antlerless | Holiday deer | Archery deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 10 | 83% | 1 | 1 | Two | Either sex |
| Zone 4 | 17% | 2 | 2 | Two | Either sex |
Le Flore County deer season at a glance
| Season | First day | Last day | Deer allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | Either sex |
| Youth gun | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | Two, one antlered |
| Muzzleloader | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Zone limit applies |
| Gun | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | Zone limit applies |
| Holiday antlerless | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | Two antlerless |
Oklahoma caps each hunter at six deer for the license year, with a ceiling of two bucks. Antlered means three inches of antler or more on either side; button bucks below that are antlerless. Between December 18 and December 31 every zone opens a two-deer antlerless gun hunt that is separate from the season cap. Deer taken from January 1 to 15 still count against the 2026 limit. Buy early if you live out of state: deer licenses purchased after opening day are valid two days later.
Zones and limits from the ODWC deer season page and the ODWC antlerless deer zone map; county shares from the ODWC Deer Zones, Antlerless GIS layer traced over Census county lines; segment dates from the ODWC deer regulations and the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations. Checked November 3, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Le Flore County
Le Flore County deer, counted each fall
2,298 deer came off private and leased ground in Le Flore County in 2025, the 11th highest county count. About 1.9% of the 124,050 county-row deer were taken here. Set against 2024 (1,914 deer), the newest season moved 20% up.
2010 tops the county series at 2,890, while 1999 sits at the bottom with 866. Recent seasons (2016 onward, 10 with data) average near 2,224.
By method, 2025 split 610 archery, 569 muzzleloader and 1,119 gun deer; 45% were antlerless.
Recent Le Flore County deer by season type
| Season | Bow | Muzzleloader | Gun | Does | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 631 | 483 | 1,066 | 769 | 2,180 |
| 2017 | 516 | 553 | 917 | 613 | 1,986 |
| 2018 | 686 | 521 | 1,183 | 816 | 2,390 |
| 2019 | 488 | 569 | 792 | 645 | 1,849 |
| 2020 | 736 | 632 | 1,181 | 1,019 | 2,549 |
| 2021 | 773 | 445 | 1,080 | 1,047 | 2,298 |
| 2022 | 813 | 391 | 1,453 | 1,310 | 2,657 |
| 2023 | 571 | 499 | 1,052 | 970 | 2,122 |
| 2024 | 594 | 288 | 1,032 | 958 | 1,914 |
| 2025 | 610 | 569 | 1,119 | 1,042 | 2,298 |
Le Flore County before 2016:
- 1999866
- 20001,083
- 2001890
- 20031,233
- 20041,338
- 20052,002
- 20061,596
- 20071,308
- 20081,738
- 20091,882
- 20102,890
- 20112,722
- 20122,333
- 20131,532
- 20141,561
Deer checked on Le Flore County public areas
| Area | Fall 2024 | Fall 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Wister WMA | 143 | 159 |
| Wister Waterfowl Refuge Portion | 1 | — |
Beyond whitetails: Le Flore County big game numbers
| Species | Year | Year | Year | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears checked | 2022: 27 | 2024: 45 | 2025: 35 |
All of Oklahoma produced 133,791 deer in 2025, WMA and walk-in land included.
County deer by year from the ODWC Big Game Harvest Reports (report index; 2025 2025-26 report, 2024 2024-25 report, 2016-2023 tables such as 2019-20 Table 1, 1999-2011 county PDFs); public-area deer from the 2025-26 public land table; statewide totals from the 2025-26 Big Game Report. OCR years keep only rows whose columns sum to the printed total. Checked November 3, 2026.
Le Flore County 2026-27 hunting calendar
63 dated rows apply to Le Flore County once area-limited seasons are matched to the county; the right column checks each one against today.
| Animal | Season type | Where | Start | Finish | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Zone 10 | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Zone 10 | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Zone 10 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Zone 10 | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Holiday antlerless | Zone 10 | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Zone 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Zone 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Zone 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Zone 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Holiday antlerless | Zone 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Mule deer | All deer seasons | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Elk | Archery | Southeast elk zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Elk | Youth elk gun | Southeast elk zone | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | Southeast elk zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Elk | Gun | Southeast elk zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Elk | Holiday antlerless elk | Southeast elk zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Archery | Bear area | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | Bear area | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Archery | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring | Statewide | Apr 10, 2027 | Apr 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | Statewide | Apr 16, 2027 | May 16, 2027 | |
| Feral hogs | Private land | Private land | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Quail | Season | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Season | Statewide | May 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Doves | Segment 1 | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 | |
| Teal | September Teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Zones 1 and 2 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 7, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular segment 1 | Zones 1 and 2 | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular segment 2 | Zones 1 and 2 | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Zones 1 and 2 | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Canada geese | September Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 | |
| Dark geese | Segment 1 | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Dark geese | Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Specklebellies | Segment 1 | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Specklebellies | Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Segment 1 | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation order | Statewide | Feb 15, 2027 | Mar 30, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| Coyote | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Prairie dog | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Beaver | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Nutria | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Striped skunk | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Bullfrogs | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Rails | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinules | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Season | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Crows | Segment 1 | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | |
| River otter | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Badger | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Mink | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Muskrat | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Crows | Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Mar 4, 2027 | |
| Rattlesnakes | Season | Statewide | Mar 1, 2027 | Jun 30, 2027 |
From the ODWC hunting regulations and the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation), checked November 3, 2026.
Elk, bear and CWD notes for Le Flore County
Where Le Flore County fits for elk
For elk, ODWC places Le Flore County in the Southeast Zone, a private-land-only zone that needs written permission from the owner. The elk quota set for 2026-27 reads Southeast Zone 5; elk must be reported through E-Check within 24 hours.
Le Flore County black bear outlook
All of Le Flore County lies in the southeast bear area. The 2026-27 bear calendar: archery October 1 to October 18, 2026, muzzleloader October 24 to November 1, 2026; the old muzzleloader quota is gone. Check-in is in person with ODWC bear staff, and WMAs are closed to bear baiting. The county bear count reads 27 for 2022, 45 for 2024 and 35 for 2025.
No CWD Selective Surveillance Area reaches Le Flore County, so the on-site processing rule does not apply, but the statewide ban on importing whole cervid carcasses does.
Elk zones and quotas from the ODWC elk regulations; bear area from the ODWC bear page; pronghorn from the ODWC antelope page; CWD areas and rules from the ODWC SSA page and ODWC CWD page; harvest figures from the ODWC Big Game Harvest Reports. Checked November 3, 2026.
Le Flore County bird calendar by zone
Le Flore County fall and spring turkey
ODWC closes Le Flore County to fall gun turkey, though archers may take a fall tom October 1 to January 15, 2027. Youth spring turkey falls on April 10 to April 11, 2027, and the regular spring season follows April 16 to May 16, 2027. Feeders and scattered grain put a 100-yard no-turkey circle around them. There is no county turkey figure for Le Flore County: the only number is the statewide 2025 survey estimate of 11,232 spring turkeys.
Le Flore County upland dates
Le Flore County has no open pheasant season. Quail hunters in Le Flore County work the statewide dates, November 14 to February 15, 2027. Bird hunters on OLAP tracts must quit at 4:30 p.m.
Le Flore County duck hunting
Le Flore County falls in duck Zones 1 and 2, which share every 2026-27 date, so no zone line matters here. Hunters on Wister Waterfowl Refuge Portion and Wister WMA should know the 1 p.m. close on Wetland Development Units and the winter closure of refuge portions. No crane or jackrabbit season reaches Le Flore County, which sits east of I-35.
| Period | Days |
|---|---|
| Regular segment 1 | Nov 14–Dec 6 |
| Regular segment 2 | Dec 12–Jan 31 |
| Youth and veteran day | Nov 7 |
| Youth and veteran day | Feb 6 |
Turkey rules from the 2026-2027 regulations, fall turkey and ODWC turkey regulations; statewide turkey estimate from the 2025 Game Harvest Survey; pheasant from the ODWC pheasant page; ducks from the ODWC duck page; cranes from the ODWC crane page. Checked November 3, 2026.
Open hunting ground in Le Flore County
Le Flore County counts 8 public hunting areas on our Oklahoma list; Ouachita Wildlife Management Area covers the most ground (354,559 acres). Roughly 261,645 acres (25.7%) of the county are public on the layers used. State parks and military land are excluded from the public figure.
| Area | Program | Acres | Game | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouachita WMA | WMA | 354,559 | bear, deer, doves | nonresident check-in |
| Ouachita WMA – Le Flore Unit | WMA unit | 221,559 | bear, deer, doves | nonresident check-in |
| Ouachita National Forest – Choctaw Ranger District | Ranger district | 111,026 | — | — |
| Ouachita National Forest – Kiamichi Ranger District | Ranger district | 110,135 | — | — |
| Wister WMA | WMA | 35,500 | bear, deer, doves | wetland units, nonresident check-in |
| Wister Waterfowl Refuge Portion | Waterfowl refuge portion | 1,000 | bear, deer, doves | wetland units, nonresident check-in |
| Robert S. Kerr Reservoir (Corps) | Corps lake | — | — | — |
| Wister Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | — | — | — |
Le Flore County headline public tracts
- With 354,559 acres on the books, Ouachita WMA is the largest block for Le Flore County hunters, and McCurtain County share it. Quarry named for it: bear, deer, doves and turkey. Also flagged: nonresident check-in.
- Acreage for Ouachita WMA – Le Flore Unit: 221,559; all of it is in Le Flore County. Game on the area list: bear, deer, doves and turkey. Notes on the record: nonresident check-in. ODWC lists (918) 527-9918 as the hunting line.
- Ouachita National Forest – Choctaw Ranger District shows up on our list as a ranger district measured at 111,026 acres.
- Ouachita National Forest – Kiamichi Ranger District is listed as a ranger district of about 110,135 acres.
National forest ground: Ouachita National Forest (Oklahoma)
Le Flore County backup areas beyond the county
- Sans Bois WMA20 miles straight-line, 7,602 acres in Haskell County
- Yourman WMA33 miles straight-line, 2,860 acres in Latimer County
- Robbers Cave WMA36 miles straight-line, 6,180 acres in Latimer County
- Robbers Cave WMA – Portion A36 miles straight-line, 610 acres in Latimer County
- Robbers Cave WMA – Portion B36 miles straight-line, 5,570 acres in Latimer County
- Three Rivers WMA36 miles straight-line, 185,199 acres in McCurtain County and Pushmataha County
Areas from our Oklahoma land list (ODWC where to hunt area pages, the ODWC OLAP rules and OLAP layer, USFS, USFWS, Corps and NPS records); acres by kind from the ODWC Public WMA Boundaries layer, USFS, USFWS, USACE Tulsa District and PAD-US layers (GIS measures, not official acreages, lake surfaces removed). Checked November 3, 2026.
Listings tied to Le Flore County
Within the county line: 1 upcoming listing (field trial stake), checked November 3, 2026.
Next on the list
| Held | Event | Where held | Action | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | Westark Field Trial Club 2026 · field trial stake in Poteau | Poteau: Poteau Field Trial Grounds | Event details | Source |
Le Flore County supervisors, wardens and stores
Le Flore County belongs to the ODWC Southeast Region, whose wildlife supervisor is Eric Suttles ((580) 421-7226). Captain Todd Tobey heads District 3, the game warden district covering Le Flore County. Commission district: District 3. Of the six public ODWC offices, the Wilburton one is closest to Le Flore County, near 34 miles as the crow flies. No cash at ODWC field offices; ring before you go.
Le Flore County communities
Le Flore County lists 17 towns or cities with their own government and 3 unincorporated places. Le Flore County centres of population: Poteau (9,111), Pocola (4,588) and Heavener (3,057). Le Flore County counted 49,854 people in the Vintage 2024 estimate, 3.6% up on 2020.
- Poteaupop. 9,111 · seat
- Talihinapop. 932
- Fanshawepop. 316
- HodgenCDP
- WhitesboroCDP
Le Flore County processors, taxidermists and shops
Le Flore County listings: 2 game processors, 2 taxidermists and 1 commercial hunting area or guide. For gun and outdoor shops, look across the line. The ODWC processor list supplies the tagged processors, some of them Hunters Against Hunger participants; other rows come from business directories.
Le Flore County adjoining counties
| County | Antlerless zone | Elk zone | Fall gun turkey | Ducks | Deer 2025 | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latimer County | 10 | Southeast | Closed | Zones 1 and 2 | 1,153 | 33 miles |
| Haskell County | 4/10 | Southeast | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 1,750 | 33 miles |
| Sequoyah County | 4 | Northeast/Southeast | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 2,143 | 42 miles |
| McCurtain County | 10 | Southeast | Closed | Zones 1 and 2 | 3,172 | 54 miles |
| Pushmataha County | 10 | Southeast | Closed | Zones 1 and 2 | 2,049 | 54 miles |
Region, supervisor and commission district from the ODWC wildlife region layer and commission district layer; warden district and captain from the ODWC game warden directory; offices from the ODWC office list; towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; services from the ODWC game processor list, ODWC commercial hunt list, store locators and Yellow Pages as tagged; neighbours from the Census county adjacency file. Checked November 3, 2026.
Sighting in a deer rifle around Le Flore County
Le Flore County lists 2 ranges, all clubs, shops or private grounds.
James Collins WMA Rifle Range in Pittsburg County is the nearest state-run range, roughly 46 miles. Open it
Ranges from ODWC’s WMA shooting range list and WMA pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 3, 2026.
Le Flore County legal light
Deer, elk, pronghorn, bear and hogs may be hunted from half an hour before official sunrise to half an hour after official sunset; turkey and migratory birds stop at sunset.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Ducks | Quail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:12 a.m. | 7:04 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 7:31 a.m. | 6:34 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. | 7:31 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 6:59 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Gun deer closes | 7:12 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:22 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery closes | 7:26 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. |
| Apr 16, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:47 a.m. | 7:51 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 8:21 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:51 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 7:51 p.m. |
Hours rules from the ODWC big game regulations and the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Central Time); checked November 3, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Le Flore County questions we hear
What share of Le Flore County is public land?
Near 25.7% of its land, going by the GIS layers.
What time do OLAP tracts close for quail in Le Flore County?
4:30 p.m.
Do archers in Le Flore County wear orange during gun season?
Yes, an orange head covering or upper garment.
Who is the game warden captain for Le Flore County?
Todd Tobey, District 3, (580) 513-2305.
Which antlerless deer zone covers Le Flore County?
Zone 10 and Zone 4 by the ODWC zone layer; the boundary follows roads, so check the ODWC map near a line.
Which deer processors are closest to Le Flore County?
Weaver's Meat Market, See's Custom Meats and White's Deer Processing, nearest first; call before you drop off a deer.
Is elk hunting legal anywhere in Le Flore County?
Yes, on private land with written permission, in the Southeast Zone.
Which years are missing from the Le Flore County deer chart?
The 2002 and 2015 county tables are not published in readable form; other gaps are marked on the chart.
When is youth spring turkey in Le Flore County?
April 10 to April 11, 2027.
Has a wild deer from Le Flore County tested positive for CWD?
Not in wild deer, by ODWC records; wild cases are in Texas, Woodward and Cimarron.
Answers from the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations, ODWC hunting regulations, the ODWC hunter orange rule, E-Check rules, ODWC seasons, the ODWC Big Game Harvest Reports and the sources above. Checked November 3, 2026.
Le Flore County last checks before the truck is loaded
Near an antlerless zone road in Le Flore County, the ODWC map decides which limit applies.
Sources: 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations, ODWC hunting, Census and the sources in each section. Checked November 3, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Shiva Shenoy (CC BY 2.0).