Home › Oklahoma › Counties › Pottawatomie County
2026-27 county guide
Pottawatomie County Hunting
Pottawatomie County at a glance: Zone 5 and Zone 6 for antlerless deer, elk Northeast Zone and Southeast Zone, fall gun turkey open, waterfowl dates, public acres and local processors, all checked against ODWC sources.
Photo: Brad Holt (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Pottawatomie County deer zone, dates and bag
Two or more antlerless zones meet inside Pottawatomie County, roughly Zone 5 (about 70%) and Zone 6 (about 30%). ODWC draws every antlerless zone along roads and publishes no written boundary, so the agency map is the final word near a line.
| Antlerless zone | County share | Muzzleloader antlerless | Gun antlerless | Holiday hunt | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5 | 70% | 2 | 2 | Two | Either sex |
| Zone 6 | 30% | 2 | 2 | Two | Either sex |
Pottawatomie County under the statewide deer dates
| Segment | Opens | Closes | Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
The combined statewide cap is six deer per hunter, two of which at most can be antlered. ODWC treats any deer with three inches or more of antler as antlered, does included. Two bonus antlerless deer come with the December holiday hunt (December 18 through December 31) and do not count toward the combined limit. Bow deer taken between New Year and January 15 go on the 2026 tag count. Out-of-state hunters face a two-day wait on deer licenses bought after an opener.
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.
Pottawatomie County deer harvest since 1999
The 2025-26 Big Game Report credits Pottawatomie County with 2,590 deer, which ranks it 8th in Oklahoma. Out of 124,050 deer listed by county (WMA deer excluded), about 2.1% are from Pottawatomie County. In 2024 the total was 2,518 deer; the change to 2025 is +3%.
The busiest season in the record was 2025 (2,590 deer); the slowest was 1999 with 839. Averaged across 10 recent report years, Pottawatomie County gives up about 2,209 deer each fall.
Gun hunters accounted for 1,519 of the 2025 deer, bowhunters 786 and muzzleloader hunters 285, with 1,164 antlerless in all.
Pottawatomie County method table since 2016
| Season | Archery | Muzzleloader | Gun | Antlerless share | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 388 | 214 | 922 | 520 | 1,524 |
| 2017 | 639 | 240 | 1,219 | 772 | 2,098 |
| 2018 | 445 | 269 | 947 | 571 | 1,661 |
| 2019 | 705 | 317 | 1,095 | 803 | 2,117 |
| 2020 | 589 | 314 | 1,198 | 914 | 2,101 |
| 2021 | 836 | 269 | 1,447 | 1,027 | 2,552 |
| 2022 | 779 | 215 | 1,408 | 1,041 | 2,402 |
| 2023 | 734 | 286 | 1,506 | 1,172 | 2,526 |
| 2024 | 831 | 198 | 1,489 | 1,193 | 2,518 |
| 2025 | 786 | 285 | 1,519 | 1,164 | 2,590 |
Earlier seasons in Pottawatomie County:
- 1999839
- 20001,103
- 20011,211
- 20031,195
- 20041,045
- 20051,121
- 20061,484
- 20071,029
- 20081,377
- 20091,390
- 20101,301
- 20111,468
- 20121,627
- 20131,240
- 20141,166
ODWC put the 2025 statewide harvest at 133,791 deer.
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.
Pottawatomie County dates for deer, birds and small game
ODWC regulation pages supply all 63 Pottawatomie County rows, sorted by species and then by opening day.
| Quarry | Segment | Zone or area | Begins | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Northeast elk zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Elk | Youth elk gun | Northeast elk zone | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | Northeast elk zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Elk | Gun | Northeast elk zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Elk | Holiday antlerless elk | Northeast elk zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth fall turkey | Open counties | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Gun | Open counties | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 20, 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.
Pottawatomie County big game beyond whitetails
Elk rules for Pottawatomie County
Elk in Pottawatomie County are managed under the Northeast Zone and Southeast Zone, private land only, by written permission. Quotas this season are Northeast Zone 20 and Southeast Zone 5, and a zone shuts when the quota fills, so confirm it is still open before going out.
Pottawatomie County has no CWD surveillance area of its own, though the statewide limit on importing cervid carcasses still applies.
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.
Birds in Pottawatomie County
Pottawatomie County gobbler dates
Shotgun hunters get a fall turkey window in Pottawatomie County (October 31 to November 20, 2026), and archers have October 1 to January 15, 2027. The spring season runs April 16 to May 16, 2027, with youth hunters out first on April 10 to April 11, 2027. Hunting turkeys within 100 yards of bait is illegal, though normal crops do not count. ODWC publishes no turkey harvest by county; its 2025 survey estimated 11,232 spring birds statewide (95% range 9,160 to 13,305).
Pottawatomie County quail and rooster rules
Pheasants cannot be hunted in Pottawatomie County; the season is limited to the northwest. Bobwhite and scaled quail are open November 14 to February 15, 2027, 10 a day. Walk-in OLAP land stops upland hunting at 4:30 p.m.
Pottawatomie County waterfowl rules
The Zones 1 and 2 duck dates apply in Pottawatomie County; the two zones run one calendar. Pottawatomie County lies east of I-35, where sandhill crane and jackrabbit hunting are closed.
| Hunt | Dates |
|---|---|
| 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.
Pottawatomie County public ground, area by area
Inside Pottawatomie County there is no WMA or federal hunting area; look to the nearby list. ODWC and federal layers show 4 public acres, about 0.0% of Pottawatomie County.
Pottawatomie County OLAP land
1 OLAP tract (80 acres) give Pottawatomie County hunters private land open on foot. Walk-in tracts are archery and shotgun only (no rifles or muzzleloaders), and most adults need the Land Access Permit ($100 resident / $200 nonresident).
Pottawatomie County drive-to areas next door
- Lexington WMAabout 18 miles off, in Cleveland County (9,512 ac)
- Arcadia Conservation Education Areaabout 37 miles off, in Oklahoma County (475 ac)
- Deep Fork WMAabout 41 miles off, in Creek County and Okfuskee County (12,820 ac)
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.
Dates on the books in Pottawatomie County
Booked inside the county: 1 upcoming listing, namely NWTF banquet.
Still on the calendar
| Days | What | Place | Go | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6, 2027 | Twin Lakes Gobblers Annual Banquet · NWTF banquet in Shawnee | Shawnee | Buy tickets | Source |
Pottawatomie County wardens, offices and businesses
Pottawatomie County hunters reach the Central Region supervisor, Jeff Pennington, at (405) 650-0149. Law enforcement for Pottawatomie County sits in District 5, led by captain Gary Emmons. The Wildlife Conservation Commission seat for Pottawatomie County is District 4. Pottawatomie County hunters who need an ODWC counter in person head to Oklahoma City, about 36 miles off. Field offices ask you to call ahead and pay without cash.
Pottawatomie County base towns
Pottawatomie County reports 14 municipalities and 1 census-designated places to the Census Bureau. Pottawatomie County biggest communities are Shawnee (32,092), Tecumseh (6,370) and McLoud (4,519). Pottawatomie County density works out near 94 people per square mile (74,446 in 2024).
- Shawneepop. 32,092 · seat
Pottawatomie County shops and lockers
Pottawatomie County directory count: 2 game processors, 2 taxidermists, 5 gun and outdoor shops and 1 commercial hunting area or guide. Rows tagged ODWC come from the ODWC game processor and commercial hunting area lists; Hunters Against Hunger marks processors that take donated deer for food banks.
Pottawatomie County next-door rules at a glance
| County | Zone | Elk zone | Fall gun turkey | Duck zone | Deer checked | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seminole County | 5 | Northeast/Southeast | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 2,089 | 20 miles |
| Cleveland County | 6 | Southeast/Southwest | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 1,545 | 21 miles |
| McClain County | 6 | Southeast/Southwest | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 1,250 | 31 miles |
| Lincoln County | 5/6 | Northeast | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 2,856 | 34 miles |
| Oklahoma County | 6 | Northwest/Northeast/Southeast/Southwest | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 1,772 | 35 miles |
| Pontotoc County | 6/9/5 | Southeast | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 2,258 | 37 miles |
| Okfuskee County | 5 | Northeast | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 1,329 | 40 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.
Gun clubs and lanes around Pottawatomie County
3 ranges in Pottawatomie County are on file.
Cleveland County has the WMA range closest to Pottawatomie County: Lexington WMA Shooting Range, 17 miles off. See the range
Dates in this county
| Day and event | Discipline | Enter |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2026 | Class | Reserve |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Charity clays | Calendar |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Class | Reserve |
| Nov 8, 2026 | Class | Reserve |
| Dec 19-20, 2026 | Gun show | Calendar |
| Feb 5-7, 2027 | Gun show | Calendar |
Ranges from ODWC’s WMA shooting range list and WMA pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 3, 2026.
Legal hunting times, Pottawatomie County
Squirrel, rabbit and prairie dog hours run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset in Pottawatomie County.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Birds | Upland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:21 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 7:41 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | 7:41 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 7:08 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Gun deer closes | 7:22 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:32 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 7:32 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery closes | 7:36 a.m. | 5:37 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 6:07 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 7:36 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. |
| Apr 16, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:56 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 8:00 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.
Pottawatomie County FAQ
Are suppressors legal for deer in Pottawatomie County?
Yes, suppressors are legal for deer.
Where might a Pottawatomie County hunter drop off a deer?
Westervelt Wild Game Processing heads the distance list.
Do antlerless zone lines follow the Pottawatomie County county line?
No. ODWC draws them along highways and publishes them only as a map.
How many deer does Pottawatomie County average each year?
About 2,209 a season since 2016.
Are elk seasons in Pottawatomie County the same as deer dates?
Yes, elk segments follow the statewide deer windows in this zone.
Does Pottawatomie County have a bear quota this year?
Bear hunting is closed in this county.
Is fall gun turkey open in Pottawatomie County?
Open, October 31 to November 20, 2026.
Are jackrabbits legal game in Pottawatomie County?
No; jackrabbits are closed east of I-35.
Which public area in Pottawatomie County is largest?
Our list has no area with published acres inside the county line.
Where can Pottawatomie County hunters buy a license?
Through Go Outdoors Oklahoma, online or in the app, or from license vendors.
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.
Pottawatomie County season reminders
Tag each deer or turkey in the field and E-Check it within 24 hours of leaving the hunt area.
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: born1945 (CC BY 2.0).