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2026-27 county guide
Stephens County Hunting
Stephens County at a glance: Zone 9, Zone 8 and Zone 6 for antlerless deer, elk Southwest Zone, fall gun turkey open, waterfowl dates, public acres and local processors, all checked against ODWC sources.
Photo: Duane Bryce (CC BY 2.0)
Stephens County deer zone, dates and bag
Two or more antlerless zones meet inside Stephens County, roughly Zone 9 (about 62%), Zone 8 (about 30%) and Zone 6 (about 8%). 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 9 | 62% | 2 | 2 | Two | Either sex |
| Zone 8 | 30% | 4 | 4 | Two | Either sex |
| Zone 6 | 8% | 2 | 2 | Two | Either sex |
Stephens 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.
Stephens County deer harvest since 1999
The 2025-26 Big Game Report credits Stephens County with 1,835 deer, which ranks it 26th in Oklahoma. Out of 124,050 deer listed by county (WMA deer excluded), about 1.5% are from Stephens County. In 2024 the total was 1,645 deer; the change to 2025 is +12%.
The busiest season in the record was 2025 (1,835 deer); the slowest was 1999 with 570. Averaged across 10 recent report years, Stephens County gives up about 1,433 deer each fall.
Gun hunters accounted for 1,031 of the 2025 deer, bowhunters 676 and muzzleloader hunters 128, with 761 antlerless in all.
Stephens County method table since 2016
| Season | Archery | Muzzleloader | Gun | Antlerless share | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 216 | 64 | 582 | 247 | 862 |
| 2017 | 304 | 143 | 776 | 390 | 1,223 |
| 2018 | 323 | 124 | 778 | 396 | 1,225 |
| 2019 | 266 | 142 | 625 | 301 | 1,033 |
| 2020 | 486 | 154 | 1,001 | 612 | 1,641 |
| 2021 | 512 | 117 | 952 | 584 | 1,581 |
| 2022 | 508 | 127 | 1,115 | 797 | 1,750 |
| 2023 | 469 | 148 | 920 | 571 | 1,537 |
| 2024 | 545 | 77 | 1,023 | 720 | 1,645 |
| 2025 | 676 | 128 | 1,031 | 761 | 1,835 |
Earlier seasons in Stephens County:
- 1999570
- 2000892
- 2001792
- 2003989
- 2004731
- 2005782
- 20061,005
- 2007784
- 2008945
- 20091,198
- 20101,034
- 2011993
- 2012882
- 2013934
- 2014965
Stephens County WMA and lake deer counts
| Public area | 2024 deer | 2025 deer |
|---|---|---|
| Waurika WMA | 122 | 115 |
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.
Stephens County dates for deer, birds and small game
ODWC regulation pages supply all 65 Stephens County rows, sorted by species and then by opening day.
| Quarry | Segment | Zone or area | Begins | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Zone 2, 7, 8 | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Zone 2, 7, 8 | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Zone 2, 7, 8 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Zone 2, 7, 8 | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Holiday antlerless | Zone 2, 7, 8 | 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 | Southwest elk zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Elk | Youth elk gun | Southwest elk zone | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | Southwest elk zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Elk | Gun | Southwest elk zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Elk | Holiday antlerless elk | Southwest 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 | |
| Jackrabbit | Season | West of I-35 | 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 | |
| Sandhill crane | Season | West of I-35 | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 17, 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.
Stephens County big game beyond whitetails
Elk rules for Stephens County
The Southwest Zone takes in Stephens County; elk may be hunted there on private ground with written permission and nowhere else outside controlled hunts. Quotas this season are Southwest Zone 30, and a zone shuts when the quota fills, so confirm it is still open before going out.
Stephens 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 Stephens County
Stephens County gobbler dates
Shotgun hunters get a fall turkey window in Stephens 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).
Stephens County quail and rooster rules
Pheasants cannot be hunted in Stephens 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.
Stephens County waterfowl rules
The Zones 1 and 2 duck dates apply in Stephens County; the two zones run one calendar. Waterfowl units in Stephens County (Waurika WMA) stop at 1 p.m., and refuge portions are closed October 15 to January 31 except to controlled hunts. Stephens County is crane and jackrabbit country west of I-35: cranes October 17 to January 17, 2027, jackrabbits October 1 to March 15, 2027.
| 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.
Stephens County public ground, area by area
Hunters in Stephens County can choose from 2 listed areas, with Waurika Wildlife Management Area the largest at 10,580 acres. ODWC and federal layers show 2,467 public acres, about 0.4% of Stephens County.
| Name | Kind | Acres | Species | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waurika WMA | WMA | 10,580 | deer, doves, woodcock | wetland units, nonresident check-in |
| Waurika Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | — | — | controlled hunts |
Stephens County areas ranked by acreage
- Waurika WMA (WMA, 10,580 acres) stretches over the line into Cotton County and Jefferson County. The area supports deer, doves, woodcock and rabbits by the ODWC listing. Notes on the record: wetland units, nonresident check-in, non-ambulatory access. ODWC lists (580) 595-0347 as the hunting line.
- Waurika Lake (Corps) shows up on our list as a corps lake that spills into Jefferson County and Cotton County. Listed extras: controlled hunts. Acreage is not published; the Tulsa District hunting page could not be read. The 2025 controlled hunt list shows 1 hunt there.
Stephens County drive-to areas next door
- Grady County WMAabout 20 miles off, in Grady County (1,037 ac)
- Lake Jap Beaver (Department Lake)about 24 miles off, in Jefferson County (208 ac)
- Lake Burtschi (Department Lake)about 36 miles off, in Grady County (762 ac)
- Cross Timbers WMAabout 43 miles off, in Love County (10,547 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 Stephens County
Booked inside the county: 2 upcoming listings, namely NWTF banquet.
Still on the calendar
| Date | Event | Location | Sign-up or details | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15, 2027 | Oklahoma Big Buck Contest NWTF Banquet | Marlow | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 8, 2027 | Chisholm Trail Strutters Banquet · NWTF banquet in Duncan | Duncan | Buy tickets | Source |
Stephens County wardens, offices and businesses
Stephens County hunters reach the Southwest Region supervisor, Ron Smith, at (580) 591-2397. Law enforcement for Stephens County sits in District 6, led by captain Mark Walker. The Wildlife Conservation Commission seat for Stephens County is District 6. Stephens County hunters who need an ODWC counter in person head to Lawton, about 40 miles off. Field offices ask you to call ahead and pay without cash.
Stephens County base towns
Stephens County reports 8 municipalities and 1 census-designated places to the Census Bureau. Stephens County biggest communities are Duncan (23,174), Marlow (4,505) and Comanche (1,397). Stephens County density works out near 51 people per square mile (44,075 in 2024).
- Duncanpop. 23,174 · seat
Stephens County shops and lockers
Stephens County directory count: 3 game processors and 7 gun and outdoor shops. We found no taxidermists and commercial hunting areas and guides in the county; nearby counties fill the gap. 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.
Stephens County next-door rules at a glance
| County | Zone | Elk zone | Fall gun turkey | Duck zone | Deer checked | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 9/8 | Southwest | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 1,149 | 26 miles |
| Cotton County | 8 | Southwest | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 601 | 32 miles |
| Garvin County | 6/9 | Southeast/Southwest | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 2,123 | 35 miles |
| Carter County | 9/6 | Southwest/Special Southeast | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 2,165 | 36 miles |
| Grady County | 6/8 | Southwest | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 2,355 | 37 miles |
| Comanche County | 8 | Special Southwest | Open | Zones 1 and 2 | 910 | 37 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 Stephens County
3 ranges in Stephens County are on file.
Cleveland County has the WMA range closest to Stephens County: Lexington WMA Shooting Range, 55 miles off. See the range
Dates in this county
Ranges from ODWC’s WMA shooting range list and WMA pages, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 3, 2026.
First and last shooting light, Stephens County
Squirrel, rabbit and prairie dog hours run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset in Stephens County.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Birds | Upland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:25 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 7:43 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. | 7:43 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 7:10 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Gun deer closes | 7:24 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:34 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery closes | 7:38 a.m. | 5:43 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 6:13 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 7:38 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. |
| Apr 16, 2027 | Spring turkey | 7:00 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 8:33 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 8:03 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 8:03 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.
Stephens County FAQ
Do turkeys from Stephens County need E-Check?
Yes, within 24 hours of leaving the hunt area.
When do regular duck dates start in Stephens County?
November 14, 2026.
How much public hunting land lies in Stephens County?
About 2,467 acres by GIS, across 2 listed areas.
What number reaches the Stephens County region supervisor?
(580) 591-2397.
How much orange must a Stephens County deer hunter wear?
400 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange on head and upper body during firearm big game seasons.
Where might a Stephens County hunter drop off a deer?
Ed's Deer Processing heads the distance list.
Do antlerless zone lines follow the Stephens County county line?
No. ODWC draws them along highways and publishes them only as a map.
What share of Stephens County deer are antlerless?
41% in 2025.
What is the elk quota for Stephens County?
Southwest Zone: 30.
Must a Stephens County deer be processed before moving it?
Only inside a CWD SSA, and none is in the county.
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.
Stephens 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: hedera.baltica (CC BY-SA 2.0).