Oklahoma › Species › American Crow
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American crow hunting in Oklahoma, 2026-27
Seasons, bag limits, license prices and where to hunt crows in 2026-27.
Photo: Billy Hathorn (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Oklahoma american crow rules this season
The 2026-27 calendar for crows in Oklahoma reaches from October 10, 2026 to March 4, 2027, split into 2 dated rows on the ODWC pages. ODWC limit line for this crow: No limit.
- Methods and dates (crow): Oct 10-Nov 16 and Dec 9-Mar 4; electronic calls legal.
- Bag (crow): No limit.
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 crow season row
No zone splits the crow season; the 2 rows below share one area.
| Hunt | Applies to | Limit | Start | End | Days | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Statewide | Bag details | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | 38 | |
| Segment 2 | Statewide | Bag details | Dec 9, 2026 | Mar 4, 2027 | 86 |
From ODWC regulation page and 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations p. 45, checked November 3, 2026.
American Crow: limit rows
Bag and possession rules that touch crows, as the ODWC sources word them; the second half of the table adds the per-row limits.
| Covers | Bag and possession |
|---|---|
| Segment 1 | Crow: no daily or possession limit. |
From ODWC season dates page, checked November 3, 2026.
American Crow: the migratory bird rules
- HIP (crow): HIP is not listed for crows.
- Keeping birds (crow): One daily limit after one day hunted, two after two days, never more than three daily limits; field possession one daily limit.
- Baited areas (crow): Federal baiting rules: no hunting over bait; an area stays baited 10 days after complete removal.
- State and federal (crow): Dual violation: state migratory bird violations are also federal violations (50 CFR Part 20).
From ODWC duck, merganser and coot page and ODWC licensing page, checked November 3, 2026.
American Crow numbers by county and year
ODWC publishes no county harvest for crows; the 2025 Game Harvest Survey gives statewide estimates from a mail and phone sample, with 95% confidence ranges.
| Survey row | Hunters | Days hunted | Harvest estimate | 95% range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crow | 5,000 | 26,322 | 51,027 | 30,237 to 71,816 |
From 2025 Game Harvest Survey, checked November 3, 2026.
Where to hunt crows on public ground
Public land for crows: 102 areas, from WMAs and refuges to OLAP walk-in tracts, sorted by acres.
| Area | Category | Counties | Acreage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouachita WMA | WMA | Le Flore, McCurtain | 354,559 |
| Ouachita WMA – Le Flore Unit | WMA unit | Le Flore | 221,559 |
| Three Rivers WMA | WMA | McCurtain, Pushmataha | 185,199 |
| Ouachita WMA – McCurtain & Tiak Units | WMA unit | McCurtain | 133,000 |
| Honobia Creek WMA | WMA | Pushmataha | 78,998 |
| Camp Gruber Training Center | Military | Muskogee | 51,840 |
| Eufaula WMA | WMA | Latimer, McIntosh +2 | 48,614 |
| Wister WMA | WMA | Le Flore | 35,500 |
| Cherokee WMA | WMA | Cherokee | 31,360 |
| Black Kettle WMA | WMA | Roger Mills | 30,710 |
| Fort Gibson WMA | WMA | Cherokee, Mayes +1 | 25,298 |
| Fort Gibson PHA | PHA | Cherokee, Mayes +1 | 21,798 |
| James Collins WMA | WMA | Latimer, Pittsburg | 21,353 |
| Keystone WMA | WMA | Creek, Osage +1 | 20,686 |
| Packsaddle WMA | WMA | Ellis | 19,659 |
From lands.json (ODWC area pages, special regulations, OLAP layer and federal rules), checked November 3, 2026.
How crows may be taken
| Weapons row | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Migratory birds | For crows: 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 crows: traps, nets, rifles, pistols, slugs, guns over 10 ga, sink boxes, vehicles/aircraft, moving motorboats, live decoys, recordings (except crow and COLGS), bait. |
- Baiting (crow): 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.
- Shooting from roads (crow): No shooting from or across any public road, highway, right-of-way or railroad right-of-way.
- Motor vehicles (crow): 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.
Driving or taking crows with fire or smoke is prohibited.
From ODWC migratory bird regulations, ODWC turkey regulations and ODWC general hunting regulations, checked November 3, 2026.
What ODWC asks of crow hunters
- American Crow and hunter orange: The exemption covers this group: waterfowl, crow, crane and dove hunters skip the orange head covering or upper garment.
- After the shot: crows: There is no crow check-in. HIP is not listed for crows. Tag any birds you leave in someone else's care.
- Possession and transfer (crow): 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.
American Crow license prices
Carry the license (electronic is fine) and any exemption proof while hunting crows; licenses are not transferable.
| License | Buyer | Age or group | Price | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Hunting | Resident | Age 18+ | $36 | 365 days |
| Youth Annual Super Hunting | Resident | Age 17 and under | $26 | 365 days |
| Nonresident Annual Hunting | Nonresident | Age 18+ | $209 | 365 days |
| Nonresident 5-Day Hunting | Nonresident | Age 18+ | $75 | Five days of choice |
From the ODWC license fee page and the ODWC license requirements, checked November 3, 2026.
American Crow shooting light on key dates
These crow hours use county-centre sun times from the NOAA solar formula; check your own spot near a county line.
Hour rule (crows): 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.
| When | Event | County | Place | Sunrise | Sunset | Shooting hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2026 | Opening | Cimarron County | Boise City area | 7:52 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Opening | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma City area | 7:31 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 7:02 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Opening | Tulsa County | Tulsa area | 7:25 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Opening | McCurtain County | Idabel area | 7:19 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. |
| Mar 4, 2027 | Last day | Cimarron County | Boise City area | 7:18 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. |
| Mar 4, 2027 | Last day | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma City area | 6:57 a.m. | 6:27 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:27 p.m. |
| Mar 4, 2027 | Last day | Tulsa County | Tulsa area | 6:52 a.m. | 6:21 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. |
| Mar 4, 2027 | Last day | McCurtain County | Idabel area | 6:46 a.m. | 6:17 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:17 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.

Combine harvesting a ripe sorghum field in Oklahoma. Photo: Thesagemarmot (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Two-track dirt road climbing a grassy hill toward a lone tree in central Oklahoma. Photo: Kool Cats Photography (CC BY 2.0)

Green wheat field glowing under storm light at sunset on the plains. Photo: Guy Teague (CC BY-SA 2.0)
American Crow, answered
Where are crows hunted on public ground?
Yes: 102 areas, starting with Ouachita WMA, Ouachita WMA – Le Flore Unit and Three Rivers WMA.
When does legal shooting time start for crows?
Hours for crows: 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 a harvest report for crows?
There is no crow check-in. HIP is not listed for crows. Tag any birds you leave in someone else’s care.
Do crow hunters need hunter orange in Oklahoma?
The exemption covers this group: waterfowl, crow, crane and dove hunters skip the orange head covering or upper garment.
When do crows open and close in Oklahoma?
2 season rows cover October 10, 2026 to March 4, 2027.
Is there a Sunday ban for crows?
Yes. No Sunday hunting restriction appears in the 2026-27 regulations or Title 29 text read; seasons run every day. Statute ties free hunting days and the archery bear close (“third Sunday in October”) to Sundays.
Which license covers crow hunting in Oklahoma?
Annual Hunting (resident, $36); Youth Annual Super Hunting (resident, $26); Nonresident Annual Hunting (nonresident, $209); Nonresident 5-Day Hunting (nonresident, $75); prices are for 2026-27.
What does ODWC allow for crows?
ODWC summary: No limit.
What firearms are allowed for crow hunting?
Crow hunters may use 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.
Other photos on this page: Thesagemarmot (CC BY-SA 3.0); Kool Cats Photography (CC BY 2.0); Guy Teague (CC BY-SA 2.0).