Furbearers
Nutria hunting and trapping in Oklahoma, 2026-27
Open all year; limits, harvest, licenses and places to hunt nutria.
Photo: Thomas & Dianne Jones (CC BY 2.0)
Nutria: the 2026-27 picture
ODWC prints nutria as a year-round row, so the only limits that change are methods at night and the rules on Department land. Bag in one line for the nutria: No limit; year-round.
- In short (nutria): Dec 1-Feb 28 (year-round for beaver, nutria, raccoon, striped skunk); firearms, archery, legal traps.
- Take (nutria): No limit; year-round.
From ODWC furbearer and coyote regulations and 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations p. 50 (as of November 2, 2026), checked November 3, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
When nutria are open in Oklahoma
Nutria carry 1 row in the 2026-27 ODWC tables, with one area for all of them.
| Window | Zone or area | Take | Begins | Through | Days | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year-round | Statewide | Limits below | Whole year | Year-round |
From ODWC furbearer and coyote regulations and 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations p. 50, checked November 3, 2026.
Daily and season limits for nutria
The nutria limits come from the regulations guide and the ODWC species pages, with each season row's own bag after them.
| Applies to | Rule |
|---|---|
| Furbearers | Bobcat season 20; foxes two daily/six season (one/two red); otter six season; others no limit. |
| Year-round | Nutria: no daily, season or possession limit. |
From ODWC furbearer and coyote regulations and 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations p. 50, checked November 3, 2026.
Nutria trapping in Oklahoma
- Nutria: by day: any legal firearm or archery.
- Nutria after dark: .22 rimfire rifle/pistol and a carried light only while pursuing furbearers with hounds.
- Trap rule for nutria: box/colony, smooth-jawed offset foothold (8 in. land / 8.5 in. water jaw spread), dogproof, body-grip 12 in. in full-submersion sets on private land, and cable restraints (not on WMAs).
Cable restraints became legal for trapping nutria in 2026-27, but not on WMAs.
From ODWC furbearer and coyote regulations, checked November 3, 2026.
Nutria: the harvest record
ODWC has not published a nutria harvest estimate; the 2025 survey rows skip it.
From 2025 Game Harvest Survey and ODWC Big Game Harvest Report, checked November 3, 2026.
Nutria on WMAs, refuges and walk-in land
The largest of 90 public areas that name nutria.
| Public land | Kind | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Methods that apply to nutria hunting
| Row | May use | May not use |
|---|---|---|
| Furbearers | For nutria: Any legal firearm or archery by day; .22 rimfire and light while hunting with hounds at night in season; traps listed in fur rules incl. cable restraints (not on WMAs). | Not for nutria: any trap not listed; lights/thermal/night vision from a public road. |
- Trapping (nutria): Traps checked every 24 hours, owner name or customer ID on traps (always on Department lands), no traps in paths/roads used by people or dogs, posting signs for offset foothold traps at public-road entrances (not on private land unless the owner asks), permission required on posted, occupied or agricultural land.
- Headlighting/spotlighting (nutria): No taking any deer, feral animal or wildlife (except fish and frogs) with a vehicle-mounted spotlight or other powerful light at night or with night scopes; exceptions for furbearer hound hunters and landowner nuisance coyote/feral swine control.
- Wanton waste (nutria): No taking parts (head, antlers, hide, etc.) and abandoning the carcass; downed migratory birds must be retrieved; carcasses not dumped in water or within 1/4 mile of dwellings/highways unburied.
Shotgun shot larger than #4 buckshot is not legal for nutria unless the target is a feral hog.
From ODWC furbearer and coyote regulations and ODWC general hunting regulations, checked November 3, 2026.
Nutria: orange, reporting and transport
- Nutria: orange: Yes in daylight during big game gun or muzzleloader dates (orange head covering or upper garment); not for furbearer hunting at night.
- Nutria check-in: There is no reporting step for nutria in the ODWC rules read; only the transfer-of-possession rule applies if someone else takes the animal.
- Handing over nutria: 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.
License costs for nutria
Youth 17 and under need no base license, but the Youth Annual Super license is required for nutria if they are big game, turkey, waterfowl or furbearers.
| License | Who buys | Group | Fee | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
From the ODWC license fee page and the ODWC license requirements, checked November 3, 2026.
Hours for nutria across Oklahoma
Times for nutria are worked out for the centre of each county with the NOAA solar formula; ODWC prints no sunrise and sunset table, only the rule.
ODWC hour rule for nutria: Furbearers at night only with hounds and a .22 rimfire plus carried light in the open furbearer season; coyote and prairie dog no light or sight dog dark to daylight; feral swine at night only by landowner/designee with the night exemption; nuisance coyote/hog control provisions for landowners and ag lessees outside deer gun seasons.
| Date | Point | County | Near | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Cimarron County | Boise City area | 7:59 a.m. | 5:37 p.m. | – |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma City area | 7:35 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | – |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Tulsa County | Tulsa area | 7:31 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | – |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | McCurtain County | Idabel area | 7:21 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | – |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Cimarron County | Boise City area | 6:31 a.m. | 9:12 p.m. | – |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma City area | 6:14 a.m. | 8:48 p.m. | – |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Tulsa County | Tulsa area | 6:07 a.m. | 8:44 p.m. | – |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | McCurtain County | Idabel area | 6:07 a.m. | 8:33 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.
Pink sunrise behind bare cottonwoods and an old shed on open range. Photo: Jack Gray (CC BY 2.0)
Windmill and ripe grass under mammatus clouds at sunset after a storm on the southern plains. Photo: Lane Pearman (CC BY 2.0)
Field of golden coreopsis wildflowers glowing at sunset on the prairie. Photo: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Answers about nutria
What reporting applies to nutria?
There is no reporting step for nutria in the ODWC rules read; only the transfer-of-possession rule applies if someone else takes the animal.
Does the orange rule apply to nutria hunters?
Yes in daylight during big game gun or muzzleloader dates (orange head covering or upper garment); not for furbearer hunting at night.
Are body-grip traps legal for nutria?
Traps checked every 24 hours, owner name or customer ID on traps (always on Department lands), no traps in paths/roads used by people or dogs, posting signs for offset foothold traps at public-road entrances (not on private land unless the owner asks), permission required on posted, occupied or agricultural land.
Are nutria open on Sundays?
Sundays are normal days for nutria; ODWC prints no Sunday restriction.
Is there a daily limit on nutria?
Bobcat season 20; foxes two daily/six season (one/two red); otter six season; others no limit.
When can nutria be hunted in Oklahoma?
The license year is the only window.
Can I use a rifle on nutria in Oklahoma?
For nutria, ODWC permits any legal firearm or archery by day; .22 rimfire and light while hunting with hounds at night in season; traps listed in fur rules incl. cable restraints (not on WMAs).
What licenses apply to nutria?
For nutria: Annual Hunting (resident, $36); Youth Annual Super Hunting (resident, $26); Nonresident Annual Hunting (nonresident, $209).
Where can I hunt nutria on public land in Oklahoma?
The biggest of the 90 listed areas are Ouachita WMA, Ouachita WMA – Le Flore Unit and Three Rivers WMA.
What hours apply to nutria hunting in Oklahoma?
Hours for nutria: Furbearers at night only with hounds and a .22 rimfire plus carried light in the open furbearer season; coyote and prairie dog no light or sight dog dark to daylight; feral swine at night only by landowner/designee with the night exemption; nuisance coyote/hog control provisions for landowners and ag lessees outside deer gun seasons.
Other photos on this page: Jack Gray (CC BY 2.0); Lane Pearman (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).