Oklahoma › Species › Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Coyotes, feral hogs and prairie dogs
Black-tailed prairie dog hunting in Oklahoma, 2026-27
2026-27: Open all year; limits, licenses, public land and legal hours from ODWC.
Photo: Jack Gray (CC BY 2.0)
Oklahoma black-tailed prairie dog rules this season
The prairie dog season never closes in Oklahoma; the ODWC table shows the whole license year as its dates. ODWC limit line for this prairie dog: No limit.
- Methods and dates (prairie dog): Year-round; no light or sight dog at night.
- Bag (prairie dog): No limit.
From ODWC small game regulations and 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations p. 49 (as of November 2, 2026), checked November 3, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Black-tailed Prairie Dog calendar statewide
No zone splits the prairie dog season; the 1 row below share one area.
| Hunt | Applies to | Limit | Start | End | Days | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year-round | Statewide | Bag details | All year | Year-round |
From ODWC small game regulations and 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations p. 49, checked November 3, 2026.
Black-tailed Prairie Dog: limit rows
Bag and possession rules that touch prairie dogs, as the ODWC sources word them; the second half of the table adds the per-row limits.
| Covers | Bag and possession |
|---|---|
| Year-round | Prairie dog: no daily, season or possession limit. |
From ODWC small game regulations, checked November 3, 2026.
Black-tailed Prairie Dog: OLAP and WMA basics
- OLAP (prairie dog): Oklahoma Land Access Program: enrolled private walk-in hunting, fishing and stream access; Land Access Permit required; foot traffic only; statewide seasons; trapping limited to water sets, box and enclosed-trigger traps; elk hunting prohibited; access 2 hours before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset; falconry now legal on OLAP.
- Area rules (prairie dog): Portable stands only, removed within 14 days after the hunt; equipment marked with customer ID; camping limits (16 consecutive days; 21 in 30); no ATVs except designated; horses restricted Oct 1-Jan 1 and spring turkey; bird-dog training closed June 1-Aug 31; public lands not listed as open are closed; under-14s supervised.
For prairie dogs, public access comes from WMAs and the OLAP walk-in tracts, which need a Land Access Permit.
From ODWC OLAP hunting regulations and ODWC Department-Managed Area Rules, checked November 3, 2026.
Black-tailed Prairie Dog numbers by county and year
Harvest totals for prairie dogs are not published, so this page cannot rank counties by harvest.
From 2025 Game Harvest Survey and ODWC Big Game Harvest Report, checked November 3, 2026.
How prairie dogs may be taken
| Weapons row | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Small game | For prairie dogs: Shotgun, rifle, handgun (conventional or muzzleloading), archery, raptors, hand- and air-propelled missiles, slingshot. | Not for prairie dogs: light or sight dog for prairie dogs dark to daylight. |
- Headlighting/spotlighting (prairie dog): 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.
- Shooting from roads (prairie dog): No shooting from or across any public road, highway, right-of-way or railroad right-of-way.
- Motor vehicles (prairie dog): 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 prairie dogs with fire or smoke is prohibited.
From ODWC small game regulations and ODWC general hunting regulations, checked November 3, 2026.
What ODWC asks of prairie dog hunters
- Black-tailed Prairie Dog and hunter orange: Yes on big game firearm dates: an orange cap or upper garment for prairie dogs hunters; on other days the rule does not apply.
- After the shot: prairie dogs: No. The E-Check rule names deer, elk, antelope, bear and turkey; prairie dogs are not on that list.
- Possession and transfer (prairie dog): 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.
Black-tailed Prairie Dog license prices
Carry the license (electronic is fine) and any exemption proof while hunting prairie dogs; 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.
Black-tailed Prairie Dog shooting light on key dates
These prairie dog hours use county-centre sun times from the NOAA solar formula; check your own spot near a county line.
Hour rule (prairie dogs): Squirrel, rabbit, prairie dog: one-half hour before official sunrise to official sunset.
| When | Event | County | Place | Sunrise | Sunset | Shooting hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Cimarron County | Boise City area | 7:59 a.m. | 5:37 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Woodward County | Woodward area | 7:45 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Comanche County | Lawton area | 7:37 a.m. | 5:27 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma City area | 7:35 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Cimarron County | Boise City area | 6:31 a.m. | 9:12 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 9:12 p.m. |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Woodward County | Woodward area | 6:19 a.m. | 8:58 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 8:58 p.m. |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Comanche County | Lawton area | 6:21 a.m. | 8:50 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 8:50 p.m. |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma City area | 6:14 a.m. | 8:48 p.m. | 5:44 a.m. to 8:48 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.
Geese flying over oil pumpjacks against a red Oklahoma sunset. Photo: Shiva Shenoy (CC BY 4.0)
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)
Black-tailed Prairie Dog, answered
Do prairie dog hunters need hunter orange in Oklahoma?
Yes on big game firearm dates: an orange cap or upper garment for prairie dogs hunters; on other days the rule does not apply.
How early may I shoot prairie dogs?
Prairie dog hours follow this ODWC rule. Squirrel, rabbit, prairie dog: one-half hour before official sunrise to official sunset.
Is Sunday prairie dog hunting legal in Oklahoma?
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.
Is there a harvest report for prairie dogs?
No. The E-Check rule names deer, elk, antelope, bear and turkey; prairie dogs are not on that list.
What does ODWC allow for prairie dogs?
ODWC summary: No limit.
Is there a closed season on prairie dogs in Oklahoma?
No closed season: ODWC lists July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
What firearms are allowed for prairie dog hunting?
Prairie dog hunters may use shotgun, rifle, handgun (conventional or muzzleloading), archery, raptors, hand- and air-propelled missiles, slingshot.
How much is a license for prairie dogs 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.
Other photos on this page: Shiva Shenoy (CC BY 4.0); Lane Pearman (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).