2023 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 29. Game and Fish
§29-5-203.1. "Headlighting" - Hunting from boat with firearm - Harassment, attempt to capture, take or kill with aid of motor-driven land, air or water conveyance.
A. Except as provided in Section 3 of this act, no person may attempt to take, take, attempt to catch, catch, attempt to capture, capture, attempt to kill or kill any deer, feral animal or other wildlife except fish and frogs by the use of a vehicle-mounted spotlight or other powerful light at night, by what is commonly known as "headlighting". Provided, however, nothing in this section shall prevent one from possessing a .22 caliber rimfire rifle or .22 pistol and a light carried while in pursuit of furbearers with hounds during the legal, open furbearers season, while possessing a valid hunting license.
B. It shall be illegal to hunt from a boat with a firearm from sunset until one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise. This shall not pertain to hunting of waterfowl enroute from bank to blind with unloaded shotguns.
C. Except as provided for in this section and in Section 3 of this act, no person may harass, attempt to capture, capture, attempt to take or take, kill or attempt to kill any wildlife with the aid of any motor-driven land, air or water conveyance. A nonambulatory person may hunt from said conveyances with written permission of the Director of Wildlife Conservation. A person may hunt from an air conveyance if issued a permit pursuant to Section 4-107.2 of this title. Nothing in this section shall prevent the use of motor-driven land or water conveyances for following dogs in the act of hunting, when use is restricted to public roads or waterways. Motor-driven land or water conveyances may be used on private property for following dogs in the act of hunting with the permission of the landowner or occupant.
D. Employees of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry Wildlife Services Division and the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services while engaged in wildlife management activities for the protection of agriculture, property, human health and safety and natural resources shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
E. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for a first offense and not less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for a second offense or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than ten (10) days nor more than one (1) year, and by confiscation pursuant to Section 5-402 of this title or by such fine, imprisonment and confiscation.
F. A district court, upon request by the district attorney, shall order the hunting and fishing license privileges of a person convicted of a violation of this section suspended, revoked, or denied for a period not less than one (1) year nor more than ten (10) years. Upon completion of the period of suspension, revocation, or denial of licensure, the person may apply for a new hunting or fishing license or request a reinstatement of a lifetime license, if the person previously held a lifetime license. The person applying for a new or reinstated license shall be required to pay a reinstatement fee of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for residents of this state and a reinstatement fee of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for nonresidents. This fee shall be in addition to any other fees required for the hunting and fishing license.
Added by Laws 1991, c. 182, § 32, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Amended by Laws 1996, c. 152, § 1, emerg. eff. May 7, 1996; Laws 2000, c. 191, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2000; Laws 2009, c. 154, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2009; Laws 2022, c. 171, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2022.
