Committee approves bill allowing Wildlife Commission to set nonresident hunter permits and fees

Senate Bill 448 passed the Senate Agriculture Committee 11‑0 after committee discussion about implementation details.

Sponsor Senator Hamilton told the committee the committee substitute directs the Wildlife Commission to establish a registration or lottery system for nonresident hunters on wildlife management areas and authorizes a nominal fee not to exceed $100. Hamilton said the goal is “to provide Oklahomans the primary access” to public hunting lands.

The nut graf: agency officials said the statute was intentionally left somewhat flexible so the Commission could design property‑specific procedures within its existing licensing system. Director Rodefeld told the committee the agency already has mechanisms to create property‑specific parameters, signups and selections for land access and private land leases; the same concept could be adapted for wildlife management areas to address pressure points where nonresident hunting is high.

Committee members asked whether the authorization was effectively a request from the Wildlife Department. Director Rodefeld described it as “mutual cooperation” and said the agency supported the bill, citing data from recent seasons showing pressure from nonresident hunters in some areas. The assistant director said a prior license change reduced nonresident deer harvest pressure in some locations but that waterfowl pressure remained and could require permits.

Senator Hamilton said the measure was meant to be flexible and to allow the agency to study and identify which areas need a permit system.

The committee voted 11‑0 to send the bill onward.