03/03/2026
***TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT OKLAHOMA'S WILDLIFE AND SHARE THIS POST***
The Oklahoma House Energy and Natural Resources Committee will be voting on HB 4128 tomorrow, which will extend black bear hunting season in Oklahoma. The population of black bears in Oklahoma is small and no population data or research from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation or OSU was used to inform this bill. Black bear populations grow slowly because females don’t start breeding until they are three to four years old, and then they only breed every two years. Giving birth during January and February, offspring stay with their moms for a year and a half. Extending the season will result in the orphaning of young bears that are reliant on their mothers.
Currently bear hunting season is October 1st – October 19th for archery with no harvest quota. This bill would require the season to begin no later than September 15th and run concurrently with deer season putting the ending date on January 15th. This could be devastating to the already small population of bears in Oklahoma and could potentially result in profound long-term consequences for black bear populations.
Finally, bear conflicts are minimal and as with any wildlife, if one is threatening human life, people may shoot them. In Oklahoma, there has never been a report of a black bear attacking a person.
Please use your voice to protect wildlife in our state by contacting your representative if they sit on this committee. The population of most wildlife is dwindling, and it’s a treasure that belongs to all of us.
Oklahoma House Energy and Natural Resources Committee Members
John Pfeiffer - (405) 557-7332
Arturo Sandoval - (405) 557-7397
Mark Chapman - (405) 557-7388
Mike Dobrinski - (405) 557-7407
Jim Grego - (405) 557-7381
Nick Archer - (405) 557-7312
Rusty Cornwell - (405) 557-7319
Mickey Dollens - (405) 557-7371
Ken Luttrell - (405) 557-7355
Trey Caldwell - (405) 557-7307
Jared Deck - (405) 557-7323
John George - (405) 557-7322
Kenton Patzkowsky - (405) 557-7384
