A. No person may propagate or hold in captivity any wildlife or domesticated animals hunted for sport for commercial hunting area purposes without having procured a license from the Director of the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Licenses shall be classified as big game, upland game, or a combination of big game and upland game.

1. A big game license shall be required for legally acquired exotic ungulates, domesticated animals so designated by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission, exotic swine, and legally acquired whitetail and mule deer, turkey and other species of big game lawfully taken under the provisions of subsection A of Section 5-411 and Section 5-401 of this title. Wildlife that has been crossbred with exotic wildlife shall be considered native and not exotic unless documentation shows otherwise.

2. An upland game license shall be required for legally acquired captive-raised pheasants, all species of quail, Indian chukars, water fowl, and other similar or suitable gallinaceous birds; and shall include turkey if no other big game species are listed on the license/application.

B. Before obtaining a license or a renewal of a license the applicant shall submit proof that such wildlife or domesticated animals hunted for sport will be or have been secured from a source other than the wild stock in this state. Any person obtaining or renewing a license shall submit a true and complete inventory of said animals before a license shall be approved. Each license shall specifically list the different species and/or subspecies to be hunted on the listed hunting area or premises.

C. Any game warden of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation shall have authority to inspect any and all records and invoices pertaining to the commercial hunting operations of any person licensed or requesting licensure pursuant to this section and additionally shall have the authority to inspect any and all facilities, equipment and property connected to the hunting operation of any person licensed or requesting licensure pursuant to this section.

D. 1. The annual fee for a commercial hunting area license for upland game under this section shall be One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

2. The annual fee for a commercial hunting area license for:

a.big game pursuant to this section shall be Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), or

b.a combination of big game and upland game pursuant to this section shall be Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($350.00).

E. All licenses issued pursuant to this section shall expire on June 30 of each year.

F. Exemptions from this license requirement shall be operators of running pens used for the performance test or training of dogs. Operators of such running pens may acquire coyotes from wild stock without having to possess a fur dealer's license for such purpose and no license shall be required of those involved in performance testing or training dogs in such running pens so long as no other wildlife are taken or hunted in any manner.

G. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed sixty (60) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

H. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall have the commercial hunting area license revoked. No new license shall be issued for a period of six (6) months from and after the date on which the revocation order becomes effective.

I. The Department is authorized to promulgate rules pertaining to commercial hunting areas.

Added by Laws 1974, c. 17, § 4-106, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974. Amended by Laws 1976, c. 132, § 1, emerg. eff. May 24, 1976; Laws 1990, c. 17, § 1, emerg. eff. March 28, 1990; Laws 1991, c. 182, § 20, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Laws 1992, c. 402, § 3, eff. Dec. 1, 1992; Laws 2003, c. 94, § 1, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2006, c. 138, § 13, eff. Nov. 1, 2006; Laws 2008, c. 63, § 1, eff. July 1, 2008; Laws 2017, c. 353, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2017.