A. All things being equal, veterans of World War II, the Korean, the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars shall be appointed as game wardens when vacancies occur.
B. All persons appointed game wardens shall be peace officers and have the full powers of peace officers of the State of Oklahoma in the enforcement of the provisions of this Code and are authorized to:
1. Enforce all state laws on Department-owned or Department-managed lands;
2. Enforce all other laws of this state;
3. Make arrests for wildlife conservation violations and nonconservation-related crimes with the same power and authority as sheriffs are vested with and in cooperation with other law enforcement officers and agencies;
4. Take into possession any and all protected wildlife, or any part thereof, killed, taken, shipped or in any possession contrary to the law, and the wildlife or parts thereof may be disposed of as determined by the Director or any court of competent jurisdiction;
5. Make a complaint and cause proceedings to be commenced against any person for violation of any of the laws for the protection and propagation of wildlife, with the sanction of the prosecuting or district attorney of the county in which the proceedings are brought, and shall not be required to give security for costs;
6. Be an authorized agent of the Commission or Department under Section 3-202 of this title in addition to duties as a game warden; and
7. Assist in enforcement of the state fire laws, upon request of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.
C. 1. Pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, a game warden may operate a vehicle owned or leased by the Department upon a roadway during the hours of darkness without lighted headlamps, clearance lamps, or other illuminating devices. As used in this paragraph, "roadway" shall include any street or highway in this state except an interstate highway, a limited access highway, a state trunk highway, or any street or highway within the limits of an incorporated area.
2. Pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, a game warden may operate a vessel upon any waters of this state during the hours of darkness without the illuminating devices required by Section 4207 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
3. A game warden may operate a vehicle or vessel without the illuminating devices specified in this subsection only if the operation:
D. Any person who refuses to stop a vehicle or boat when requested to do so by a game warden in the performance of the duties of the game warden is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
E. Any game warden who solicits or accepts any bribe or money or other thing of value in connection with the performance of duty as a game warden shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to a term not less than two (2) years nor more than seven (7) years in the custody of the Department of Corrections and shall be summarily removed from office.
F. Pursuant to the provisions of subsection B of this section and the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Code, a game warden shall not have authority to use or place a game or wildlife camera on private property without the permission of the owner or controller of the property or pursuant to a warrant issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Added by Laws 1974, c. 17, § 3-201, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974. Amended by Laws 1988, c. 208, § 1, eff. July 1, 1988; Laws 1989, c. 8, § 1, emerg. eff. March 27, 1989; Laws 1991, c. 182, § 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Laws 1997, c. 133, § 442, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 5, § 326, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2003, c. 287, § 1, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2006, c. 138, § 12, eff. Nov. 1, 2006; Laws 2021, c. 202, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2021.
NOTE: Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 442 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.
Structure Oklahoma Statutes
§29-2-101. Definitions of words and phrases.
§29-2-104.1. Commercial purposes.
§29-2-106.1a. Computer-assisted remote control hunting.
§29-2-108.1. Domesticated animal.
§29-2-109.2. Exotic livestock.
§29-2-112. Gallinaceous game bird.
§29-2-121.1. Night or nighttime.
§29-2-127. Other powerful light.
§29-2-132.1. Processed paddlefish eggs.
§29-2-133. Protected wildlife.
§29-2-146. Vehicle mounted spotlight.
§29-2-147. Waters of this state.
§29-3-103. Functions, powers and duties of the Commission.
§29-3-103a. Special permits for designated species.
§29-3-103b. Setback and conservation easements.
§29-3-104. Director of Wildlife Conservation - Creation of office.
§29-3-105. Powers and duties of the Director - Succession of interest.
§29-3-202. Authorized agents - Penalty for false representation.
§29-3-203. Oaths of office - Bonds.
§29-3-205.2. Jurisdiction for commission of offense.
§29-3-205.3. Arrest without warrant.
§29-3-301. Dispositions of monies from fines and forfeitures - Reports and transmittals.
§29-3-302. Wildlife Conservation Fund.
§29-3-303. Acquisition of property - Payments in lieu of tax payments.
§29-3-304. Lease of lands - Advertisement.
§29-3-305. Investment of fees.
§29-3-307. Worker's compensation insurance.
§29-3-309. Retention of firearm by warden upon retirement.
§29-3-310. Wildlife Diversity Program - Wildlife Diversity Fund.
§29-3-311. Wildlife Diversity Program - Review of utilization of funds.
§29-3-312. Wildlife habitat development program - Contracts with private landowners - Liability.
§29-3-313. Law Enforcement Officer Training Account.
§29-3-315. Fish or game animal food charitable distribution program.
§29-4-103. Commercial fishing license.
§29-4-103A. Commercial turtle harvester license.
§29-4-103B. Commercial turtle buyer's license.
§29-4-104. Commercial fishing helper's license.
§29-4-104A. Commercial turtle harvesting helper's license.
§29-4-105. Commercial fisherman's permit to sell out of state.
§29-4-106. Commercial hunting area licenses - Big game or upland game.
§29-4-107.1. Circuses – Application of act.
§29-4-107.2. See the following versions:
§29-4-107.2v1. Permit - Management of depredating animals by use of aircraft - Violations.
§29-4-107.2v2. Permit - Management of depredating animals by use of aircraft - Violations.
§29-4-108. Falconer's license.
§29-4-108A. Falconry - Bonding rules and regulations.
§29-4-109. Shoot-to-kill field trial license.
§29-4-111. Fur dealer's license.
§29-4-112. See the following versions:
§29-4-112A. Hunting - Certificate of competency and safety – Exemptions – Apprentice designation.
§29-4-112v1. Hunting licenses.
§29-4-112v2. Hunting licenses.
§29-4-113. Hunting/fishing annual combination license.
§29-4-113.1. Five-year fishing, hunting and hunting/fishing combination licenses.
§29-4-113.2. Three-day special use permit – Veterans, nonprofit or charitable organizations.
§29-4-113A. Fishing guide license.
§29-4-114. Hunting, fishing, and hunting/fishing lifetime licenses.
§29-4-115. Minnow dealer's interstate license.
§29-4-116. Minnow dealer's intrastate license - Exceptions.
§29-4-117. Minnow dealer's vehicle license.
§29-4-118. Scientific purposes license.
§29-4-121. Noncommercial wildlife breeder's license.
§29-4-122. Noncommercial wildlife breeders license - Personal uses.
§29-4-128. Lake Texoma - Licenses and permits - Exemptions - Fees - Violations - Penalties.
§29-4-128.1. Condition necessary for act to become effective.
§29-4-129. Mussels - Harvesting - Licenses and permits - Fees - Violations - Penalties.
§29-4-130. Waterfowl hunting stamp - Fee - Duration - Violations - Exemptions.
§29-4-132. Wildlife habitat stamp - Wildlife Land Acquisition Fund.
§29-4-134. Wildlife Heritage Fund.
§29-4-135. Permits to control nuisance or damage by wildlife.
§29-4-135.2. Nuisance or damage control of coyotes or feral swine.
§29-4-136. Special use permits to use private land leased and administered by the Department.
§29-4-137. Controlled hunt choice fees.
§29-4-138. Wildlife Conservation Passports – Exemptions.
§29-4-139. Migratory bird permit - Sandhill Crane permit – Violation – Penalty.
§29-4-140. Wildlife Land Stamp – Exemptions - Fee.
§29-4-141. Oklahoma Wildlife Land Fund.
§29-4-143. Rattlesnake hunting permit.
§29-4-144. Black bear hunting license.
§29-4-203. Issuance of licenses through electronic point of sale system - Promulgation of rules.
§29-5-103. Liberation of propagated and other birds.
§29-5-201. Means of taking wildlife - Exceptions - Fines and punishments.
§29-5-202. Permission to hunt, take, fish or engage in recreational activity upon land of another.
§29-5-202.1. Revocation of hunting or fishing license.
§29-5-203. Carrying firearms while training dogs.
§29-5-203.2. Restrictions on laser sighting devices - Exceptions.
§29-5-205. Required clothing for hunting.
§29-5-206. Falconry provisions – Use – Transportation - Fine.
§29-5-207. Nest or eggs of game birds - Taking or destroying.
§29-5-208. Falconry field meets.
§29-5-301. Limitation on predator control devices - Procedures for use.
§29-5-401. Wildlife Conservation Commission - Seasons - Rules.
§29-5-402. Punishment for violations of this article.
§29-5-404. Cottontail or swamp rabbits.
§29-5-406.1. Double-crested Cormorant - Nuisance.
§29-5-410. Hawks, falcons, owls, eagles.
§29-5-411.1. Taxidermist sale of unclaimed specimen - Requirements.
§29-5-411.2. Taxidermy specimen of native wildlife - Estate sale.
§29-5-412. Endangered or threatened species or subspecies.
§29-5-412.1. Publication of listing of endangered or threatened species or subspecies.
§29-5-413. Mounted specimens of wildlife - Seizure of items, equipment, vehicles or other property.
§29-5-415. Release of unclaimed, processed, lawfully harvested venison.
§29-5-504. Fur dealers' register reports.
§29-5-602. Confinement of wildlife to premises.
§29-6-201. Operating provisions for commercial fishermen.
§29-6-202. Contract commercial fishing.
§29-6-203. Setting of seasons.
§29-6-204. Operating provisions for commercial turtle harvesters.
§29-6-302. The taking of game fish - Bag limits - Penalty.
§29-6-303. Taking of nongame fish.
§29-6-303.1. Paddlefish products.
§29-6-304. Permission to fish upon the land of another.
§29-6-305. Stocking of private ponds.
§29-6-306. Taking of nongame fish.
§29-6-401. Operating provisions for minnow dealers.
§29-6-502. Closing the waters of this state.
§29-6-503. City and town wildlife commissions - Powers.
§29-6-504. Release of fish in public waters.
§29-6-601. Controls on noxious aquatic plants.
§29-7-101. Dams constructed by the U.S.; safety zones.
§29-7-102. Pensacola Dam - Fishing limitations after closing dam.
§29-7-102.1. Harvesting of shad by licensed bait dealers.
§29-7-201. Punishment for violations not otherwise provided for.
§29-7-202. Attempted violation.
§29-7-203. Aiding and/or abetting.
§29-7-204. Ownership of wildlife.
§29-7-207. Unlawful offenses related to wildlife - Restitution.
§29-7-208. Payment of administrative fine in lieu of bond – Deposit and use of fines.
§29-7-302. State fish hatcheries - Disturbing waters, ponds, property.
§29-7-303. Private parks, preserves, clubs or resorts.
§29-7-304.1. Lyndol Fry Waterfowl Refuge.
§29-7-305. Cooperative wildlife restoration projects.
§29-7-401. Deleterious, noxious or toxic substances.
§29-7-402. Activities in other states injurious.
§29-7-403. Removal and disposition of dead fish.
§29-7-502. General prohibition on possession of wildlife - Exceptions.
§29-7-504. Importation, sale, possession of aigrettes, plumes, feathers, quills, wings, etc.
§29-7-601. Common carrier requirements.
§29-7-602. General prohibition against transporting wildlife - Exceptions.
§29-7-701. Lands contained in the wilderness area.
§29-7-702. Ingress and egress.
§29-7-703. Prohibition on motor-driven devices within the wilderness area.
§29-7-704. Prohibition of commercial operations.
§29-7-705. Prohibition on removal of wildlife and plants.
§29-7-706. Prohibition on permanent structures.
§29-7-801. Exotic wildlife - Penalties for releasing.
§29-8-101. Liberal interpretation.
§29-8-102. Effect of headings.
§29-8-104. Resolution penalty provision.
§29-9-111. Wildlife Bail Procedure Act.
§29-9-112. Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Code – Violations - Bail.
§29-9-113. Wildlife citation – Failure to comply.
§29-10-101. Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
§29-10-102. Enforcement and administration of Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
§29-10-103. Forfeiture of hunting, trapping, or fishing licenses – Notice - Penalties.
§29-10-104. Suspension of hunting, trapping, or fishing privileges – Notice - Penalties.
§29-10-105. Procedures for suspension hearing.
§29-1001. Use of certain mechanical fishing devices prohibited - Penalties.