Oklahoma offers excellent duck hunting opportunities across the state. The best places to duck hunt really depend on the time of year and what species of duck you hope to target. In the early teal season, small ponds and marshes across western Oklahoma tend to hold good numbers of blue-winged teal. As the general duck season opens in November, the focus shifts to major rivers and large reservoirs that attract diving ducks like scaup, redheads and canvasbacks. Late in the season, the remaining puddle ducks concentrate on smaller wetlands in central and eastern Oklahoma.
Early Teal Season
For early teal season in September, look for small ponds, stock tanks and marshes in western Oklahoma. Blue-winged teal prefer shallow, vegetated wetlands and are abundant during this period. The most productive areas are often on private lands around small wetlands that may only be a few acres in size. Public lands opportunities are more limited, but there are some good early teal locations on management areas like Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area near Frederick.
Top Early Teal Spots
- Small ponds and marshes on private lands in western Oklahoma
- Hackberry Flat WMA near Frederick
- Foss Reservoir WMA near Foss
- Washita National Wildlife Refuge near Cheyenne
Early General Duck Season
Once the general duck season opens in early November, the key is to target major rivers and large reservoirs that hold diving ducks like scaup, redheads and canvasbacks. The most consistent hot spots are large reservoirs like Lake Texoma, Lake Eufaula, Lake Carl Blackwell and Lake W.D. Mayo. Sections of rivers like the Arkansas, Cimarron and Canadian also see good concentrations of divers during the early season.
Top Early General Duck Spots
- Lake Texoma
- Lake Eufaula
- Lake Carl Blackwell
- Lake W.D. Mayo
- Cimarron River
- Arkansas River
- Canadian River
Mid General Duck Season
By December, cold weather pushes most of the ducks down into Oklahoma. Central Oklahoma reservoirs like Lake Overholser and Lake Thunderbird see more diving ducks mixing with puddle ducks like gadwall, wigeon and green-winged teal. Rivers still hold some divers, but also have more mallards and other puddle ducks. The region around the Washita National Wildlife Refuge starts to pick up as cold weather concentrates birds on private and public areas.
Top Mid General Duck Spots
- Lake Overholser
- Lake Thunderbird
- Cimarron River
- Deep Fork River
- Washita National Wildlife Refuge
- Fort Cobb Wildlife Management Area
Late General Duck Season
By January, the last remaining concentrations of ducks are found in eastern Oklahoma. The pecan groves and forested wetlands around the Deep Fork River watershed attract good numbers of mallards, gadwall and wigeon late in the season. The popular Keystone Lake area also sees an influx of puddle ducks and offers one of the best late season opportunities to hunt from a boat. With ice covering smaller wetlands, the ducks become very concentrated on larger open waters.
Top Late General Duck Spots
- Deep Fork River
- Lower Illinois River
- Keystone Lake
- W.D. Mayo Lock and Dam
- Robert S. Kerr Reservoir
- Lake Eufaula
Best Public Lands for Duck Hunting
While many top duck hunting spots are on private lands in Oklahoma, there are some excellent public land opportunities. Here are some of the best public duck hunting areas to consider:
| Public Land | Top Species | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Cobb WMA | Mallards, gadwall, wigeon | Draw hunts for blinds around Lake Cobb |
| Hackberry Flat WMA | Early teal | Small wetlands good for teal |
| Deep Fork NWR | Mallards, gadwall | Blind draws for late season |
| Washita NWR | Mallards, divers | Blind draws all season |
| Lake W.D. Mayo | Scaup, redheads | Open water for divers |
Best Times to Hunt Ducks in Oklahoma
Duck hunting success varies throughout the seasons in Oklahoma. Here is an overview of the best times to target ducks:
- Early September – Early teal season kicks off, target bluewings on small ponds in western OK
- Early November – Opening day of general duck season, rivers hold divers like scaup and redheads
- Mid December – Mallards and gadwall push into central Oklahoma
- Early January – Late season birds concentrate at large reservoirs and rivers
Migratory bird patterns can vary slightly from year to year depending on weather patterns. But this general timeline covers the peak periods for duck hunting in Oklahoma throughout the season.
Regulations for Duck Hunting in Oklahoma
When planning your duck hunts in Oklahoma, be sure to consult the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s (ODWC) annual hunting regulations. Key items include:
- Migratory bird stamp required in addition to hunting license
- Electronic and mechanical calls allowed
- Shotguns limited to 3 shells total capacity
- Non-toxic shot required statewide
- Daily limit 6 ducks per day
- Possession limit 18 ducks
ODWC wildlife officers make routine checks during duck season, so always have your valid hunting license and migratory bird stamp with you. Abide by all regulations to avoid citations.
Best Duck Hunting Techniques in Oklahoma
Oklahoma duck hunters utilize a variety of techniques throughout the seasons. Some top strategies include:
- Pond hopping – scout and jump shoot small wetlands in early season
- Field blinds – conceal blinds along reservoir shorelines
- River bottom blinds – natural vegetation blinds on major rivers
- Boat blinds – rig boat blinds for diving ducks on open water
- Pass shooting – conceal along flyways and take passing shots
Being mobile and covering different habitat types is key. As food sources and duck concentrations change, adapt your techniques throughout the season.
Best Duck Decoy Setups in Oklahoma
Using proper decoy spreads can definitely increase your duck hunting success in Oklahoma. Some top decoy tactics include:
- Small early season spreads with 6-12 teal decoys on ponds
- Open water diver spreads with 12-24 decoys
- Field spreads for puddle ducks with 1-3 dozen decoys
- Mixed spreads for divers and puddle ducks
- Motion decoys to add movement and realism
Pay attention to the species composition in your area and match your spread. Be prepared to adjust as the duck concentrations change throughout the season.
Top Duck Calling Tips for Oklahoma
Effectively using duck calls takes practice, but can dramatically increase your success. Keep these tips in mind:
- Use quality calls like acrylic or polycarbonate for best sound
- Master the quack, feed call, hail call, comeback call at minimum
- Be versatile – divers and puddlers make different sounds
- Don’t over call – less is often more
- Use calls to draw birds from a distance
- Soft calling works well on calm days
- Louder aggressive calling when birds are less responsive
Listen to ducks in the area to identify specific sounds to mimic. With practice, calling becomes an invaluable tool for duck hunters.
Conclusion
Oklahoma offers diverse opportunities for duck hunting across the state. By scouting bird concentrations, securing access to private lands when possible, and being mobile to adapt as migration patterns shift, you can experience excellent hunting through the entire season. Consult this guide to public areas, regulations, tips and techniques as you plan your next great Oklahoma duck hunt.
