Transcript Staff Writer

Residents will be heading to the woods by the hundreds in the weeks ahead, as hunting season opens in Oklahoma. Meanwhile, game wardens and other wildlife officials are reminding people they need to obey state hunting regulations and local ordinances.

"We ask that everyone wear their orange. If hunting from a tree stand, wear a safety harness. And be sure of the target and what lies beyond," said Chad Strang, game warden for Cleveland County.

People hunting within the Norman city limits must abide by a city ordinance (0-7273-56) which states in part that no person shall discharge any firearm, BB gun or air rifle within the city limits, with the exception of individuals practicing at an authorized firing range; police and security guards in performance of their duties; individuals lawfully defending themselves, their property, or another person or that person's property; and hunters in those areas zoned A-2 (agriculture), so long as the bullet or projectile does not pass nor is likely to pass through or fall within a populated area or place of habitation.

Norman Police Lt. John Bowman said the unrestricted shooting of firearms became a growing concern as development spread into east Norman.

"Anymore, you can't just go out and start shooting," Bowman said. "And as the years progress and development progresses, those restrictions will tighten up even further."

Hunting and fishing enthusiasts have been taking full advantage of the 1,874-acre Lake Thunderbird State Park -- so much so that officials from the wildlife department, state park and City of Norman implemented a parking permit program several years ago to begin regulating and overseeing the park traffic, Bowman said.

Anyone intending to use the state park is now required to acquire a parking permit, free of charge, at the state park office, located at the end of Alameda Drive. By requiring the permits, officials are able to keep track of the vehicles and know who's in the woods, and also monitor how many people are using the park during the year. And because the parking is limited, maps are provided to show people where the designated parking and hunting areas are, he said.

More than 600 parking permits were issued last year, Bowman said. And according to park officials, more than 650 permits have been issued to date this year.

Hunting is allowed in specific undeveloped areas of the park -- as determined each year by a certified wildlife biologist who monitors the wildlife populations and determines control strategies and techniques.

"Locally, the deer hunting at Lake Thunderbird State Park is archery only," Strang said, with designated areas set aside each year for deer archery and water fowl hunting.

The deer season and archery season overlap, and bow-hunters on Lake Thunderbird are required to wear an orange hat or vest during the deer season, he said.

Strang said anyone hunting during rifle and muzzleloader seasons is required to wear 400 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange on the head and upper body. "Basically, a hat and vest," he said.

Another popular hunting region is the Lexington Wildlife Management Area -- an area off State Highway 77, five miles south and six miles east of Noble, comprised of 9,512 acres.

Strang said the area is open to muzzleloaders. "But it's buck only -- you can't harvest a doe," he said.