Antlerless deer season dates set by the Wildlife Conservation Commission Deer hunters in west-central Oklahoma will have more opportunity to harvest an antlerless deer next year.

At their recent meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a measure that would allow antlerless deer harvest for the full 16 days of the regular deer gun season in zone seven, which includes Roger Mills County and portions of Ellis, Beckham, Washita, Custer, Blaine and Dewey counties.

"After visiting with landowners, biologists and state game wardens, we feel like the deer herd in the area is growing and it would be appropriate to increase the antlerless deer hunting opportunities during the 2005-06 season," said Alan Peoples, wildlife chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Besides calendar adjustments, no other changes were made to antlerless deer hunting seasons across the state.

The Commission also approved the special antlerless deer seasons to be held the weekends before and after Christmas.