State officials making contingency plan in case hunting season disrupted

(Shawnee-AP) -- Muzzleloaders may have to wait a little longer for their hunting season to roll around.

The state Wildlife Department is looking at rescheduling the nine-day muzzleloader season because of drought. But the department may add more hunting opportunities later in the winter.

Muzzleloader hunting season is scheduled to run from October 28th until November fifth. It attracts about 100-thousand hunters annually.

But Wildlife Department spokesman Nels Rodefeld says a delay is being considered if the fire hazard persists in the state. Oklahoma remains under a ban on outdoor burning because of dry conditions across the state.

Rodefeld says recommendations include rescheduling the muzzleloader season to December or January.