The decision keeps a legal opinion in place that shields tribal citizens from state prosecution for hunting and fishing on reservation land.
March 24, 2026 03:50 PM
2 min read
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. –
The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously rejected a lawsuit filed by Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation seeking to overturn Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s legal opinion protecting tribal citizens’ hunting and fishing rights on reservation land.
The decision keeps AG Opinion 2025-19 in place and directs the dispute to federal court, where a related case is already underway.
Key Takeaways
- The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously rejected Gov. Kevin Stitt’s lawsuit challenging AG Gentner Drummond’s opinion on tribal hunting and fishing rights.
- The court ruled that the legal issue is already pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
- Drummond’s opinion says federal law prevents Oklahoma from prosecuting tribal citizens for hunting and fishing on reservation land.
- The ruling keeps AG Opinion 2025-19 in place while a related federal lawsuit filed by three Oklahoma tribes continues.
Where the Case Will Be Decided
The Oklahoma Supreme Court said the legal question outlined in Drummond’s opinion is already before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. Because of that, the justices said federal judges — not the state court — must resolve the dispute. The opinion was authored by Justices Dustin Rowe and M. John Kane.
“This ruling is another rejection of Gov. Stitt’s unlawful campaign against tribal citizens exercising their long-held rights,” Drummond said. “The Court would not be used as a tool to override settled federal law and decades of cooperative wildlife management. My position has never wavered: federal law is clear, and it is my duty to uphold it.”
Impact on Wildlife Enforcement and Tribal Nations
Drummond, who is running for governor in 2026, issued the opinion in December, concluding that state enforcement targeting tribal citizens conflicted with federal law and harmed relationships with the Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, and Choctaw Nation. All three nations maintain their own wildlife codes aligned with conservation practices used by Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Tribes and State clash over hunting and fishing rights
October 9, 2025 08:49 AM
3 min read
Background
In October 2025, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation issued a reminder stating that state wildlife laws apply to all hunters and anglers. ODWC spokesman Micah Holmes said, “Everybody that’s going to go hunting needs a license, and that includes tribal citizens and people who aren’t tribal citizens.”
After the state and tribal hunting compact expired in 2021, major tribal nations asserted their authority to regulate hunting on reservation land. On October 30, Drummond dismissed a case against a Cherokee Nation man accused of hunting without a state license.
In November, the Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, and Choctaw Nation filed a federal lawsuit accusing Stitt of overstepping his authority by appointing Special Prosecutor Russ Cochran to handle such cases. The lawsuit also names ODWC. Then in December, Drummond issued a legal opinion concluding that federal law preempts Oklahoma’s ability to prosecute tribal citizens for hunting and fishing on reservation land.
What’s Next
The issue now shifts entirely to federal court, where judges will determine whether Oklahoma can enforce its wildlife code on reservation land.
Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects Gov. Stitt’s tribal hunting lawsuit, federal case to proceed
The decision keeps a legal opinion in place that shields tribal citizens from state prosecution for hunting and fishing on reservation land.
March 24, 2026 03:50 PM
2 min read
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. –
The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously rejected a lawsuit filed by Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation seeking to overturn Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s legal opinion protecting tribal citizens’ hunting and fishing rights on reservation land.
The decision keeps AG Opinion 2025-19 in place and directs the dispute to federal court, where a related case is already underway.
Key Takeaways
- The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously rejected Gov. Kevin Stitt’s lawsuit challenging AG Gentner Drummond’s opinion on tribal hunting and fishing rights.
- The court ruled that the legal issue is already pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
- Drummond’s opinion says federal law prevents Oklahoma from prosecuting tribal citizens for hunting and fishing on reservation land.
- The ruling keeps AG Opinion 2025-19 in place while a related federal lawsuit filed by three Oklahoma tribes continues.
Where the Case Will Be Decided
The Oklahoma Supreme Court said the legal question outlined in Drummond’s opinion is already before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. Because of that, the justices said federal judges — not the state court — must resolve the dispute. The opinion was authored by Justices Dustin Rowe and M. John Kane.
“This ruling is another rejection of Gov. Stitt’s unlawful campaign against tribal citizens exercising their long-held rights,” Drummond said. “The Court would not be used as a tool to override settled federal law and decades of cooperative wildlife management. My position has never wavered: federal law is clear, and it is my duty to uphold it.”
Impact on Wildlife Enforcement and Tribal Nations
Drummond, who is running for governor in 2026, issued the opinion in December, concluding that state enforcement targeting tribal citizens conflicted with federal law and harmed relationships with the Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, and Choctaw Nation. All three nations maintain their own wildlife codes aligned with conservation practices used by Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Tribes and State clash over hunting and fishing rights
October 9, 2025 08:49 AM
3 min read
Background
In October 2025, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation issued a reminder stating that state wildlife laws apply to all hunters and anglers. ODWC spokesman Micah Holmes said, “Everybody that’s going to go hunting needs a license, and that includes tribal citizens and people who aren’t tribal citizens.”
After the state and tribal hunting compact expired in 2021, major tribal nations asserted their authority to regulate hunting on reservation land. On October 30, Drummond dismissed a case against a Cherokee Nation man accused of hunting without a state license.
In November, the Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, and Choctaw Nation filed a federal lawsuit accusing Stitt of overstepping his authority by appointing Special Prosecutor Russ Cochran to handle such cases. The lawsuit also names ODWC. Then in December, Drummond issued a legal opinion concluding that federal law preempts Oklahoma’s ability to prosecute tribal citizens for hunting and fishing on reservation land.
What’s Next
The issue now shifts entirely to federal court, where judges will determine whether Oklahoma can enforce its wildlife code on reservation land.