Gov. Kevin Stitt Won't Renew Oklahoma Hunting & Fishing Compacts With 5 Tribal Governments

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt says he will not renew Oklahoma hunting and fishing compacts with five tribal governments when they expire at the end of 2021.

The compacts with the Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee, Chickasaw and Seminole Nations have provided hunting and fishing rights to tribal members since 2016.

Governor Stitt's office says the governor offered a new compact to the Cherokee and Choctaw tribes that would allow members to buy licenses at the same price that non-tribal citizens pay.

Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Junior said in a letter to the Governor that rejecting the original compact would mean losing tens of millions of dollars in federal funding that could be used for wildlife conservation.

Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton also says not renewing the original compact would impact the whole state. Batton says he signed the compact to benefit his tribe and all Oklahoma citizens.