Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful and safe Christmas. As I reflect on 2020, I realize that despite many challenges, one thing remained true: we remained resilient. Though the year kept throwing us curveballs, we as Choctaws remained resilient and determined. Like our ancestors before us, we persevered through difficult times, looking toward the future with hope. Remembering our ancestors’ approach to challenges, I pray to our Creator for our Choctaw people and all mankind.

A recent announcement for 2021 is that the Choctaw Nation and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation signed an extension to the Hunting and Fishing Compact, effective through December 31, 2021.

This agreement is a win for both the Choctaw Nation and the State of Oklahoma. It provides an opportunity for our tribal members in Oklahoma to enjoy the outdoors through hunting and fishing that are part of our rich cultural traditions.

Choctaw tribal members who held a Choctaw Hunting and Fishing license in 2020 and still meet the compact requirements will have their license automatically renewed for 2021. The State Department of Wildlife Conservation will begin processing these auto-renewals and any new tribal member applications received for 2021.

Choctaw tribal members who are 16 and older and interested in a 2021 state hunting and fishing license, but who did not have a license in 2020, are encouraged to apply via the online member portal, Chahta Achvffa at https://chahtaachvffa.choctawnation.com/.

Choctaw Hunting and Fishing Licenses will be available on the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife website, license.gooutdoorsoklahoma.com, to be printed or downloaded as needed. For added convenience, there is now an app - Go Outdoors Oklahoma - for your iOS or Android device. To get the app, go to your device’s App Store and search Go Outdoors Oklahoma. For further assistance, please call 800-522-6170 ext. 4030 or email [email protected].