By Fox23.com News Staff
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Supreme Court has sided with Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s legal opinion to retain their right to fish and hunt on their reservations.
“This ruling is another rejection of Gov. Stitt’s unlawful campaign against tribal citizens exercising their long-held rights,” said Drummond. “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.”
Previously, several tribal nations across the state filed a lawsuit against Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) in November 2025. The lawsuit claimed Gov. Stitt does not have the authority to appoint a special prosecutor for wildlife crimes on tribal land.
In December 2025, Gov. Stitt said he was committed to “equal application of state law” in Oklahoma.
“A foundational American value is that laws are applied equally to everyone, regardless of race,” said Stitt in December. “For more than 100 years, the State of Oklahoma has worked to protect wildlife and promote safe hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation. Like many sportsmen with tribal heritage, I purchased a lifetime hunting and fishing license to support the mission of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.”
The formal opinion Drummond issued in December 2025 stated that the state’s enforcement actions were “unlawful, wasteful, and harmful to Oklahoma’s relationships with tribal nations.”
“It is time for Gov. Stitt and the ODWC to stand down, respect federal law and return to the collaborative partnership with tribal nations that has served Oklahoma’s conservation interests for decades.,” said Drummond.
The dispute is ongoing in federal court, where it will ultimately be resolved.
