Oh, I thought it was next week. I took a good one last year during the January hunt and wanted to offer to be a helper for some one but missed the week. I have a good pack and strong back! I just enjoy being in the mountains and packing!
Swampratt, I'll try to explain but others will have more specifics as I can't find anything on the ODWC website. Basically, it's just what it says - you are not allowed to drive a motor vehicle or ATV into the hunting area. It's all walk-in only EVEN after you get an elk down - it has to be quartered and packed out. On the non-walk in areas, I think you are driven in by an ODWC person and dropped off at your designated hunting area(you don't get to roam all around but rather have to stay in a specified area). What I'm not 100% sure of is on the non-walk in hunts is how you're allowed to get a downed animal out - use of personal vehicle/ATV or ODWC vehicle? Someone with more knowledge will chime in soon.
I did it last year and my son and I both took great bulls, you are allowed one hunting helper each and you can hunt as a team to help pack out. We packed out two bulls in two days with about 16 miles of work!
Don't know about the hunt but Friday morning I saw a large herd just off I-44 on Ft Sill property (I think...like the NE corner). I had no idea there were elk around there.
ETA: Saw elk practically every day I lived in Colorado from 1989 to 2015. Lived right on the edge of national forest and wilderness in northern Idaho for 5 years...never saw a single elk. NEVER thought I'd see elk in Oklahoma. I'm glad I did.