Antlers is located in southeastern Oklahoma in Pushmataha County (of which it is the county seat) south of McAlester at the intersection of SR 3 and U.S. Highway 271 just east of the Indian Nation Turnpike on the banks of the Kiamichi River northwest of Hugo Lake and southeast of McGee Creek Lake.
The town is said to have taken its name from a First Nation tradition of wrapping a set of antlers to a tree near a spring in the area so as to "claim" the spring.
Museum-goers will enjoy the Pushmataha County Historical Museum here.
The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 2,502, a decrease of 22 since 1990.