When Im entering a new area, the first thing I do is use Google Earthto study aerial photos of the land. But the public hunting area has significantly diminished in recent years due to the timber groups that own the land leasing more of it for private hunting. Game Warden (County): James Collins WMA covers 21,353 acres of northern Pittsburg and Latimer Counties in southeast Oklahoma. It generally only gets around 30 degrees at the coldest in the heart of winter from December through January, so super-heavy hunting clothing isn't really a necessity. Not that it's necessarily a negative swaying vegetation and wind noise can help hide an archer who's making his move on a buck but it's something to be aware of. Much of the area adjacent to Canton Lake and the North Canadian River is a densely vegetated bottomland habitat. Good nutrition helps make up for that: Kaw has some of the most extensive food plots of any Oklahoma public hunting area, and thousands of acres of farm lands border the WMA. The area is primarily rolling sandhills with around 1,500 acres of river bottom. This tract contains 72,249 acres, the majority of which is in hardwood swamp habitat, bayous, and cypress-tupelo swamps. All Rights Reserved. If you'd like to know more about P&Y's bowhunting records for all North American big game, click here. It is critical to understand state hunting laws and regulations in order to make hunting in the state a safe and enjoyable experience. Although somewhat off the radar for hunters outside the region, the Sooner State really is one of the best places for chasing big deer. (Some weekends are closed for controlled hunts only). Oklahomas massive deer population keeps hunters coming back year after year. A new state record for the most trophy kills in a single season has been established by the state. The ranch is set up to accommodate archery, muzzleloader and rifle hunters. Deer thrive in the rich soils and native tallgrass prairie in this flatland WMA on the Kansas border, showing good numbers and good size. The 30,710-acre Black Kettle National Grasslands in Roger Mills County offers ample opportunities to stretch your legs and find your own slice of whitetail heaven. This WMA is vast, covering more than 16,000 acres in Osage County. These 2 areas combined offer more than 46,000 acres giving archery hunters lots of space to roam. Although big deer can be found anywhere, one of the better P&Y buck areas is along the Kansas border. Essentially, it covers most of central Oklahoma. We'll go over purchasing your hunting licenses, good hunting areas and more. For instance, Deep Fork doesnt allow ATVs or motorized vehicles. You can also check out some of the Department Lakes managed by the ODWC. Depending on the hunt, it can range from $2,000 to $5,000. Maybe this year you'll be the next lucky hunter to down an Oklahoma monster! A great time to bow hunt the area is after the 9 day gun season when the crowds have left and the deer are still active. Primitive camping is allowed on the entire area, and three developed camping facilities exist. Residents pay very low license fees because they are inexpensive and easy to obtain. Only public lands in Oklahoma are subject to archery. The gigantic 216,503-acre Three Rivers WMA in McCurtain and Pushmataha counties delivers. Located just four and one half miles east of Newkirk, Oklahoma, Kaw WMA is a mixture of upland and bottomland forest, tallgrass prairie, old fields, and cropland. There is no shortage of Oklahoma outfitters scattered across the state that will guide you and give you access to great private land, complete with food plots, for a fee of course. Both Cookson WMA and Cherokee PHA/GMA were previously closed to archery hunting from the opening day of muzzleloader through deer gun season. (580-740-0040; choctawhuntinglodge.com). Sandhills WMA Map. Aug 16, 2021 #2 L LostArra WKR Joined May 9, 2013 The Cherokee WMA encompasses 31,360 acres, 16,000 of which are open year-round to legal hunting with several controlled hunts made throughout the year. If youre a treestand hunter, most of the scouting is already donejust find some trees in the wide-open habitat and park your backside there daily. Some hunters enjoy Sandy Sanders because they have opportunities to use "spot and stalk" hunting techniques. There are many great deer hunting outfitters in Oklahoma. Stan Potts pursues a love-struck Illinois giant with his Thompson/Center shotgun. The Wagoner County Wildlife Management Area is located in northeastern Oklahoma, and it covers nearly 8,000 acres of land. In Oklahoma, firearms are not permitted to discharge in any church, schoolhouse, or other public place where people congregate by four hundred and forty (440) yards. Hunting with a guide is one of the most popular ways to do so. Upland Update: Researchers Log Wild Turkey Nest Depredations in April, Selman Bat Watches on Hold for 2023 Season, Young Wildlife Rescues Not Recommended, Biologists Say, Upland Update: Research Teams Trap Over 40 Turkeys in March. Just east of the Panhandle is a large area that stretches more than 100 miles wide (east to west) and from the northcentral border with Kansas to the southwest border with Texas. Learn how to implement this highly efficient fishing electronics to find and catch more fish. For a state of only 70,000 square miles, Oklahoma has a tremendous amount and variety of public hunting land. | In the whitetails world the time during early season is all about being social with other deer; however, they may not be communal with the specific deer that you might think. What should a suitable shrub thicket look like for quail and how many should be there? Except for a controlled hunt, this area is closed to rifle hunting, making it a perfect destination for bowhunters to hunt during the rut. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. In Atoka County, McGee Creek Reservoir offers nearly 9,000 acres of hunting lands within dense forest. If you like hunting in the timber, youll love this area. The east has produced monsters like Micalah Millard's 179 7/8-inch McIntosh County buck. A WMA of approximately 566 acres is located in Cherokee County, about 5 miles east of Tahlequah, and is located on Highway 10. This area is known for its abundance of deer, and its variety of terrain makes it a great place to hunt. Oklahoma's massive deer population keeps hunters coming back year after year. The deer herd is extremely healthy and monster bucks abound. Both of these WMAs have ponds throughout, some stocked with fish like bass and catfish. If all else fails and you can't find an area of public land you like, you might have to "pay to play," so to speak. There are also a few new walks in only lands to look at. To put an incredible end cap to a historic turkey season here at Mossy Oak, weve profiled the legendary Bill Zearing of Cody Calls. Anyone have any info would be greatly appreciated. The Texas whitetail ranch is well-maintained in terms of genetics, age, nutrition, and management. While that last part could be considered a good thing, the downside is it also means you'll likely run into some hunting pressure from other sportsmen and women. Public land has produced a tremendous number of deer for me over the years and some really-nice bucks. Quality bucks typically range from 125 to 170 inches. Planning deer hunting trip to the Sooner State this fall? A hunt on a private property is typically free for hunters, and landowners may allow them to take game animals if they wish. We visit with biologists near Oklahoma Mesonet stations receiving the lowest and highest rainfall amounts in 2022 to learn how the Wildlife Department meets its habitat management goals and adapts to wildly different conditions. There are many public lands in Oklahoma that allow archery only hunting. Featured photo: Nick Trehearne John Muir once wrote, "The mountains are calling, and I must go." Limited camping options are available in the two WMAs and on surrounding U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds. McAlester Army Ammunition Plant is legendary for its monster whitetails. The answer is really simple. Hunting Where To Hunt The ODWC manages and operates numerous areas across the state for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation purposes. There are also numerous cattle ranches, farmlands and river bottoms throughout it. A self-taught turkey hunter, Zearing recalls that in 65, when. Give a Gift In the former event, 2019 Bassmaster Classic winner Ott DeFoe made a final day surge to move up from 10th place to the runner-up position, narrowly missing out on the win. In Oklahoma, the vast majority of land is privately owned. Gunner Womack of Morrison, who killed a 188 7/8 buck two years ago, holds the state record for archery kills. The first zone-free antlerless deer hunt in the state will take place on or around January 15, 2022, with a three-year extension running from that date forward. Far from population centers, hunting pressure during archery season is minimal, and a bit busier during firearms season. If youre looking for a large, contiguous tract, the nearby Packsaddle WMA in Ellis County encompasses 19,659 acres of rolling upland habitat consisting of buffalo grass, sagebrush, sand plum, shinnery oak and occasional mesquite. Pond, stream, or lake habitats are ideal for duck hunting. He said, Mark, I wouldnt eat that deer, and I wouldnt give him to. Yes, as you get into this largely treeless part of the state the wind typically starts to blow. I primarily hunt public lands, because its far-less expensive than hunting private lands. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has finally totaled the numbers from last years deer hunting seasons. (580-512-7004; stuartranchoutfitters.com), Ouachita Mountains/Arkansas River Valley Region, The Choctaw Hunting Lodge is located in Pittsburg, Okla., and situated on 44,000 privately owned acres. ), and other fruits and vegetables. Subscriber Services. While the Black Kettle is scattered into nearly 100 units, wildlife plantings and water are available on most units. But really, any area of Oklahoma is good for trophy bucks. We commend the Oklahoma Department of Conservation for their efforts in ensuring that all elk hunters in the state have access to the public lands that they must successfully hunt. Crossbows have to have bolts at least 14 inches long with a 100 pound draw weight. Just remember that the landowners completely control access, and they can shut it off at any time they desire. You must have a $3 federal sandhill crane permit in order to hunt for cranes. For the first three days, the weather was reasonable and anglers pursued everything from sight fishing to fry guarders to a shad spawn to topwater patterns. Next door to Arkansas is Oklahomas own small Ozark region, which covers Adair, Delaware and Cherokee counties. Wheeler shot a 206 4/8-inch 25 pointer in a pecan grove one week, and then shot a 202 1/8-inch 34-pointer the following week in the same place! In October, the Morrison teen and Oklahoma State University student went viral when he shot a nearly 8-inch buck on family land in Pawnee County. With the right flies, leaders, and tools, like the Toro Revolution Electric Backpack Leaf Blower, you can ensure a successful fishing trip and a well-maintained lawn. They worry, If I take a big buck an hour or two hours walk from my vehicle, Ill never be able to get him out. The other reason is fear of getting lost and not being able to find their way out of the woods after dark. Check out the Oklahoma Land Access program (OLAP), which incentivizes landowners to open their land to public hunting. In addition to purchasing a turkey license, the owner of a nonresident lifetime license must purchase an annual or fiscal year nonresident hunting license. Click to subscribe. The area sees 40-plus inches of rainfall annually, rendering it far more fertile than the ecoregions found in the western part of the state. On rolling, rocky terrain, dense stands of oak hickory wood are mixed with some short leaf pine. Out west, hunters on the Black Kettle WMA killed 441 deer last season, the second highest total for public land in the state. In the United States, the Southwest is the most popular region. There are 50 acres of wildlife habitat plots that are maintained annually. Its not as difficult to find good dogs and a diverse range of birds in natural areas as it is to find good deer in urban areas. In addition to the big game opportunities, you could also potentially combine your adventure with an antelope or fall turkey hunt for more value. Sep 7, 2019 #2 Colberjs Member Joined Sep 3, 2013 Messages 798 Location Eastern, OK From my understanding, the panhandle is your best opportunity. 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best deer hunting wma in oklahoma