In addition to general hunting regulations, statewide species regulations and Department-managed area rules, this section addresses special regulations that apply to public hunting lands. If a species or season is not listed, refer to statewide seasons and regulations.
Areas are closed to all activities during controlled hunts and other listed closure dates.
Areas with controlled hunts are subject to change annually. Visit wildlifedepartment.com to view and apply for elk, antelope, deer, youth deer, deer hunts for Motor Vehicle or Non-Ambulatory Permittees, spring turkey and youth spring turkey controlled hunts.
The application period for controlled hunts generally opens in early April. Visit wildlifedepartment.com for exact dates.
Conservation Passport Area: People who use Department-owned areas for nonhunting or nonfishing activities, such as birdwatching or photography, are required to have either a Wildlife Conservation Passport or any current hunting or fishing license issued by the Wildlife Department. For complete conservation passport license information see Special Licenses & Permits.
= Conservation Passport Area
McAlester AAP
Pittsburg County
Area Contact: (918) 470-6296
Game Warden: (918) 429-3908, (918) 470-5097
Hunting Restrictions
All hunting seasons are closed except controlled deer and turkey hunts.
All shotgun hunting is restricted to federally approved nontoxic shot on both Billy Creek and Chouteau WDU portions.
Closed Seasons
Bear Archery, Bear Muzzleloader
Same As Statewide Seasons
Deer Archery, Youth Deer Gun, Deer Muzzleloader, Deer Gun, Holiday Antlerless Deer Gun, Dove, Rail, Gallinule, Crow, Turkey Fall Archery, Turkey Fall Gun, Trapping, Turkey Spring, Youth Turkey Spring
Seasons w/ Special Restrictions
Quail, Snipe, Woodcock, Rabbit, Squirrel, Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers, Predator/ Furbearer Calling: Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season.
Waterfowl: Hunting hours for waterfowl close at 1 p.m. daily on the WDU portions.
Additional Restrictions
Vann’s Lake Refuge is closed to public access except for controlled hunt permittees on the days of their hunt. Public access for wildlife viewing is allowed from Old Highway 69 road and bridge as signed. Lands east of Old Highway 69 are open to fishing and nonhunting use from Feb. 1 - Oct. 14. Lands west of new U.S. 69 are open for hunting, fishing and public use from Feb. 1 - Oct. 14.
The discharge of firearms for purposes other than hunting is prohibited.
No camping allowed.
McCurtain County Wilderness Area -
McCurtain County
Area Contact: (580) 298-7152
Game Warden: (580) 513-6866, (580) 513-4963, (580) 513-4651
Hunting Restrictions
All hunting seasons are closed except controlled deer and turkey hunts.
Additional Restrictions
The self-guided nature trail is open year-round.
No public entry, except by persons possessing prior written permission from the Director of the Department or his designated representatives; Department employees; or by the Oklahoma Board of Agriculture, Division of Forestry personnel engaged in fire protection or suppression activities.
No camping allowed, except by permit.
McGee Creek WMA
Atoka County
Area Contact: (580) 320-3173
Game Warden: (580) 513-4823, (580) 513-0081
Area closed to all activities for controlled deer hunts Oct. 27-29, and Nov. 17-19, 2023.
Dove, Bear Archery, Turkey Fall Archery, Deer Archery
Seasons w/ Special Restrictions
Quail: Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season.
Rail, Gallinule, Crow, Snipe, Woodcock, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel: Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through the first nine days of deer gun season.
Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers, Predator/Furbearer Calling: Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through the first nine days of deer gun season and closed during spring turkey season.
Trapping: Open to water sets, live box traps and enclosed trigger traps only.
Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers, Predator/Furbearer Calling: Closed from opening day of deer archery season through the first nine days of deer gun season.
Trapping: Open to water sets, live box traps and enclosed trigger traps only.
Quail, Dove, Rail, Gallinule, Crow, Rabbit, Squirrel, Snipe, Woodcock, Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers, Predator/Furbearer Calling, Trapping: Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through the first nine days of deer gun season.
Waterfowl: Hunting hours for waterfowl close at 1 p.m. daily on the WDU portion.
Quail, Dove, Rail, Gallinule, Snipe, Squirrel, Woodcock, Rabbit, Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers, Predator/Furbearer Calling, Trapping: Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through the first nine days of deer gun season.
Turkey Fall Gun: Tom only, shotgun only.
Crow: Open Dec. 9 - March 4.
Waterfowl: Hunting hours for waterfowl close at 1 p.m. daily on the WDU portion.
Deer Archery, Youth Deer Gun, Deer Muzzleloader, Deer Gun: Goose Island is archery only. All other portions of the WMA are open to legal means of taking for each particular season.
Quail, Snipe, Woodcock, Rabbit, Squirrel, Predator/Furbearer Calling: Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season.
Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers: Closed during deer gun season.
Waterfowl: Hunting hours for waterfowl close at 1 p.m. daily on the WDU portions.
Additional Restrictions
The portion of Oologah WMA known as Goose Island is restricted to shotguns with pellets and archery only.
Hunter and angler camping is allowed in designated areas.
Optima NWR
Texas County
Area Contact: (580) 664-2205
Game Warden: (580) 651-9134
All hunting is restricted to shotgun or archery only.
Closed Seasons
Deer Gun, Deer Muzzleloader, Youth Deer Gun, Holiday Antlerless Deer Gun, Turkey Fall Gun, Rail, Snipe, Gallinule, Woodcock, Crow, Waterfowl, Squirrel, Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers, Predator/Furbearer Calling, Trapping, Crane
Same as Statewide Seasons
Dove, Quail, Pheasant
Seasons w/ Special Restrictions
Deer Archery, Turkey Fall Archery, Rabbit: Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season.
Dove, Rail, Gallinule, Crow, Waterfowl, Predator/Furbearer Calling, Trapping: Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season.
Quail, Snipe, Woodcock, Rabbit, Squirrel: Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through the first nine days of deer gun season.
Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers: Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season and closed during spring turkey season.
Quail, Snipe, Woodcock, Rabbit, Squirrel, Predator/Furbearer Calling, Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers: Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season.
Cedar Lake, Billy Creek and Winding Stair recreation area campgrounds in the Ouachita WMA are closed to hunting.
Special U.S. Forest Service regulations apply to this area, including rules on baiting, OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle)/ATV use and treestands. Go to www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/ or a Forest Service visitor center for more information.
Camping is allowed in accordance with U.S. Forest Service regulations, except on the Homer L. Johnston portion, where camping is allowed only in designated areas during deer and turkey seasons.
Ouachita WMA - McCurtain & Tiak Units
McCurtain County
Area Contact: (580) 298-7152, (580) 513-5020 (Tiak)
Game Warden: (580) 513-6866, (580) 513-4963, (580) 513-4651
Special U.S. Forest Service regulations apply to this area, including rules on baiting, OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle)/ATV use and treestands. Go online to www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/ or a Forest Service visitor center for more information.
Camping is allowed in accordance with U.S. Forest Service regulations.
Ozark Plateau NWR - Sally Bull Hollow Unit
Adair County
Area Contact: 918-326-0156
Game Warden: (918) 431-2546, (918) 431-2539
All shotgun hunting is restricted to federally approved nontoxic shot.
Hunters must possess and carry a signed refuge hunt tearsheet. This serves as a valid permit for refuge hunts while in the field. The permit is available free of charge at the refuge headquarters, at Sally Bull Hollow Unit parking area or at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ozark-plateau/visit-us/activities/hunting
Closed Seasons
Deer Gun, Deer Muzzleloader, Youth Deer Gun, Holiday Antlerless Deer Gun, Turkey Fall Archery, Turkey Fall Gun, Youth Turkey Spring, Turkey Spring, Quail, Rail, Gallinule, Crow, Dove, Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers, Predator/Furbearer Calling, Trapping, Waterfowl
Same as Statewide Seasons
Deer Archery, Squirrel, Rabbit
Additional Restrictions
Incidental take of feral hogs by the public during established hunting seasons for other species (e.g., big game and upland game) with legal weapons and permits for the permitted hunt season.
Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers: Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through the first nine days of deer gun season and closed during spring turkey season.
Crow, Quail, Snipe, Woodcock, Rabbit, Squirrel, Predator/Furbearer Calling: Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season.
Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers: Dogs not permitted on WMA from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset during deer gun, deer muzzleloader and youth deer gun seasons.
Bear Archery, Dove, Turkey Fall Archery, Deer Archery, Trapping
Seasons w/ Special Restrictions
Quail: Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season.
Rail, Gallinule, Crow, Snipe, Woodcock, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel: Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through the first nine days of deer gun season.
Pursuit with hounds for Furbearers, Predator/Furbearer Calling: Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through the first nine days of deer gun season and closed during spring turkey season.
