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Hunting from Osage County

Hunting land and seasons near Bowring, OK

Public hunting land measured from Bowring, the antlerless deer zone and elk zone of Osage County, controlled hunts within reach, legal light and the processors and shops nearby.

24,418 Public acres close in
6 Close-in hunting lands
9 Within a 25-mile drive
2 ODWC antlerless zone
Northeast Elk zone(s)

Photo: Two-track road across golden tallgrass prairie under big clouds in Osage County; elsewhere in Osage County, a nearby stand-in. Jack Gray (CC BY 2.0)

Out in the Cross Timbers, Oklahoma City and the post oak and blackjack country between the Canadian rivers, the Census-designated place of Bowring belongs to Osage County. This page is here for Osage Wildlife Management Area – Rock Creek Unit, whose edge is within 5 miles of Bowring. Of all towns near Osage Wildlife Management Area – Western Wall Unit, Bowring came out closest, with the line 8.9 miles out. Population for Bowring, a designated place without a charter, is missing from the 2024 series. 6 listed areas sit within 10 miles of Bowring: about 24,418 mapped public acres. Within 25 miles the map holds 9 listed areas, roughly 43,925 public acres in all. ODWC, federal and Corps polygons cover about 59,496 acres of Osage County, with 39,393 acres of ODWC area land and 44,582 acres of Corps fee land among them. The straight line from Bowring meets Hulah Lake (Corps), with its closest edge 1.7 miles out first.

7 WMA land
0 Walk-in tracts
0 Federal land
2 Corps and Dept. lakes

Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer; public acreage and boundary miles within 10 and 25 miles are a GIS measure over the ODWC WMA layer and USFS, USFWS, Corps and NPS boundaries (places.json; area counts are within 25 miles); OLAP tract acres from the ODWC OLAP layer. ODWC region from the ODWC administrative boundaries layer. Checked November 3, 2026.

Nearby

Places to hunt and shoot around Bowring

Hulah Lake (Corps of Engineers)

Public land · 4 mi from Bowring

Directions
Copan Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 12 mi from Bowring

Directions
Shooting Ranges Near Bartlesville

Range · 14 mi from Bowring

Directions
Osage County

County · 24 mi from Bowring

Directions
Nowata County

County · 29 mi from Bowring

Directions

Bowring public land ranked by miles

Rows run by nearest boundary, then by mapped-point miles; each land page carries the special regulations, contacts and zones.

NameHow farLand typeManagerWhat it takesSize (ac)Notes
Hulah Lake (Corps)1.7 mi NCorps lakeCorpsCorps hunting areas–No acreage given
Hulah WMA2.1 mi NWWMAODWCArea rules16,162Nonresident check-in
Osage WMA – Rock Creek Unit core area5.0 mi SWWMA unitODWCArea rules3,722Nonresident check-in
Copan Lake (Corps)7.9 mi ECorps lakeCorpsCorps hunting areas–No acreage given
Osage WMA – Western Wall Unit core area8.9 mi WWMA unitODWCArea rules7,329Nonresident check-in
Copan WMA9.2 mi NEWMAODWCArea rules7,532Nonresident check-in
Osage WMA11 mi WWMAODWC–11,051Nonresident check-in
John Dahl WMA23 mi WWMAODWCArea rules480Nonresident check-in
Candy Creek WMA24 mi SWMAODWCArea rules605Nonresident check-in
Osage County OLAP walk-in H00230 mi SOLAP walk-inODWC leaseLand Access Permit162–
Skiatook WMA35 mi SWMAODWCArea rules5,085Non-amb. acres odd
Osage County OLAP walk-in H00635 mi WOLAP walk-inODWC leaseLand Access Permit90Native Range with a Po
Oologah WMA35 mi SEWMAODWCArea rules14,086Nonresident check-in
Skiatook Lake (Corps)35 mi SCorps lakeCorpsCorps hunting areas–No acreage given

The biggest single piece of ground here is Hulah WMA: 16,162 acres. Within 25 miles there are 7 ODWC-managed areas and 2 lake or park areas. On Hulah WMA, ODWC allows camping for up to 16 straight days, keeps vehicles to open roads and limits target shooting to designated ranges. ODWC lists (918) 629-5108 for hunting questions there. Nonresidents must check in before hunting Hulah WMA. 2 OLAP walk-in or limited access tracts sit within reach; Osage County OLAP walk-in H002 comes first. Hulah Lake (Corps) land open to hunting follows the Oklahoma seasons, away from parks, dams and other structures. On Hulah WMA, the Wetland Development Units are nontoxic-shot only with a 1 p.m. close.

Six nearest areas from Bowring

  • Hulah WMA: 16,162 acres; motor-vehicle access acres 1,087; seasons for deer, dove, turkey, quail, rabbit; 2025 deer taken 261; 12 designated primitive camp sites are located throughout the area (map PDF)
  • Osage WMA – Rock Creek Unit: 3,722 acres; motor-vehicle access acres 423; open for deer, dove, waterfowl, turkey, quail; one primitive camp ground is located on the Rock Creek unit (ODWC area map)
  • Osage WMA – Western Wall Unit: 7,329 acres; acres for non-ambulatory permits 423; hunted for turkey, deer, dove, waterfowl, quail; one primitive camp ground is located on the Rock Creek unit (area map)
  • Copan WMA: 7,532 acres; drive-in acres (permit) 402; seasons for deer, dove, turkey, quail, rabbit; 2025 deer taken 171; limited to Corps of Engineers sites only (ODWC area map)

Lands from ODWC area pages, Public Hunting Areas special regulations and the OLAP layer, USFWS, USFS, NPS, Corps and installation records (lands.json; each land page cites its own source); 2025 deer harvest by area from the ODWC 2025-26 big game harvest report. Boundary miles from places.json, other miles to each mapped point. Area rules from the Department-Managed Area Rules. Checked November 3, 2026.

ODWC harvest counts for Bowring

The 2025 county deer harvest for Osage County came to 5,062, private and non-WMA land only. That is up 7% from 4,739 in 2024. Rifles and shotguns: 3,309; archery: 1,287. The busiest nearby area for deer in 2025 was Hulah WMA: 261 checked. Osage County also reported 1 elk in 2025. County turkey harvest is not published; statewide spring 2025 came to an estimated 11,232.

SeasonDeerGunMuzzleloaderArcheryAntlered
2021-224,0552,7083381,0092,436
2022-235,4093,5063831,5202,963
2023-244,3792,9674101,0022,466
2024-254,7393,2222631,2542,526
2025-265,0623,3094661,2872,877
Nearby area20242025
Hulah WMA279261
Copan WMA139171
Candy Creek WMA2728

County deer harvest from the ODWC big game reports (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025); area harvest and 2025 elk, bear, mule deer and pronghorn from the 2025-26 big game harvest report; turkey from the ODWC Game Harvest Survey. Checked November 3, 2026.

What changes at the county line near Bowring

Before hunting out of Bowring, find the county and zone you will stand in; its row sets the limits.

CountyDoe zoneAntlerless limitElkFall turkey gunOther
Osage County this county24/4NortheastOpenPheasant
Washington County3, 22/2; 4/4NortheastOpen–

Antlerless deer in Osage County follow Zone 2; zone lines are drawn along roads, so look at the map near the edge. (Zone 2; antlerless deer zone map.) The zone sets the doe count: Zone 2: 4 antlerless by muzzleloader and 4 by gun. The six-deer combined limit (two antlered) leaves holiday antlerless and controlled-hunt deer outside the count. Youth gun days fall on October 16 to October 18, before the muzzleloader opener on October 24. Osage County lies in the Northeast Zone for elk, open on private land with written landowner permission (a zone quota of 20 in the Northeast Zone). (Northeast Zone.) Osage County keeps a fall gun turkey season this year, October 31 to November 20. ODWC lists Osage County among the 13 full pheasant counties. Duck season near Bowring uses the Zones 1 and 2 calendar, opening November 14, 2026. Jackrabbit and crane hunting stop at I-35, so not in Osage County. Bait rules: none on ODWC areas, none near turkey hunting, and federal migratory bird baiting rules for ducks and doves.

Zones from the ODWC antlerless deer zone map (county shares are a GIS overlay; the legal line is the road), ODWC elk zones, the bear area, fall turkey counties, the pheasant area, waterfowl zones, the crane area and the CWD surveillance areas; limits and baiting from the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations and ODWC turkey regulations. Checked November 3, 2026.

Bowring game processors, taxidermists and shops

ODWC licenses commercial hunting areas but keeps no hunting guide list, so the guide rows are preserves and directory listings. To give venison to food banks, Peck's Custom Butchering (12 mi) is a Hunters Against Hunger processor. Lakeside Taxidermy (Copan) is the taxidermy listing closest to Bowring. For gear, the first store listed is Bartlesville Shooting Supply in Bartlesville. For a fee hunt, Big Game Hunting Lodge & Leather at Ramona is the first listing.

Kind15 mi35 miClosest listingDistanceIn
Deer cutting14Peck's Custom Butchering12 mi SEDewey
Taxidermists12Lakeside Taxidermy11 mi ECopan
Hunting retailers67Bartlesville Shooting Supply11 mi SEBartlesville
Licensed hunting areas02Big Game Hunting Lodge & Leather27 mi SERamona

Deer cutting

Peck's Custom Butchering

Game processor, Hunters Against Hunger · Dewey, Washington County · about 12 mi away

Barnsdall Meat Processing

Game processor · Barnsdall, Osage County · about 22 mi away

Mike's Deer Barn

Game processor · Ramona, Washington County · about 28 mi away

Taxidermists

Lakeside Taxidermy

Taxidermist · Copan, Washington County · about 11 mi away

Heads N Hides Taxidermy

Taxidermist · Bartlesville, Washington County · about 20 mi away

Obsession's Taxidermy

Taxidermist · Kaw City, Kay County · about 42 mi away

Hunting retailers

Bartlesville Shooting Supply

Gun shop · Bartlesville, Washington County · about 11 mi away

Guns of Glory (GoG)

Gun shop · Dewey, Washington County · about 12 mi away

Defient Arms

Gun shop · Bartlesville, Washington County · about 12 mi away

Licensed hunting areas

Big Game Hunting Lodge & Leather

Commercial hunting area · Ramona, Washington County · about 27 mi away

Tucker Creek Outdoors

Commercial hunting area, Upland Game license · Avant, Osage County · about 27 mi away

Processors from the ODWC game processor list (Hunters Against Hunger column) and Yellow Pages; commercial hunting areas from the ODWC commercial hunt area list; taxidermists and shops from Yellow Pages and chain store locators (services.json). Listings without coordinates are placed at their town. Checked November 3, 2026; hours were not checked.

Bowring controlled hunt areas

From Bowring, the closest controlled-hunt ground is Copan Lake (Corps), 9.7 mi out. Missed it? The 2026 controlled hunt deadline was May 20, 2026. Half of elk and pronghorn permits go to applicants with 20 or more preference points, the other half to everyone.

AreaMiles offKindWhat was drawnPermits
Copan Lake (Corps)9.7 miCorps lakeMotor vehicle or non-ambulatory permit deer5
Osage WMA – Western Wall Unit11 miWMA unitDeer, Youth deer30
Candy Creek WMA27 miWMADeer24
Skiatook Lake (Corps)35 miCorps lakeYouth deer4
Oologah Lake (Corps)37 miCorps lakeMotor vehicle or non-ambulatory permit deer9
Kaw Lake (Corps)43 miCorps lakeYouth deer6

2025 controlled hunt results per area from the ODWC controlled hunts results (lands.json, controlled_hunts_2025); rules and dates from the ODWC controlled hunts page. Checked November 3, 2026.

Seasons open near Bowring

Elk, bear, pronghorn, pheasant and sandhill crane seasons only cover part of the state, so the area column tells you whether a row reaches Osage County.

GameSeasonAreaOpensClosesToday
White-tailed deerArcheryZone 2, 7, 8Oct 1, 2026Jan 15, 2027
White-tailed deerYouth gunZone 2, 7, 8Oct 16, 2026Oct 18, 2026
White-tailed deerMuzzleloaderZone 2, 7, 8Oct 24, 2026Nov 1, 2026
White-tailed deerGunZone 2, 7, 8Nov 21, 2026Dec 6, 2026
White-tailed deerHoliday antlerlessZone 2, 7, 8Dec 18, 2026Dec 31, 2026
Mule deerAll deer seasonsStatewideOct 1, 2026Jan 15, 2027
ElkArcheryNortheast elk zoneOct 1, 2026Jan 15, 2027
ElkYouth elk gunNortheast elk zoneOct 16, 2026Oct 18, 2026
ElkMuzzleloaderNortheast elk zoneOct 24, 2026Nov 1, 2026
ElkGunNortheast elk zoneNov 21, 2026Dec 6, 2026
ElkHoliday antlerless elkNortheast elk zoneDec 18, 2026Dec 31, 2026
Wild turkeyYouth fall turkeyOpen countiesOct 16, 2026Oct 18, 2026
Wild turkeyFall GunOpen countiesOct 31, 2026Nov 20, 2026
Wild turkeyFall ArcheryStatewideOct 1, 2026Jan 15, 2027
Wild turkeyYouth SpringStatewideApr 10, 2027Apr 11, 2027
Wild turkeySpringStatewideApr 16, 2027May 16, 2027
Feral hogsPrivate landPrivate landJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027
QuailSeasonStatewideNov 14, 2026Feb 15, 2027
PheasantSeasonPheasant countiesDec 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027
RabbitsSeasonStatewideOct 1, 2026Mar 15, 2027
SquirrelsSeasonStatewideMay 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027
DovesSegment 1StatewideSep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026
DovesSegment 2StatewideDec 1, 2026Dec 29, 2026
TealSeptember TealStatewideSep 12, 2026Sep 20, 2026
DucksYouth and veteran dayZones 1 and 2Nov 7, 2026Nov 7, 2026
DucksRegular segment 1Zones 1 and 2Nov 14, 2026Dec 6, 2026
DucksRegular segment 2Zones 1 and 2Dec 12, 2026Jan 31, 2027
DucksYouth and veteran dayZones 1 and 2Feb 6, 2027Feb 6, 2027
Canada geeseSeptember Canada gooseStatewideSep 12, 2026Sep 21, 2026
Dark geeseSegment 1StatewideNov 7, 2026Dec 6, 2026
Dark geeseSegment 2StatewideDec 12, 2026Feb 14, 2027
SpecklebelliesSegment 1StatewideNov 7, 2026Dec 6, 2026
SpecklebelliesSegment 2StatewideDec 12, 2026Feb 7, 2027
Light geeseSegment 1StatewideNov 7, 2026Dec 6, 2026
Light geeseSegment 2StatewideDec 12, 2026Feb 14, 2027
Light geeseConservation orderStatewideFeb 15, 2027Mar 30, 2027
WoodcockSeasonStatewideNov 7, 2026Dec 21, 2026
CoyoteYear-roundStatewideJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027
BobcatFurbearer seasonStatewideDec 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
Gray foxFurbearer seasonStatewideDec 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
Red foxFurbearer seasonStatewideDec 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
RaccoonYear-roundStatewideJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027
Prairie dogYear-roundStatewideJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027
BeaverYear-roundStatewideJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027
NutriaYear-roundStatewideJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027
Striped skunkYear-roundStatewideJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027
BullfrogsYear-roundStatewideJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027
RailsSeasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026
GallinulesSeasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026
SnipeSeasonStatewideSep 26, 2026Jan 10, 2027
CrowsSegment 1StatewideOct 10, 2026Nov 16, 2026
River otterFurbearer seasonStatewideDec 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
BadgerFurbearer seasonStatewideDec 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
MinkFurbearer seasonStatewideDec 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
MuskratFurbearer seasonStatewideDec 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
OpossumFurbearer seasonStatewideDec 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
WeaselFurbearer seasonStatewideDec 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027
CrowsSegment 2StatewideDec 9, 2026Mar 4, 2027
RattlesnakesSeasonStatewideMar 1, 2027Jun 30, 2027

Deer taken Jan. 1-15 count toward the 2026 limit.

From the ODWC hunting regulations and the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation), checked November 3, 2026.

Dates a short trip from Bowring

The 30-mile radius around Bowring catches 4 upcoming listings; the kinds are DU chapter dinner, ODWC controlled hunt and ODWC youth draw. Entry to the 3 controlled hunts came through the spring draw on Go Outdoors Oklahoma.

Coming up

WhenListingHow farArea or venueNext stepRead at
Nov 6–17, 2026Osage-Western Wall WMA deer controlled hunt11Event details
next Nov 6–11
2 hunts left
20 permits
muzzleloader
Source, checked 11/2/2026
Nov 18–23, 2026Osage WMA youth deer hunt11Event details
next Nov 18–23
10 permits
gun
age 14-15
Source, checked 11/2/2026
Dec 4–6, 2026Copan COE Parks motor vehicle deer controlled hunt10Event details
next Dec 4–6
5 permits
gun
age 14+
Source, checked 11/2/2026
Aug 21, 2027Bartlesville Dinner · DU chapter dinner14
Bartlesville: Hilton Garden Inn
Buy tickets
starts 5:30 p.m.
Source, checked 11/2/2026

An Oklahoma date missing around here? Tell us

Bowring hunters: clubs and WMA benches close by

Every card gives the access rule for Bowring shooters.

Copan WMA Shooting Range
ODWC WMA range

Copan, Washington County · 10 mi

Set up for: 100 yd rifle, 50 yd pistol, archery tower

Public, license needed · wildlifedepartment.com, checked Nov 2, 2026

Guns of Glory
indoor range

Dewey, Washington County · 12 mi

Set up for: handgun, rifle, shotgun, action pistol, rimfire

Members only · boisegunclub.com, checked Nov 2, 2026

Bartlesville Sportsmens Club
sporting clays course

Bartlesville, Washington County · 12 mi

Set up for: trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun

Members only · boisegunclub.com, checked Nov 2, 2026

Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 3, 2026.

Bowring: ODWC office, supervisor and wardens

ODWC Northeast Region Office (Miami), 61091 E. 120 Road, Miami, is the nearest ODWC office. Osage County is in the ODWC Central Region, whose wildlife supervisor is Jeff Pennington, phone (405) 650-0149. Hank Jenks captains the game wardens of District 1, Osage County among them. The Osage County warden phones on ODWC area pages are (918) 440-9880, (580) 761-4097 and (918) 381-4099. On the Wildlife Conservation Commission map, Osage County is District 1.

ODWC office, Miami

69 mi E

61091 E. 120 Road, Miami, OK 74354

(918) 542-9422

ODWC at Porter

77 mi SE

9097 N. 34th St. W., Porter, OK 74454

(918) 683-1031

Offices from the ODWC offices list, game warden districts and captains from the ODWC game warden directory, region supervisors from the ODWC administrative boundaries layer, county warden phones from ODWC area pages (counties.json, services.json, lands.json). Offices without a geocoded address are measured to their town. Checked November 3, 2026.

Bowring legal shooting light

Quail and pheasant hours are sunrise to sunset, shorter than the big game window, and OLAP walk-in land closes to them at 4:30 p.m.

DateSeason pointSunriseSunsetBig gameWaterfowlQuail
Oct 1, 2026Archery deer opens7:20 a.m.7:11 p.m.6:50 a.m.–7:41 p.m.6:50 a.m.–7:11 p.m.7:20 a.m.–7:11 p.m.
Oct 24, 2026Muzzleloader opens7:40 a.m.6:39 p.m.7:10 a.m.–7:09 p.m.7:10 a.m.–6:39 p.m.7:40 a.m.–6:39 p.m.
Nov 21, 2026Gun deer opens7:09 a.m.5:14 p.m.6:39 a.m.–5:44 p.m.6:39 a.m.–5:14 p.m.7:09 a.m.–5:14 p.m.
Dec 6, 2026Gun deer closes7:24 a.m.5:10 p.m.6:54 a.m.–5:40 p.m.6:54 a.m.–5:10 p.m.7:24 a.m.–5:10 p.m.
Dec 21, 2026Shortest day7:34 a.m.5:13 p.m.7:04 a.m.–5:43 p.m.7:04 a.m.–5:13 p.m.7:34 a.m.–5:13 p.m.
Jan 15, 2027Archery closes7:37 a.m.5:32 p.m.7:07 a.m.–6:02 p.m.7:07 a.m.–5:32 p.m.7:37 a.m.–5:32 p.m.
Apr 16, 2027Spring turkey6:52 a.m.7:59 p.m.6:22 a.m.–8:29 p.m.6:22 a.m.–7:59 p.m.6:52 a.m.–7:59 p.m.

Clock time: Central Daylight Time until Nov. 1, 2026 and from March 14, 2027.

Hours rules from the ODWC big game regulations and the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Central Time); checked November 3, 2026. Legal hours for every county.

Asked about Bowring

What are the closest town pages to Bowring?

Whippoorwill, Copan, Bartlesville and Pawhuska, nearest first.

Driving out of Bowring, what is the first public hunting area I come to?

By straight line it is Hulah Lake (Corps), with its closest edge 1.7 miles out. The runner-up by distance is Hulah WMA, with its closest edge 2.1 miles out.

How many listed hunting areas lie within 10 miles of Bowring?

6 areas inside 10 miles, 9 areas inside 25.

Does an antlerless zone line cross Osage County?

No. The GIS overlay shows Zone 2 in Osage County.

What date does rifle season for deer open around Bowring?

November 21, 2026.

What are the elk rules for Osage County?

Private land with written permission in the Northeast Zone, E-Check within 24 hours, and check the quota first.

Do archers near Bowring need orange during gun season?

Yes, an orange head covering or outer garment above the waist during any open firearm season for big game.

What evidence of sex must stay on an Oklahoma deer?

It stays naturally attached until the animal is reported; quartered deer keep the head and sex organs.

Is hunting deer over bait legal on private land in Osage County?

The regulations read found no statewide private-land deer bait ban; check any lease rules.

Are Oklahoma seasons open seven days a week?

Yes, seasons run every day of the week.

What is OLAP, and is there any near Bowring?

The Oklahoma Land Access Program leases private land for walk-in hunting; 2 tracts lie within reach, the nearest Osage County OLAP walk-in H002.

Where is the nearest game processor to Bowring?

Peck's Custom Butchering, Dewey, about 12 mi from Bowring.

Which ODWC law enforcement district includes Bowring?

District 1, under Captain Hank Jenks.

Answers from places.json, lands.json, counties.json, services.json and the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations; reporting from ODWC, hunter orange from the ODWC big game regulations, baiting from ODWC, Sunday hunting from ODWC seasons, the Land Access Permit from the ODWC license fees, CWD from ODWC. Checked November 3, 2026.

Bowring trip checklist

Before leaving Bowring, confirm the county and antlerless zone of the land you picked and whether it needs a Land Access Permit or a check-in.

Other photos on this page: Lane Pearman (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Pondfishfarmer (CC BY-SA 4.0); Shiva Shenoy (CC BY 4.0); Kool Cats Photography (CC BY 2.0); Jack Gray (CC BY 2.0); Guy Teague (CC BY-SA 2.0); Thesagemarmot (CC BY-SA 3.0).