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Hunting seasons
Oklahoma Department-Managed Area Rules
The rules on WMAs and other ODWC lands: stands, bait, camping, drones, hogs, check-in, passports, permits and non-ambulatory acres.
Photo: Jack Gray (CC BY 2.0)
The Department-Managed Area Rules
Department-Managed Area Rules apply on WMAs and other lands ODWC owns or manages, including Corps of Engineers land licensed to ODWC. Each area can add its own special regulations; where an area lists nothing, statewide seasons apply.
- Stands, camping and vehicles: Portable stands only, removed within 14 days after the hunt; equipment marked with customer ID; camping limits (16 consecutive days; 21 in 30); no ATVs except designated; horses restricted Oct 1-Jan 1 and spring turkey; bird-dog training closed June 1-Aug 31; public lands not listed as open are closed; under-14s supervised.
- Bait: Unlawful to place and/or hunt over bait on lands owned or managed by ODWC, including Corps lands licensed to ODWC.
- Drones and night optics: Drones and possession of thermal or night-vision devices prohibited on ODWC lands; drones allowed on private land to scout or recover wounded game with warden notification, flight recording and no hunting in that area that day.
- Horse riders: Horse riders on WMAs during deer muzzleloader and gun seasons: head covering and outer garment totaling 400 sq. in. orange.
- Feral hogs: Closed year-round at Hackberry Flat WMA/WRP, Kaw, Sandy Sanders and Waurika WMAs. No dogs or night pursuit during deer and turkey seasons (night pursuit closed Oct 1-Jan 15 and spring turkey); no firearms at night; hunting license required; no live removal.
- Shooting ranges and OLAP access: WMA shooting ranges official sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; OLAP access two hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
- Foraging: Fruits, nuts, berries and fungi may be gathered on Department-owned WMAs March 1-15 and June 1-Aug 15, one gallon per person (new).
- Waterfowl: WDUs: nontoxic shot only for all shotgun hunting, no lead possession, waterfowl shooting ends 1 p.m. WRPs closed to all public use Oct 15-Jan 31 except controlled hunt permittees; nontoxic shot only.
- Entering with a gun or dog where not permitted: $25-$100 and/or 10-30 days. (29 O.S. § 7-304)
From the ODWC Department-Managed Area Rules, the ODWC general hunting regulations, the 2026-2027 regulations guide pp. 52-54 and Title 29, checked November 3, 2026.
Check-in, passports and permits on ODWC land
- Nonresident check-in: Free check-in/check-out for nonresidents at listed WMAs, lakes and other public areas. 109 areas in this guide are on the list.
- Wildlife Conservation Passport: Age 18+ entering Department-owned lands without a hunting/fishing license; $46 resident / $239 nonresident a year or $26 resident / $51 nonresident for three days. 63 areas are marked Conservation Passport Areas.
- Land Access Permit: $100 resident / $200 nonresident; Required on OLAP properties and Honobia Creek, Three Rivers and Herron Family WMAs; 3-day special use permit for residents for non-hunting uses.
- Nonresident Game Bird Permit: $100; Any age hunting game birds on a WMA (GMA, PHA, WRP, WDU, WMU).
Department lands that need the Land Access Permit
| Area | Counties | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Herron Family WMA | McCurtain | 17,563 |
| Honobia Creek WMA | Pushmataha | 78,998 |
| Three Rivers WMA | McCurtain, Pushmataha | 185,199 |
From the ODWC nonresident check-in page, the ODWC license fees and lands.json, checked November 3, 2026.
Non-ambulatory hunting acres on ODWC land
43 areas list non-ambulatory acres, open to motor-vehicle access for holders of the non-ambulatory permit. Allow hunting from a stopped vehicle with engine off; off-road use only on designated areas.
| Area | Counties | Non-ambulatory acres | Area acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wister WMA | Le Flore | 35,469 | 35,500 |
| Sandy Sanders WMA | Beckham, Greer +1 | 29,503 | 19,100 |
| Mountain Park WMA | Kiowa | 7,257 | 5,000 |
| Hackberry Flat WMA | Tillman | 7,075 | 7,566 |
| Oologah WMA | Nowata, Rogers | 6,910 | 14,086 |
| Skiatook WMA | Osage | 6,888 | 5,085 |
| Keystone WMA | Creek, Osage +1 | 3,964 | 20,686 |
| Altus-Lugert WMA | Greer, Kiowa | 3,148 | 3,600 |
| Spavinaw GMA | Delaware, Mayes | 2,814 | 11,986 |
| Yourman WMA | Latimer | 2,435 | 2,860 |
| Beaver River WMA | Beaver | 2,352 | 18,624 |
| Fort Gibson PHA | Cherokee, Mayes +1 | 2,282 | 21,798 |
| Kaw WMA | Kay, Osage | 2,160 | 17,450 |
| James Collins WMA | Latimer, Pittsburg | 1,786 | 21,353 |
| Waurika WMA | Cotton, Jefferson +1 | 1,783 | 10,580 |
From the ODWC area pages in lands.json and the ODWC license page, checked November 3, 2026.
Fall evening light on the flooded shore of Keystone Lake. Photo: Pondfishfarmer (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Elevated deer stand at a field edge. Photo: colmmcsky (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Hunter in blaze orange looking through a rifle scope from a deer stand in the woods. Photo: Maslowski, Steve, USFWS (Public domain)
Oklahoma Department-Managed Area Rules: answers
Do nonresidents check in on WMAs?
Free check-in/check-out for nonresidents at listed WMAs, lakes and other public areas. 109 areas in this guide are on the list.
Can I fly a drone on a WMA?
No. Drones and possession of thermal or night-vision devices are prohibited on ODWC lands.
Are feral hogs open at night on ODWC land?
No firearms at night, and night pursuit is closed October 1 to January 15 and during spring turkey season; some WMAs are closed to hogs year-round.
Can I pick berries on a WMA?
Fruits, nuts, berries and fungi may be gathered on Department-owned WMAs March 1-15 and June 1-Aug 15, one gallon per person (new).
How long may a portable stand stay on ODWC land?
Only portable stands are allowed, and they must be removed within 14 days after the hunt and marked with your ODWC customer ID.
When is bird-dog training closed on WMAs?
June 1 to August 31.
How long can I camp on a WMA?
16 consecutive days, and no more than 21 days in 30.
May hunters place bait on ODWC-managed land?
Unlawful to place and/or hunt over bait on lands owned or managed by ODWC, including Corps lands licensed to ODWC.
Other photos on this page: Pondfishfarmer (CC BY-SA 4.0); colmmcsky (CC BY-SA 2.0); Maslowski, Steve, USFWS (Public domain).