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Oklahoma public hunting area
Cherokee Public Hunting Area hunting
What the sources say about this public hunting area, 16,000 acres, in Cherokee County.
Photo: usacetulsa (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Cherokee Public Hunting Area
How ODWC runs Cherokee PHA
On Cherokee PHA the Department-Managed Area Rules apply, so stands must be portable, nothing may be baited and everything left out carries your customer ID number. Cherokee PHA is on the ODWC list of areas where nonresident hunters must check in and out. Bring a license or a Wildlife Conservation Passport ($46 resident / $239 nonresident) even when you only scout Cherokee PHA out of season.
ODWC prints 22 season lines for Cherokee PHA: 2 closed, 4 on statewide dates and 16 with an extra restriction.
| Hunt | On this area | ODWC wording |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday Antlerless Deer Gun | Closed | – |
| Turkey Fall Gun | Closed | – |
| Deer Archery | Statewide dates | – |
| Turkey Fall Archery | Statewide dates | – |
| Youth Deer Gun | Statewide dates | – |
| Deer Muzzleloader | Statewide dates | – |
| Deer Gun | Restricted | Closed to antlerless hunting. |
| Dove | Restricted | Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season. |
| Rail | Restricted | Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season. |
| Gallinule | Restricted | Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season. |
| Crow | Restricted | Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season. |
| Snipe | Restricted | Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season. |
| Woodcock | Restricted | Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season. |
| Quail | Restricted | Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season. |
| Duck, Merganser and Coot | Restricted | Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season. |
| Rabbit | Restricted | Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season. |
| Squirrel | Restricted | Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season. |
| Trapping | Restricted | Closed from the opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season. |
| Pursuit with Hounds for Furbearers | Restricted | Closed from opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season and during spring turkey season. |
| Predator/Furbearer Calling | Restricted | Closed from opening day of deer archery season through deer gun season and during spring turkey season. |
| Turkey Spring | Restricted | One-tom limit; seasons combined, PHA and GMA combined. |
| Youth Turkey Spring | Restricted | One-tom limit; seasons combined, PHA and GMA combined. |
Further rules for Cherokee PHA
- Closed to all nonhunting activities, except hunter camping, from Oct. 1 – Jan. 31 and during spring turkey season.
- Hunter and angler camping is allowed in designated areas.
| Topic | ODWC rule |
|---|---|
| Bait | Not allowed |
| Stands | Portable only |
| Stand removal | Within 14 days |
| Marking | ODWC customer ID |
| Target shooting | Designated ranges |
| Vehicles | Open roads only |
| Camping limit | 16 days in a row |
Sources: source, source, source, source (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation). Checked November 3, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Cherokee Public Hunting Area
Cherokee PHA on paper
The ODWC area page puts Cherokee PHA at 16,000 acres. 1,404 acres are open to non-ambulatory permit holders by vehicle. Cherokee County has 8 records with acreage here; Cherokee PHA is number 4.
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has charge of it; ODWC counts the ground in the ODWC Northeast Region. GIS counts 63,368 public acres in Cherokee County.
ODWC describes it: Cherokee PHA consists of approximately 16,000 acres in southwestern Cherokee County and is located two miles south of Hwy. 62 at Zeb, Oklahoma. It is part of the Cherokee WMA which also includes Cherokee GMA . The WMA is a mixture of uplands with scattered fields and small stream riparian areas. Numerous ponds dot the landscape. Oak-hickory timber on rolling hills predominates the area. Fields and meadows with native bunch grasses and brushy thickets are found throughout with several seasonal small streams bisecting the area. The main drainage is Greenleaf Creek, which runs east to west and contains typical bottom land over-story such as sycamore, elm, ash, hackberry, mulberry, and pecan. The average annual precipitation is about 41 inches.
Driving directions: From Ft. Gibson: 10 miles east on U.S. Hwy 62, turn south at the Finish Line gas station (S460), two miles to the Zeb entrance to area.
Game on Cherokee PHA, in ODWC words
| Quarry | ODWC description |
|---|---|
| Bear | No season. Sightings are very rare, usually only transient animals. |
| Deer | White-tailed deer are present in good numbers throughout the area. |
| Turkey | Rio Grande wild turkeys are present in good numbers. |
| Quail | Bobwhite quail present in fair numbers. |
| Rabbit | Both cottontail and swamp rabbits are found on the area with cottontails being the most common. |
| Squirrel | Both fox and gray squirrels are abundant. |
| Furbearers | Coyote, bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, skunk, opossum and mink are available. |
| Dove | Dove are present in low numbers. |
| Waterfowl | Limited opportunity. Restricted mostly to area ponds. |
| Elk | Viewing opportunity only. Currently, no open season. |
Hunted on Cherokee PHA: Deer, Turkey, Doves, Rails, Gallinules, Crows, Snipe, Woodcock, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbits, Squirrels, Trapping, Furbearers.
From the agency record (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation); checked November 3, 2026.
Cherokee PHA zones and limits
| Setting | Cherokee County |
|---|---|
| Antlerless zone | 4 |
| Elk zone | Northeast |
| Bear area | No |
| Pronghorn | No season |
| Fall gun turkey | Open |
| Pheasant | No season |
| Duck dates | Zones 1 and 2 |
| Crane, jackrabbit | No season |
| CWD surveillance | Outside |
| ODWC region | Northeast |
| Warden district | No. 2 |
The ODWC zone layer puts Cherokee PHA in antlerless Zone 4 (Muzzleloader 2, gun 2). Zone lines follow roads, so near a boundary the ODWC antlerless zone map decides. The season cap is six deer combined, two antlered at most; 3 inches of antler makes a deer antlered. The Northeast Zone (quota 20) takes in Cherokee County; elk may be hunted there only on private land with written permission. Cherokee County is an open fall gun turkey county.
ODWC antlerless deer zones, elk zones, bear area, fall turkey counties, CWD rules; checked November 3, 2026.
Cherokee PHA and the closest public tracts
If Cherokee PHA is busy, Cherokee GMA is 0.0 mi away to the north. Nearest leased walk-in: Sequoyah OLAP tract H002 (12 mi).
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee GMA | GMA | 15,360 | Cherokee | 0.0 mi | north |
| Camp Gruber | Military land | 51,840 | Muskogee | 4.8 mi | west |
| Tenkiller WMA | WMA | 2,590 | Cherokee, Sequoyah | 5.5 mi | south |
| Tenkiller Ferry Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Cherokee, Sequoyah | 6.1 mi | east |
| Lower Illinois River PFHA | PFHA | 320 | Sequoyah | 9.5 mi | south |
| Cookson WMA | WMA | 15,281 | Adair, Cherokee | 15 mi | east |
Points: ODWC Public WMA Boundaries layer (shared polygon of Cherokee Wildlife Management Area; the layer does not separate this portion) (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Deer checked near Cherokee PHA
Cherokee PHA produced 144 reported deer in the newest season on record. In 2025-26 hunters in Cherokee County reported 2,452 deer off private and other non-WMA land; 1,347 carried antlers. Archery took 756, muzzleloaders 403 and guns 1,293. 3 elk were checked in Cherokee County in 2025-26.
| Year | Report name | Bow | Muzzle | Gun | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Cherokee WMA (PHA Portion) | 39 | 50 | 34 | 123 |
| 2025 | Cherokee WMA (PHA Portion) | 47 | 50 | 47 | 144 |
ODWC 2025-26 Big Game Harvest Report and earlier ODWC harvest reports (harvest.json); checked November 3, 2026.
Cherokee PHA: nearest towns, offices and shops
Zeb, 6.0 mi off, is the closest town with a page here. Fort Gibson counted 3,814 people in 2024, the most of the five. Closer small towns: Paradise Hill (7.3 mi, 70 people) and Braggs (7.3 mi, 271 people). Call a warden at (918) 431-2562 (Cherokee); (918) 431-2552 (Cherokee).
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeb | Cherokee | – | 6.0 mi | north |
| Sour John | Muskogee | – | 7.2 mi | southwest |
| Blackgum | Sequoyah | – | 8.6 mi | southeast |
| River Bottom | Muskogee | – | 10 mi | southwest |
| Fort Gibson | Muskogee | 3,814 | 11 mi | northwest |
Towns from places.json and census_places.json (Census 2024); offices and businesses from services.json; warden numbers from the ODWC area page or warden directory; straight-line miles. Checked November 3, 2026.
Cherokee PHA openers, game by game
Wildlife management areas can shorten or close these dates under their own area rules; this table is the county-wide picture for Cherokee PHA.
| Species | Hunt | Applies to | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Zone 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Zone 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Zone 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Zone 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Holiday antlerless | Zone 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Mule deer | All deer seasons | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Elk | Archery | Northeast elk zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Elk | Youth elk gun | Northeast elk zone | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | Northeast elk zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Elk | Gun | Northeast elk zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Elk | Holiday antlerless elk | Northeast elk zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth fall turkey | Open counties | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Gun | Open counties | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Archery | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring | Statewide | Apr 10, 2027 | Apr 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | Statewide | Apr 16, 2027 | May 16, 2027 | |
| Feral hogs | Private land | Private land | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Quail | Season | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Season | Statewide | May 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Doves | Segment 1 | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 | |
| Teal | September Teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Zones 1 and 2 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 7, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular segment 1 | Zones 1 and 2 | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular segment 2 | Zones 1 and 2 | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Zones 1 and 2 | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Canada geese | September Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 | |
| Dark geese | Segment 1 | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Dark geese | Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Specklebellies | Segment 1 | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Specklebellies | Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Segment 1 | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation order | Statewide | Feb 15, 2027 | Mar 30, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | |
| Coyote | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Prairie dog | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Beaver | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Nutria | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Striped skunk | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Bullfrogs | Year-round | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Rails | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinules | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Season | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Crows | Segment 1 | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 16, 2026 | |
| River otter | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Badger | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Mink | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Muskrat | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Furbearer season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Crows | Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Mar 4, 2027 | |
| Rattlesnakes | Season | Statewide | Mar 1, 2027 | Jun 30, 2027 |
From the ODWC hunting regulations and the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation), checked November 3, 2026.
Listings close to Cherokee Public Hunting Area
About 10 straight-line miles from the area there are 4 upcoming listings. Entry to the 4 controlled hunts came through the spring draw on Go Outdoors Oklahoma.
Dates ahead
| When | Listing | Miles | Area or venue | Next step | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6–8, 2026 | Tenkiller COE youth deer hunt | 6 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 7–8, 2026 | Cherokee GMA youth deer hunt | 0 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 17–18, 2026 | Cherokee GMA deer controlled hunt | 0 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 27–29, 2026 | Camp Gruber Cantonment youth deer hunt | 5 | Event details | Source |
Cherokee PHA legal 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.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer hours | Duck hours | Bird dog hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:14 a.m. | 7:05 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 7:34 a.m. | 6:34 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 7:02 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Gun deer closes | 7:16 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:26 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery closes | 7:30 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 7:30 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. |
| Apr 16, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:47 a.m. | 7:53 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 8:23 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. |
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.
Cherokee PHA photo row
Where to shoot paper on Cherokee Public Hunting Area
Cherokee Public Hunting Area has its own ODWC range, set up for rifle, handgun, trap and shotgun.
From ODWC’s WMA shooting range list and WMA pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 3, 2026.
Cherokee PHA: short answers
What is the published size of Cherokee PHA?
The figure used is 16,000 acres, from the ODWC area page.
Where would I find Cherokee PHA on a road map?
It lies in Cherokee County (ODWC Northeast Region). The closest town page is Zeb, 6.0 mi away.
What doe limit goes with Cherokee PHA?
It falls in Zone 4 (Muzzleloader 2, gun 2). Confirm on the ODWC zone map near a boundary road.
What permits do hunters carry on Cherokee PHA?
Licenses as for any Oklahoma hunt; ODWC lists no extra area permit.
What animals does Cherokee PHA carry seasons for?
Deer, turkey, doves, rails, gallinules, crows, snipe, woodcock, quail, waterfowl, rabbits, squirrels, trapping and furbearers.
Does the bait ban cover Cherokee PHA?
No. Bait is prohibited on Department lands.
Which public area is nearest to Cherokee PHA?
Cherokee GMA, about 0.0 mi north.
Who answers questions about Cherokee PHA?
Questions go to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, which manages it. Contact number (918) 931-0432.
What are the shooting times at Cherokee PHA?
For November 21, 2026, roughly 6:32 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. for deer (Cherokee County centre, NOAA solar formula).
How much fluorescent orange is required on Cherokee PHA?
Gun and muzzleloader big game hunters need 400 square inches of orange; archers in open gun dates need an orange cap or upper garment.
Can I pitch a tent at Cherokee PHA?
One designated primitive camping area is found in the PHA. Lodging is found in Tahlequah and Muskogee. The Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce can be reached at (918) 456-3742 and the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce can be reached at (918) 682-2401. A rifle range can be found on the north end of the PHA. It offers both 50 and 100 yard ranges, with covered shooting benches on the 100 yard line and is open year-round.
Is Cherokee PHA productive for deer?
144 reported deer in 2025-26.
Other photos on this page: Sharon Mollerus (CC BY 2.0); Sharon Mollerus (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).