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WMA · 2026-27
Neosho Wildlife Management Area, Oklahoma hunting
Rules, permits and dates for this wildlife management area, 725 acres, in Craig County and 1 neighboring county.
Photo: Rt66lt (English Wikipedia) (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Getting to Neosho Wildlife Management Area
Neosho WMA special regulations
Treat Neosho WMA like any Department-managed ground: label stands and cameras with your customer ID, take stands down within 14 days, never bait. ODWC names Neosho WMA on its nonresident check-in list (listed as "Neosho"). Neosho WMA is a Conservation Passport Area: hikers and birders carry the passport ($46 resident / $239 nonresident) or a hunting or fishing license.
Dates when Neosho WMA is closed for drawn hunts: Oct. 10-11, 2026; Nov. 14-15, 2026; Nov. 7-8, 2026.
Neosho WMA has 5 restricted seasons, 5 closed ones and 12 left at statewide dates in the special regulations.
| Season | Status | Printed rule |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday Antlerless Deer Gun | Closed | – |
| Youth Deer Gun | Closed | – |
| Deer Gun | Closed | – |
| Deer Muzzleloader | Closed | – |
| Turkey Fall Gun | Closed | – |
| Dove | Statewide dates | – |
| Deer Archery | Statewide dates | – |
| Turkey Fall Archery | Statewide dates | – |
| Quail | Statewide dates | – |
| Squirrel | Statewide dates | – |
| Rabbit | Statewide dates | – |
| Crow | Statewide dates | – |
| Rail | Statewide dates | – |
| Gallinule | Statewide dates | – |
| Snipe | Statewide dates | – |
| Woodcock | Statewide dates | – |
| Duck, Merganser and Coot | Statewide dates | – |
| Pursuit with Hounds for Furbearers | Restricted | Closed from opening day of deer archery season through the first nine days of deer gun season. |
| Predator/Furbearer Calling | Restricted | Closed from opening day of deer archery season through the first nine days of deer gun season. |
| Trapping | Restricted | Open to water sets, live box traps and enclosed trigger traps only. |
| Turkey Spring | Restricted | One-tom limit; seasons combined. |
| Youth Turkey Spring | Restricted | One-tom limit; seasons combined. |
Other limits at Neosho WMA
- No camping allowed.
| What | How |
|---|---|
| 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 Neosho Wildlife Management Area
The Neosho WMA file
By the ODWC area page, Neosho WMA measures 725 acres. It is run by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, ODWC Northeast Region. Craig County holds 572 acres of public land on the GIS layers.
In ODWC words: The Neosho Wildlife Management Area encompasses 725.26 acres located about 6.5 miles northwest of Welch, Oklahoma in the eastern part of Craig and western part of Ottawa counties. Area consists of a rock bluff, bottomland hardwoods, WRP/wetland units, several small ponds, mud creek, prairie lake, pecan trees, several oak species, cottonwood and other timber with diversified terrain from mostly level to gently sloping bluff. It is primarily managed for moist soil species along the Neosho river corridor.
Directions: From Welch: 6 miles north on U.S. Highway 59 and State Highway 2, 3 miles east on EW 0040 road to Mud Creek Unit (249.6 acres); follow EW 0040 to NS 4480 road and go south 1 miles to EW 0050 road and go west approximately 0.1 – 0.25 miles to Fields Unit (320.51 acres); head east on EW 0050 road until NS 0490 road and turn south approximately 1 – 1.5 miles to find the Morgan Unit (156.25 acres).
Open for Doves, Deer, Turkey, Quail, Squirrels, Rabbits, Crows, Rails, Gallinules, Snipe, Woodcock, Waterfowl, Furbearers, Trapping on Neosho WMA.
From the agency record (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation); checked November 3, 2026.
Neosho WMA zones and limits
| Item | Craig County | Ottawa County |
|---|---|---|
| Antlerless zone | 3 (79%), 4 (21%) | 4 (57%), 3 (43%) |
| Elk zone | Northeast | Northeast |
| Bear area | No | No |
| Pronghorn | No season | No season |
| Fall gun turkey | Open | Closed |
| Pheasant | No season | No season |
| Duck dates | Zones 1 and 2 | Zones 1 and 2 |
| Crane, jackrabbit | No season | No season |
| CWD surveillance | Outside | Outside |
| ODWC region | Northeast | Northeast |
| Warden district | No. 1 | No. 1 |
For does, Neosho WMA falls in Zone 3 (Muzzleloader 2, gun 2). Check the ODWC antlerless zone map if you hunt near a zone road. Zone limits sit inside the statewide six-deer total; only two may carry antlers of 3 inches or more. Craig County lies in the Northeast Zone (quota 20) for elk. Zone elk hunting is private land only, with written landowner permission; public ground elk come only by controlled hunt. Fall gun turkey: open in Craig County.
ODWC antlerless deer zones, elk zones, bear area, fall turkey counties, CWD rules; checked November 3, 2026.
Neosho WMA: controlled hunt record
Drawn hunts held on Neosho WMA last year: deer and youth deer. ODWC took 2026 applications Apr 1, 2026 to May 20, 2026; preference points act as extra entries.
| Type | Area | Permits issued | Hunters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Neosho WMA | 6 Either-Sex | 3 |
| Youth deer | Neosho WMA | 6 Either-Sex | 3 |
| Youth deer | Neosho WMA | 6 Either-Sex | 5 |
ODWC 2025 controlled hunt results, ODWC controlled hunts; checked November 3, 2026.
Neosho WMA on the map with its neighbors
Oologah WMA sits 35 mi to the southwest, the nearest public area outside the OLAP program. The closest OLAP walk-in tract is Osage OLAP tract H002, 71 mi away.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oologah WMA | WMA | 14,086 | Nowata, Rogers | 35 mi | southwest |
| Spavinaw GMA | GMA | 11,986 | Delaware, Mayes | 40 mi | south |
| Spavinaw PHA | PHA | 2,330 | Delaware | 40 mi | south |
| Spavinaw WMA | WMA | 14,316 | Delaware, Mayes | 40 mi | south |
| Oologah Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Rogers, Nowata | 42 mi | southwest |
| Copan WMA | WMA | 7,532 | Washington | 51 mi | west |
Points: ODWC Public WMA Boundaries layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Neosho WMA and county harvest numbers
On the area itself, the latest report counts 27 deer. Statewide rank 37 of 77: Craig County logged 1,588 deer in 2025-26, 896 antlered. Methods: 981 gun, 175 muzzleloader, 432 archery.
| Season | Listed | Bow | ML | Gun | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Neosho WMA | 21 | 2 | 2 | 25 |
| 2025 | Neosho WMA | 19 | 3 | 5 | 27 |
ODWC 2025-26 Big Game Harvest Report and earlier ODWC harvest reports (harvest.json); checked November 3, 2026.
Neosho WMA: nearest towns, offices and shops
Miami sits 8.9 mi from Neosho WMA in a straight line. Smaller Census places closer in: Welch (6.2 mi, 638 people) and North Miami (7.7 mi, 295 people). Game wardens for Neosho WMA: (918) 244-2035 (Craig); (918) 533-2679 (Ottawa).
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | Ottawa | 12,886 | 8.9 mi | southeast |
| Vinita | Craig | 5,395 | 21 mi | south |
| Delaware | Nowata | 274 | 36 mi | west |
| Jay | Delaware | 2,474 | 37 mi | south |
| Nowata | Nowata | 3,592 | 38 mi | southwest |
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.
When each season opens near Neosho WMA
Oklahoma runs one set of deer dates statewide; Neosho WMA sits in antlerless Zone 3 and Zone 4, which only changes how many does a hunter may take. The 58 rows below are from the ODWC regulation pages.
| Game | Method | Covers | Opening day | Closing day | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Calendar dates at and around Neosho Wildlife Management Area
Rows marked for this land use it as the venue; the others lie within about 10 miles. In all, 2 upcoming listings. The 2 controlled hunts here were filled by the ODWC random drawing that closed in May.
Scheduled dates
| Days | What | Miles off | Place | Go | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10–Nov 8, 2026 | Neosho WMA youth deer hunt | This area | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 14–15, 2026 | Neosho WMA deer controlled hunt | This area | Event details | Source |
When legal light begins in Neosho WMA
Squirrel, rabbit and prairie dog hours run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset in Neosho WMA.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and elk | Migratory | Quail, pheasant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:15 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 7:36 a.m. | 6:34 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. | 7:36 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 7:05 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Gun deer closes | 7:19 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:29 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery closes | 7:32 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 7:32 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. |
| Apr 16, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:47 a.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 8:25 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:55 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 7:55 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.
Neosho WMA photo row
Zeroing a rifle on the way to Neosho Wildlife Management Area
The closest ODWC bench to Neosho Wildlife Management Area is Copan WMA Shooting Range, roughly 53 miles off as the crow flies. The remaining cards show non-WMA ranges within 30 miles.
From ODWC’s WMA shooting range list and WMA pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 3, 2026.
Neosho WMA: short answers
May I hunt over corn or feed at Neosho WMA?
No; baiting is banned on Department-managed land.
Which game birds and animals are open at Neosho WMA?
Doves, deer, turkey, quail, squirrels, rabbits, crows, rails, gallinules, snipe, woodcock, waterfowl, furbearers and trapping, per the source.
Who owns and runs Neosho WMA?
Questions go to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, which manages it. Hunting line: (405) 517-4539.
What public land neighbors Neosho WMA?
Oologah WMA, about 35 mi southwest.
Do archers wear orange on Neosho WMA?
For firearm big game, 400 square inches total; other hunters wear an orange cap or vest during those dates.
What time does legal hunting start and stop on Neosho WMA?
Thirty minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; November 21, 2026: 6:35 a.m. to 5:39 p.m.
Are deer taken on Neosho WMA each year?
ODWC counted 27 deer for "Neosho WMA" in 2025-26, 12 of them antlered.
Can I enter a draw for Neosho WMA?
Yes, by random draw (Apr 1, 2026 to May 20, 2026).
Where can hunters sleep near Neosho WMA?
N/A
Can I take an elk at Neosho WMA?
Northeast Zone applies to private land; public areas need a controlled hunt.
When does deer season run at Neosho WMA?
Bow: Oct 1, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027. Gun: Nov 21, 2026 to Dec 6, 2026.
What corner of the state is Neosho WMA in?
The record puts it in Craig and Ottawa counties, ODWC Northeast Region. Drive toward Miami, about 8.9 mi straight line.
Other photos on this page: Alex Hockett ahock (CC0 1.0); 611catbirds, too (CC BY 2.0); cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0).