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Ouachita National Forest Tiak Ranger District hunting guide
Where, when and how to hunt this national forest ranger district, 132,268 acres, in McCurtain County.
Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Ouachita National Forest Tiak Ranger District
Parking, trailheads and gates near Ouachita National Forest Tiak Ranger District
- Parking areaParking · 3.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.0 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Tiak Ranger District: the record behind the page
Expect about 132,268 acres of ground at Tiak Ranger District, going by Forest Service land statistics. McCurtain County has 12 records with acreage here; Tiak Ranger District is number 4. USDA Forest Service, Ouachita National Forest is the managing agency, and the ODWC Southeast Region covers it.
McCurtain County holds 361,388 acres of public land on the GIS layers.
From the agency record (USDA Forest Service, Ouachita National Forest); checked November 3, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Ouachita National Forest Tiak Ranger District
Tiak Ranger District: the county rules that apply
| Rule | McCurtain County |
|---|---|
| Antlerless zone | 10 |
| Elk zone | Southeast |
| Bear area | Yes |
| Pronghorn | No season |
| Fall gun turkey | Closed |
| Pheasant | No season |
| Duck dates | Zones 1 and 2 |
| Crane, jackrabbit | No season |
| CWD surveillance | SSA county |
| ODWC region | Southeast |
| Warden district | No. 3 |
Antlerless limits around Tiak Ranger District: Zone 10 (Muzzleloader 1, gun 1). ODWC draws the lines on roads and publishes them only as a map (ODWC antlerless zone map). All zones share the same dates and the six-deer combined limit, with no more than two bucks. McCurtain County counts toward the Southeast Zone (quota 5); check the quota online before an elk hunt. Bear: archery Oct 1, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026; muzzleloader Oct 24, 2026 to Nov 1, 2026 in the southeast area, which includes McCurtain County in whole or part. Turkey hunters in McCurtain County use archery in fall; the gun season is closed. Tiak Ranger District touches the McCurtain County SSA: deer and elk taken there must be processed before leaving it. See the CWD surveillance areas.
ODWC antlerless deer zones, elk zones, bear area, fall turkey counties, CWD rules; checked November 3, 2026.
Tiak Ranger District access rules
Seasons on Tiak Ranger District are those printed for Ouachita WMA McCurtain & Tiak Units in the ODWC special regulations. Read the USFS rules too: alcohol, horses and gathering are controlled by the Forest Service. Boundary 435,494 acres, federal 132,268 acres: much of the outline is private land.
| County | Forest acres |
|---|---|
| McCurtain County | 132,268 |
Also here: Ouachita National Forest, Ouachita WMA McCurtain & Tiak Units.
Sources: agency page, ODWC Department-Managed Area Rules, USFS EDW land statistics. Checked November 3, 2026.
What hunters took near Tiak Ranger District
3,172 deer came out of McCurtain County in 2025-26 (WMA harvest excluded), placing it 3rd statewide. Split: gun 1,772, bow 849, muzzleloader 551. McCurtain County also reported 6 black bear in 2025-26.
ODWC 2025-26 Big Game Harvest Report and earlier ODWC harvest reports (harvest.json); checked November 3, 2026.
Dated seasons covering Tiak Ranger District
Ducks run on Panhandle dates or Zone 1 and 2 dates, and cranes and jackrabbits only west of I-35, which is why the area column matters for Tiak Ranger District.
| Quarry | Segment | Zone or area | Begins | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Zone 10 | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Zone 10 | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Zone 10 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Zone 10 | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Holiday antlerless | Zone 10 | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Mule deer | All deer seasons | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Elk | Archery | Southeast elk zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Elk | Youth elk gun | Southeast elk zone | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | Southeast elk zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Elk | Gun | Southeast elk zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Elk | Holiday antlerless elk | Southeast elk zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Archery | Bear area | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | Bear area | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 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.
Tiak Ranger District on the map with its neighbors
The table starts with Ouachita WMA McCurtain & Tiak Units (1.0 mi, west). OLAP access is 46 mi away at Choctaw OLAP tract H001.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouachita WMA McCurtain & Tiak Units | WMA unit | 133,000 | McCurtain | 1.0 mi | west |
| Broken Bow Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | – | McCurtain | 2.6 mi | southeast |
| McCurtain County Wilderness Area | Wilderness area | 14,000 | McCurtain | 6.0 mi | northeast |
| Broken Bow WMA | WMA | 5,420 | McCurtain | 7.4 mi | north |
| Three Rivers WMA | WMA | 185,199 | McCurtain, Pushmataha | 17 mi | northwest |
| Little River NWR | Wildlife refuge | 14,502 | McCurtain | 20 mi | south |
Points: USFS EDW Ranger Districts layer (district boundary inside Oklahoma) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Tiak Ranger District: nearest towns, offices and shops
Tiak Ranger District lies 6.0 mi from Hochatown. Broken Bow is the largest of these towns, with 4,227 people in 2024. Todd Tobey captains warden District 3, which includes McCurtain County: (580) 513-2305.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hochatown | McCurtain | 268 | 6.0 mi | southwest |
| Broken Bow | McCurtain | 4,227 | 15 mi | south |
| Eagletown | McCurtain | – | 16 mi | southeast |
| Smithville | McCurtain | – | 17 mi | north |
| Golden | McCurtain | – | 18 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.
Benches and clubs around Ouachita National Forest – Tiak Ranger District
Kiamichi Shooting Range lies 39 miles from Ouachita National Forest – Tiak Ranger District, nearer than any WMA range.
From ODWC’s WMA shooting range list and WMA pages, operators’ pages and directory listings, checked November 3, 2026.
Tiak Ranger District hunting hours on season dates
The Panhandle sees the sun up to half an hour later than the Arkansas line, so use the times worked out for Tiak Ranger District.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game | Waterfowl | Quail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:12 a.m. | 7:05 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 7:31 a.m. | 6:36 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | 7:31 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 6:57 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Gun deer closes | 7:11 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:21 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery closes | 7:24 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. |
| Apr 16, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:48 a.m. | 7:50 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 7:50 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.
Oklahoma views around Tiak Ranger District
Hunts, dinners and trials by Ouachita National Forest Tiak Ranger District
Near this property on November 3, 2026: 2 upcoming listings. Count 2 draw-only controlled hunts among them.
Still on the calendar
| Date | Event | Distance | Location | Sign-up or details | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6–8, 2026 | McCurtain Co. WA deer controlled hunt | 6 | Event details | Source | |
| Apr 9–11, 2027 | McCurtain Co. WA spring turkey controlled hunt | 6 | Event details | Source |
Tiak Ranger District answers from the sources
Must I process deer before leaving Tiak Ranger District?
Yes (McCurtain County SSA); quarter or process the deer before you drive out.
Do elk seasons reach Tiak Ranger District?
Elk zones (Southeast Zone here) cover private land; public elk come only through the draw.
When is the gun opener near Tiak Ranger District?
Archery Oct 1, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027; gun Nov 21, 2026 to Dec 6, 2026. Check the area table.
Where exactly is Tiak Ranger District, county and region?
Tiak Ranger District is in McCurtain County, part of the ODWC Southeast Region. Hochatown lies roughly 6.0 mi from it.
How much ground does Tiak Ranger District take in?
132,268 acres on file, from Forest Service land statistics.
Is a Land Access Permit or other pass needed for Tiak Ranger District?
A license or exemption plus species licenses; nonresidents check in.
Which antlerless zone line runs near Tiak Ranger District?
Zone 10 (Muzzleloader 1, gun 1). Six deer a season, two antlered at most, still applies.
What are the bait rules on Tiak Ranger District?
No baiting here; Department rules forbid it.
Which species are open on Tiak Ranger District?
Read Ouachita WMA McCurtain & Tiak Units for open seasons.
Whom should I phone about Tiak Ranger District?
The managing body is the USDA Forest Service, Ouachita National Forest. Nearest ODWC desk: Caddo.
Where is a backup spot near Tiak Ranger District?
The closest is Ouachita WMA McCurtain & Tiak Units at 1.0 mi.
Is an orange cap enough on Tiak Ranger District?
During big game firearm seasons, 400 square inches for gun hunters and an orange head covering or upper garment for most others.
Other photos on this page: Okiefromokla (English Wikipedia) (Public domain); Robert F. Wittwer, Oklahoma State University (CC BY 3.0 us); Michael Barera (CC BY-SA 4.0).