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Rita Blanca Wildlife Management Area for hunters
Public wildlife management area, 15,575 acres, in Cimarron County, ODWC Northwest Region.
Photo: DrunkDriver (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Getting to Rita Blanca Wildlife Management Area
Rita Blanca WMA on paper
Rita Blanca WMA covers 15,575 acres in Cimarron County, the figure given by the ODWC area page. Cimarron County has 53 records with acreage here; Rita Blanca WMA is number 2. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is the managing agency, and the ODWC Northwest Region covers it.
Cimarron County holds 16,374 acres of public land on the GIS layers.
Area page text: Chronic Wasting Disease has been detected near the area. A Selective Surveillance Area (SSA) has been established for Cimarron County. Rita Blanca WMA covers 15,575 acres of southwestern Cimarron County in the Oklahoma panhandle. Located just south of Hwy. 64 (south of the town of Felt), Rita Blanca WMA is a shortgrass prairie.
Getting there: From Boise City: There are many units scattered throughout the area, mostly south of U.S. Hwy 56 and west of U.S. Hwy 385 to the Texas border. Consult map for specific unit locations.
What lives on Rita Blanca WMA
| Game | ODWC note |
|---|---|
| Pheasant | Present in low numbers. |
| Quail | Blue quail may be present in low numbers in some units. |
| Deer | Mule deer may be present but in very low numbers. |
| Antelope | Antelope present in fair number but are heavily sought after. Antelope is open to archery only. |
| Rabbit | Both cottontails and jackrabbits are present with cottontails being more common. |
| Furbearers | Coyotes present. |
| Dove | Dove are usually present in good numbers during peak migration. |
Game you may pursue on Rita Blanca WMA: Pronghorn, Deer, Doves, Turkey, Crows, Snipe, Woodcock, Rabbits, Squirrels, Waterfowl, Sandhill crane, Furbearers, Pheasant, Trapping, Quail.
- Pronghorn
- White-tailed deer
- Doves
- Wild turkey
- Crows
- Snipe
- Woodcock
- Rabbits
- Squirrels
- Ducks
- Canada geese
- Sandhill crane
From the agency record (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation); checked November 3, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Rita Blanca Wildlife Management Area
Rules to know before hunting Rita Blanca WMA
Rita Blanca WMA runs under ODWC area rules that ban bait, allow only portable stands and limit camping to 16 days in a row. Out-of-state hunters on Rita Blanca WMA use the free ODWC area check-in each visit.
The 2026-27 table for Rita Blanca WMA closes 3 seasons outright and restricts 17 more; 5 run on the normal state dates.
| Segment | Area status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rail | Closed | – |
| Gallinule | Closed | – |
| Holiday Antlerless Deer Gun | Closed | – |
| Antelope Archery | Statewide dates | – |
| Youth Deer Gun | Statewide dates | – |
| Dove | Statewide dates | – |
| Turkey Fall Archery | Statewide dates | – |
| Deer Archery | Statewide dates | – |
| Crow | Restricted | Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. |
| Snipe | Restricted | Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. |
| Woodcock | Restricted | Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. |
| Rabbit | Restricted | Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. |
| Squirrel | Restricted | Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. |
| Deer Muzzleloader | Restricted | Closed to antlerless hunting. |
| Deer Gun | Restricted | Open the first nine days only. Closed to antlerless hunting. |
| Duck, Merganser and Coot | Restricted | Closed during deer gun season. |
| Sandhill Cranes | Restricted | Closed during deer gun season. |
| Pursuit with Hounds for Furbearers | Restricted | Closed during deer gun season. |
| Predator/Furbearer Calling | Restricted | Closed during deer gun season. |
| Pheasant | Restricted | Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. Hunting hours close at 4:30 p.m. daily. |
| Turkey Fall Gun | Restricted | Shotgun only. |
| Trapping | Restricted | Open to water sets, live box traps and enclosed trigger traps only through Jan 31. Open same as statewide Feb 1 through end of February. |
| Turkey Spring | Restricted | One-tom limit; seasons combined. Hunting hours close at 7:00 p.m. daily. |
| Youth Turkey Spring | Restricted | One-tom limit; seasons combined. Hunting hours close at 7:00 p.m. daily. |
| Quail | Restricted | Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. Hunting hours close at 4:30 p.m. daily. Closed to non-resident hunting February 1-15. |
Rita Blanca WMA: added restrictions
- OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) use is regulated by the U.S. Forest Service.
- Camping is allowed in accordance with U.S. Forest Service regulations.
| Department rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| 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.
Deer zone and elk rules near Rita Blanca WMA
| County rule | Cimarron County |
|---|---|
| Antlerless zone | 1 |
| Elk zone | Panhandle |
| Bear area | No |
| Pronghorn | Open area |
| Fall gun turkey | Open |
| Pheasant | Whole county |
| Duck dates | Panhandle |
| Crane, jackrabbit | West of I-35 |
| CWD surveillance | SSA county |
| ODWC region | Northwest |
| Warden district | No. 8 |
Zone 1 (Closed to antlerless muzzleloader; gun 1 antlerless) covers Rita Blanca WMA on the GIS overlay; the legal line is the road shown on the ODWC antlerless zone map. Whatever the zone, the combined limit stays at six deer, two antlered at most. Private-land elk in Cimarron County run under the Panhandle Zone (quota 80). Pronghorn seasons cover Cimarron County and Texas County west of SH 136; see the pronghorn area page. Cimarron County allows fall gun turkey. Pheasant season covers the whole county; see the pheasant counties. Sandhill crane and jackrabbit are open in the parts of Cimarron County west of I-35 (details). CWD: the Cimarron County SSA applies, so process deer inside the area (SSA rules).
ODWC antlerless deer zones, elk zones, bear area, fall turkey counties, CWD rules; checked November 3, 2026.
What hunters took near Rita Blanca WMA
8 deer were reported from Rita Blanca WMA in the latest Big Game Harvest Report. The 2025-26 county figure for Cimarron County is 142 deer, 132 antlered, 77th of 77. 19 fell to archery, 13 to muzzleloaders and 110 to guns. The county logged 107 mule deer last season. ODWC counts 45 elk for the county in 2025-26. Pronghorn harvest in Cimarron County, 2025-26: 55.
| Year | Name | Archery | Primitive | Rifle/shotgun | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Rita Blanca WMA | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2025 | Rita Blanca WMA | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 |
ODWC 2025-26 Big Game Harvest Report and earlier ODWC harvest reports (harvest.json); checked November 3, 2026.
Rita Blanca WMA and the closest public tracts
Rita Blanca National Grassland is the nearest other public area, 2.3 mi north. For walk-in private land, try Cimarron OLAP tract H082, 3.1 mi.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rita Blanca National Grassland | National grassland | 15,655 | Cimarron | 2.3 mi | north |
| Optima NWR | Wildlife refuge | 4,383 | Texas | 84 mi | east |
| Schultz WMA | WMA | 306 | Texas | 86 mi | east |
| Optima WMA | WMA | 8,062 | Texas | 87 mi | east |
| Optima Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Texas | 88 mi | east |
| Shorb WMA | WMA | 160 | Texas | 91 mi | east |
Points: ODWC Public WMA Boundaries layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rita Blanca WMA hunting calendar
For Rita Blanca WMA the list holds 64 seasons for 2026-27: big game, turkey, upland birds, small game, waterfowl and predators.
| Animal | Season type | Where | Start | Finish | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Zone 1 | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Zone 1 | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Zone 1 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Zone 1 | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Holiday antlerless | Zone 1 | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Mule deer | All deer seasons | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Elk | Archery | Panhandle elk zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Elk | Youth elk gun | Panhandle elk zone | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | Panhandle elk zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Elk | Gun | Panhandle elk zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Elk | Holiday antlerless elk | Panhandle elk zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Gun, either sex | Pronghorn area | Sep 3, 2026 | Sep 6, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Gun, does (draw) | Pronghorn area | Sep 7, 2026 | Sep 16, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Archery | Pronghorn area | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Gun, does (landowner) | Pronghorn area | Nov 28, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| 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 | |
| Pheasant | Season | Pheasant counties | Dec 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Jackrabbit | Season | West of I-35 | 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 | Panhandle | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular | Panhandle | Oct 10, 2026 | Jan 13, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth and veteran day | Panhandle | Jan 30, 2027 | Jan 30, 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 | |
| Sandhill crane | Season | West of I-35 | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 17, 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.
Rita Blanca WMA: nearest towns, offices and shops
Felt, 5.4 mi off, is the closest town with a page here. Guymon (12,397 residents) has the most services, 70 mi away. Small places on the way: Kenton (30 mi) and Keyes (33 mi, 254 people). ODWC lists these game warden numbers for the area: 405-593-0463 (Cimarron).
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felt | Cimarron | – | 5.4 mi | northwest |
| Boise City | Cimarron | 1,077 | 19 mi | northeast |
| Guymon | Texas | 12,397 | 70 mi | east |
| Adams | Texas | – | 93 mi | east |
| Beaver | Beaver | 1,252 | 124 mi | east |
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.
Rita Blanca WMA photo row
Rita Blanca WMA hunting hours on season dates
Big game legal light around Rita Blanca WMA starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset; ducks and geese end at sunset.
| Day | Marker | Sun up | Sun down | Deer window | Duck window | Upland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:44 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 8:05 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 7:44 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 8:05 a.m. | 7:04 p.m. | 7:35 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. | 7:35 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. | 8:05 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 7:34 a.m. | 5:39 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 6:09 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Gun deer closes | 7:48 a.m. | 5:34 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 6:04 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 7:48 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:59 a.m. | 5:37 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. to 6:07 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 7:59 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery closes | 8:02 a.m. | 5:56 p.m. | 7:32 a.m. to 6:26 p.m. | 7:32 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 8:02 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. |
| Apr 16, 2027 | Spring turkey | 7:16 a.m. | 8:24 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 8:54 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 8:24 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 8:24 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.
Rita Blanca WMA questions and answers
What acreage do the sources give for Rita Blanca WMA?
15,575 acres, per the ODWC area page.
Where would I find Rita Blanca WMA on a road map?
Rita Blanca WMA is in Cimarron County, part of the ODWC Northwest Region. Nearest town covered here: Felt (5.4 mi).
Which antlerless deer zone takes in Rita Blanca WMA?
Zone 1 (Closed to antlerless muzzleloader; gun 1 antlerless); the season total stays six deer, no more than two antlered.
Besides a license, what does Rita Blanca WMA require?
An Oklahoma hunting license (or exemption) and the species licenses for what you hunt; nonresidents check in at listed areas.
Which species are open on Rita Blanca WMA?
Sources name pronghorn, deer, doves, turkey, crows, snipe, woodcock, rabbits, squirrels, waterfowl, sandhill crane, furbearers, pheasant, trapping and quail.
What are the bait rules on Rita Blanca WMA?
No. ODWC makes it unlawful to place bait or hunt over it on land the Department owns or manages.
How far is the next public hunting area from Rita Blanca WMA?
Rita Blanca National Grassland sits 2.3 mi away.
Whom should I phone about Rita Blanca WMA?
Land manager on record: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. ODWC lists (806) 339-5175 (hunting).
Which hours are legal for deer on Rita Blanca WMA?
7:04 a.m. to 6:09 p.m. on November 21, 2026 for big game.
Is an orange cap enough on Rita Blanca WMA?
Yes: 400 square inches above the waist and on the head for firearm big game; waterfowl, dove and crane hunters are exempt.
Does Rita Blanca WMA have a campground?
No designated camping areas are offered on the area. Both lodging and restaurants are available in Clayton, NM and Boise City, OK. The Clayton Chamber of Commerce can be reached at (505) 374-9253. The Boise City Chamber of Commerce can be reached at (580) 544-3344.
What does the ODWC harvest report show for Rita Blanca WMA?
8 deer were checked from it in 2025-26.
Rita Blanca WMA trip checklist
Area rules, closures and controlled hunt dates on Rita Blanca WMA can change; posted signs and the ODWC page have the last word.
Sources: source · source · source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations. Checked November 3, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Chris M Morris (CC BY 2.0); John Fowler (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain-Prairie (CC BY 2.0).