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Waterfowl refuge portion · 2026-27
Wister Waterfowl Refuge Portion hunting guide
Rules, permits and dates for this waterfowl refuge portion, 1,000 acres, in Le Flore County.
Photo: usacetulsa (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Wister Waterfowl Refuge Portion
How ODWC runs Wister WRP
Treat Wister WRP like any Department-managed ground: label stands and cameras with your customer ID, take stands down within 14 days, never bait. ODWC names Wister WRP on its nonresident check-in list (listed as "Wister"). ODWC lists Wister WRP among areas with Wetland Development Units (1 p.m. close, nontoxic shot). Between October 15 and January 31, Wister WRP is open only to drawn controlled hunters.
Wister WRP heading notes
- All shotgun hunting is restricted to federally approved nontoxic shot.
Wister WRP has 15 restricted seasons, 9 closed ones and 0 left at statewide dates in the special regulations.
| Season | Status | Printed rule |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Muzzleloader | Closed | – |
| Deer Gun | Closed | – |
| Deer Muzzleloader | Closed | – |
| Youth Deer Gun | Closed | – |
| Holiday Antlerless Deer Gun | Closed | – |
| Turkey Fall Gun | Closed | – |
| Snipe | Closed | – |
| Woodcock | Closed | – |
| Trapping | Closed | – |
| Bear Archery | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Deer Archery | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Dove | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Rail | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Gallinule | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Quail | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Crow | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Rabbit | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Squirrel | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Turkey Fall Archery | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Pursuit with Hounds for Furbearers | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Predator/Furbearer Calling | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Duck, Merganser and Coot | Restricted | Closed from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31. |
| Turkey Spring | Restricted | One-tom limit; seasons combined. |
| Youth Turkey Spring | Restricted | One-tom limit; seasons combined. |
Other limits at Wister WRP
- Public access is prohibited from Oct. 15 – Jan. 31.
- 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 |
- Wister WMA: Joe Johnson WDU & Fourche Maline WDU , Hunting Contact (918) 721-2990
Sources: source, source, source, source (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation). Checked November 3, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Wister Waterfowl Refuge Portion
Wister WRP: the record behind the page
By the ODWC area page, Wister WRP measures 1,000 acres. In the layer the shape measures 1,323 acres. Le Flore County has 6 records with acreage here; Wister WRP is number 6.
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has charge of it; ODWC counts the ground in the ODWC Southeast Region. Le Flore County holds 261,645 acres of public land on the GIS layers.
In ODWC words: Wister WRP covers 1,000 acres of central Leflore and eastern Latimer Counties in southeastern Oklahoma and is part of the Wister WMA . The average annual precipitation for the area is about 50 inches.
Directions: Independence Entrance From Heavener: 5 miles west on Independence Rd. Conser Landing Entrance From Hodgen: 5½ miles west on Conser Rd, 1 mile north on CR4695. Potts Landing Entrance From Wister: 2 miles east on U.S. Hwy 270, 2 miles south on Glendale Rd, 1 mile west on Potts Mt. Rd. Britton Bottom Rd Entrance From Wister: 2 miles east on U.S.
ODWC species notes for Wister WRP
| Species | What ODWC says |
|---|---|
| Deer | White-tailed deer are present in good numbers but are highly sought after. |
| Turkey | Eastern wild turkeys are present in good numbers but are highly sought after. |
| Waterfowl | Ducks are usually present in good numbers during the annual migration. |
| Rabbit | Cottontail and swamp rabbits are present in good numbers. |
| Squirrel | Fox and gray squirrel are present in good numbers. |
| Furbearers | Bobcats, coyotes, raccoon, beaver, skunk, opossum, river otter and fox are available. |
| Quail | Bobwhite quail are present in low numbers around agricultural fields. |
| Dove | Dove may be present in small numbers during the annual migrations. |
| Bear | Present, low numbers. |
Open for Black bear, Deer, Doves, Rails, Gallinules, Quail, Crows, Rabbits, Squirrels, Turkey, Furbearers, Waterfowl on Wister WRP.
From the agency record (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation); checked November 3, 2026.
Wister WRP zones and limits
| Item | Le Flore County |
|---|---|
| Antlerless zone | 10 (83%), 4 (17%) |
| 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 | Outside |
| ODWC region | Southeast |
| Warden district | No. 3 |
For does, Wister WRP falls in Zone 10 (Muzzleloader 1, gun 1). 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. Le Flore County lies in the Southeast Zone (quota 5) for elk. Zone elk hunting is private land only, with written landowner permission; public ground elk come only by controlled hunt. Black bear season reaches Le Flore County: archery Oct 1, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026; muzzleloader Oct 24, 2026 to Nov 1, 2026. See the bear area page for the exact lines. Fall gun turkey is closed in Le Flore County, one of 13 closed counties; fall archery stays open statewide.
ODWC antlerless deer zones, elk zones, bear area, fall turkey counties, CWD rules; checked November 3, 2026.
Wister WRP on the map with its neighbors
Wister Lake (Corps) sits 3.0 mi to the northeast, the nearest public area outside the OLAP program. The closest OLAP walk-in tract is Sequoyah OLAP tract H002, 46 mi away.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wister Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Le Flore | 3.0 mi | northeast |
| Choctaw Ranger District | Ranger district | 111,026 | Le Flore | 11 mi | southeast |
| Sans Bois WMA | WMA | 7,602 | Haskell | 15 mi | northwest |
| Ouachita WMA | WMA | 354,559 | Le Flore, McCurtain | 15 mi | southeast |
| Ouachita WMA Le Flore Unit | WMA unit | 221,559 | Le Flore | 15 mi | southeast |
| Kiamichi Ranger District | Ranger district | 110,135 | Le Flore | 19 mi | southeast |
Points: ODWC Special Use Areas layer (Wister WRP polygon) (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Deer checked near Wister WRP
On the area itself, the latest report counts 1 deer. Statewide rank 11 of 77: Le Flore County logged 2,298 deer in 2025-26, 1,256 antlered. Methods: 1,119 gun, 569 muzzleloader, 610 archery. The county logged 35 black bear last season.
| Season | Listed | Bow | ML | Gun | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Wister WRP | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
ODWC 2025-26 Big Game Harvest Report and earlier ODWC harvest reports (harvest.json); checked November 3, 2026.
Wister WRP: nearest towns, offices and shops
Wister WRP lies 7.0 mi from Fanshawe. Poteau counted 9,111 people in 2024, the most of the five. Smaller Census places closer in: Wister (6.2 mi, 1,061 people) and Howe (9.6 mi, 639 people). Game wardens for Wister WRP: (918) 431-2559 (Le Flore); (918) 429-3910 (Le Flore); (580) 513-0814 (Le Flore).
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fanshawe | Le Flore | 316 | 7.0 mi | northwest |
| Hodgen | Le Flore | – | 11 mi | southeast |
| Whitesboro | Le Flore | – | 15 mi | south |
| Poteau | Le Flore | 9,111 | 15 mi | northeast |
| Talihina | Le Flore | 932 | 17 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 Wister WRP
Oklahoma runs one set of deer dates statewide; Wister WRP sits in antlerless Zone 10 and Zone 4, which only changes how many does a hunter may take. The 63 rows below are from the ODWC regulation pages.
| Game | Method | Covers | Opening day | Closing day | 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 | |
| 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 | 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.
Wister WRP legal light
Squirrel, rabbit and prairie dog hours run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset in Wister WRP.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and elk | Migratory | Quail, pheasant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:12 a.m. | 7:04 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 7:31 a.m. | 6:34 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. | 7:31 a.m. to 6:34 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 6:59 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Gun deer closes | 7:12 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:22 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery closes | 7:26 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. |
| Apr 16, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:47 a.m. | 7:51 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 8:21 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:51 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 7:51 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.
Wister WRP photo row
Zeroing a rifle on the way to Wister Waterfowl Refuge Portion
The closest ODWC bench to Wister Waterfowl Refuge Portion is James Collins WMA Rifle Range, roughly 39 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.
Wister WRP: short answers
Roughly how big is Wister WRP in acres?
About 1,000 acres (the ODWC area page).
What should be in my wallet before hunting Wister WRP?
Your hunting license plus any deer, turkey or waterfowl licenses the season needs.
How many antlerless deer can I take around Wister WRP?
Zone 10 (Muzzleloader 1, gun 1). Zone lines follow roads, so check the ODWC map.
Does the bait ban cover Wister WRP?
No; baiting is banned on Department-managed land.
What animals does Wister WRP carry seasons for?
Black bear, deer, doves, rails, gallinules, quail, crows, rabbits, squirrels, turkey, furbearers and waterfowl, per the source.
Who answers questions about Wister WRP?
Questions go to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, which manages it. Contact number (918) 721-2990.
What public land neighbors Wister WRP?
Wister Lake (Corps) sits 3.0 mi away.
How much fluorescent orange is required on Wister WRP?
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 Wister WRP?
For November 21, 2026, roughly 6:29 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. for deer (Le Flore County centre, NOAA solar formula). WDU waterfowl stops at 1 p.m.
What was the 2025-26 deer harvest in Le Flore County?
2,298 deer, 11th statewide, in 2025-26.
Can I pitch a tent at Wister WRP?
Primitive camping sites are offered throughout the WMA. Two concrete boat ramps are available on the Poteau river portion of the WMA Modern camp sites and cabins are available at nearby Wister Lake State Park. Wister Lake State Park can be reached at (918) 655-7756.
Is elk hunting possible on Wister WRP?
Southeast Zone applies to private land; public areas need a controlled hunt.
Other photos on this page: Sank63 (CC BY 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).