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Alfalfa County hunting base
Hunting land and seasons near Nescatunga, OK
Miles from Nescatunga to ODWC wildlife management areas and federal ground, the road-defined deer zone for Alfalfa County, the nearest ODWC office and the game warden captain.
Photo: Nearby stand-in for Nescatunga: Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, beside Nescatunga. AndrewKPepper (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Nescatunga, a Census-designated place, lies in Alfalfa County and in the ODWC Northwest Region. No town on this site sits closer to Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge than Nescatunga does. The 2024 Census estimates leave out Nescatunga, which is unincorporated. With overlaps counted once, the 10-mile ring around Nescatunga holds about 25,726 mapped public acres (1 listed area). The wider 25-mile ring adds 1 more area, for about 25,726 public acres in total. County-wide, Alfalfa County counts some 25,726 acres of public ground: 24,891 acres of refuge land and 25,523 acres of Corps fee land. Nearest of every listed area is Salt Plains NWR, which reaches the edge of town.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer; public acreage and boundary miles within 10 and 25 miles are a GIS measure over the ODWC WMA layer and USFS, USFWS, Corps and NPS boundaries (places.json; area counts are within 25 miles); OLAP tract acres from the ODWC OLAP layer. ODWC region from the ODWC administrative boundaries layer. Checked November 3, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Nescatunga
Nescatunga public areas by distance
Miles run from the Nescatunga town point to the nearest boundary out to 25 miles, and to the mapped centre beyond; road miles will be longer.
| Property | From town | Type | Run by | Access rule | Acres | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Plains NWR base land | in town | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge hunt units | 32,464 | Controlled hunts |
| Grant County OLAP limited LA001 | 19 mi E | OLAP limited access | ODWC lease | Permit, online check-in | 155 | WRP Wetland |
| Drummond Flats WMA | 31 mi S | WMA | ODWC | Area rules | 5,122 | Nonresident check-in |
| Grant County OLAP walk-in H009 | 32 mi E | OLAP walk-in | ODWC lease | Land Access Permit | 80 | Crop |
| Grant County OLAP walk-in H011 | 33 mi E | OLAP walk-in | ODWC lease | Land Access Permit | 160 | Strip of Grass and Cro |
| Grant County OLAP walk-in H010 | 33 mi E | OLAP walk-in | ODWC lease | Land Access Permit | 160 | CRP-Grass and Crops |
| Sandhills WMA | 36 mi SW | WMA | ODWC | Area rules | 5,212 | Nonresident check-in |
| Grant County OLAP walk-in H007 | 37 mi E | OLAP walk-in | ODWC lease | Land Access Permit | 160 | Crops |
| Grant County OLAP walk-in H006 | 38 mi E | OLAP walk-in | ODWC lease | Land Access Permit | 720 | – |
| Grant County OLAP walk-in H002 | 38 mi E | OLAP walk-in | ODWC lease | Land Access Permit | 158 | CRP grassland |
| Woods County OLAP walk-in H026 | 39 mi W | OLAP walk-in | ODWC lease | Land Access Permit | 560 | Native Range |
| Kay County OLAP walk-in H025 | 40 mi E | OLAP walk-in | ODWC lease | Land Access Permit | 160 | – |
| Woods County OLAP walk-in H022 | 41 mi W | OLAP walk-in | ODWC lease | Land Access Permit | 435 | Rangeland. Creek botto |
| Kay County OLAP walk-in H024 | 43 mi E | OLAP walk-in | ODWC lease | Land Access Permit | 80 | Farmed (corn 2022) |
Acreage leader within 25 miles of Nescatunga: Salt Plains NWR, 32,464 acres. The 25-mile circle mixes 1 OLAP tract and 1 federal area. Drummond Flats WMA (31 mi) is ODWC ground: hunting license, area special regulations and the Department-Managed Area Rules. Call (580) 541-5319 for area conditions. Visiting hunters need the nonresident check-in at Drummond Flats WMA. Grant County OLAP limited LA001 is leased private land in the Oklahoma Land Access Program, hunted on foot with a Land Access Permit. A caution from the OLAP layer for Grant County OLAP limited LA001: "Check-in Required." Salt Plains NWR opens only designated hunt units, under Oklahoma seasons plus its own conditions in 50 CFR 32.55.
What the nearest Nescatunga areas offer
- Salt Plains NWR: 32,464 acres; game: waterfowl, dove, quail, pheasant, deer; 2025 deer harvest 40
- Grant County OLAP limited LA001: 155 acres; hunted for deer, waterfowl; land cover: WRP Wetland
- Drummond Flats WMA: 5,122 acres; drive-in acres (permit) 457; game: deer, dove, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel; 2025 deer taken 16; one designated primitive camping area is available (map PDF)
- Grant County OLAP walk-in H009: 80 acres; hunted for deer, quail, pheasant, dove, waterfowl; land cover: crop, Native Grass
- Grant County OLAP walk-in H011: 160 acres; seasons for deer, pheasant, dove; vegetation: strip of Grass and Crops
- Grant County OLAP walk-in H010: 160 acres; hunted for deer, quail, pheasant, dove; ground: CRP-Grass and Crops
Lands from ODWC area pages, Public Hunting Areas special regulations and the OLAP layer, USFWS, USFS, NPS, Corps and installation records (lands.json; each land page cites its own source); 2025 deer harvest by area from the ODWC 2025-26 big game harvest report. Boundary miles from places.json, other miles to each mapped point. Area rules from the Department-Managed Area Rules. Checked November 3, 2026.
County rules that reach Nescatunga hunters
Doe limits, elk zones, fall turkey and pheasant change at county lines and road lines, which is why Nescatunga gets a county-by-county table.
| County | Antlerless | Doe limits | Elk | Fall turkey | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa County local | 2 | 4/4 | Northwest | Open | Pheasant, Crane, jackrabbit |
| Grant County | 2 | 4/4 | Northwest | Open | Pheasant, Crane, jackrabbit |
| Garfield County | 2 | 4/4 | Northwest | Open | Pheasant, Crane, jackrabbit |
All of Alfalfa County reads as antlerless Zone 2 on the ODWC map, whose lines follow roads rather than county lines. (Zone 2; zone map.) What the zones allow for does: Zone 2: 4 antlerless by muzzleloader and 4 by gun. Across all regular deer seasons the cap is six, including no more than two antlered deer. Bowhunting opens October 1, 2026 and the rifle opener follows on November 21, 2026. Private-land elk hunting near Nescatunga follows the Northwest Zone rules, a zone quota of 8 for the Northwest Zone. (Northwest Zone.) Rifles and shotguns may take a fall turkey in Alfalfa County from October 31 to November 20. Pheasant season covers Alfalfa County, December 1 to January 31, 2027. Ducks in Alfalfa County follow the shared Zone 1 and 2 dates, November 14 to January 31, 2027 with a December break. Jackrabbits and sandhill cranes are legal game in the west-of-I-35 part of Alfalfa County. No bait on WMAs or other Department land, and none within 100 yards of a turkey hunter; private-land deer baiting is not banned statewide in the rules read.
Zones from the ODWC antlerless deer zone map (county shares are a GIS overlay; the legal line is the road), ODWC elk zones, the bear area, fall turkey counties, the pheasant area, waterfowl zones, the crane area and the CWD surveillance areas; limits and baiting from the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations and ODWC turkey regulations. Checked November 3, 2026.
Nescatunga harvest numbers from ODWC
In the 2025 season, 1,118 deer were reported from Alfalfa County away from the WMAs. 2024 had 1,217; the change is -8%. Gun hunters accounted for 736 of those deer and archers 287. For public-land deer, Salt Plains NWR topped the 2025 list near Nescatunga at 40. There is no county turkey table, only a statewide 2025 spring estimate of 11,232 birds.
| Season | Harvest | Gun | Muzzleloader | Archery | With antlers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 1,026 | 709 | 71 | 246 | 578 |
| 2022-23 | 1,259 | 857 | 85 | 317 | 684 |
| 2023-24 | 1,111 | 727 | 119 | 265 | 618 |
| 2024-25 | 1,217 | 835 | 74 | 308 | 623 |
| 2025-26 | 1,118 | 736 | 95 | 287 | 588 |
| Area | 2024 deer | 2025 deer |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Plains NWR | 105 | 40 |
County deer harvest from the ODWC big game reports (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025); area harvest and 2025 elk, bear, mule deer and pronghorn from the 2025-26 big game harvest report; turkey from the ODWC Game Harvest Survey. Checked November 3, 2026.
Nescatunga season dates
For Alfalfa County the list holds 61 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 2, 7, 8 | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Zone 2, 7, 8 | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Zone 2, 7, 8 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Zone 2, 7, 8 | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Holiday antlerless | Zone 2, 7, 8 | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Mule deer | All deer seasons | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Elk | Archery | Northwest elk zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Elk | Youth elk gun | Northwest elk zone | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | Northwest elk zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Elk | Gun | Northwest elk zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Elk | Holiday antlerless elk | Northwest 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 | |
| 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 | 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 | |
| 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.
Controlled hunts near Nescatunga
Salt Plains NWR is the nearest of 3 controlled-hunt areas around Nescatunga. Entries for 2026 controlled hunts were due May 20, 2026. No-shows are not refilled and fees are not refunded, so apply only for dates you can hunt.
| Area | Miles | Kind | 2025 hunts | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Plains NWR | 3.7 mi | Wildlife refuge | Deer, Motor vehicle or non-ambulatory permit deer, Youth dee | 176 |
| Sandhills WMA | 36 mi | WMA | Deer | 5 |
| Canton WRP | 49 mi | Waterfowl refuge portion | Youth deer | 4 |
2025 controlled hunt results per area from the ODWC controlled hunts results (lands.json, controlled_hunts_2025); rules and dates from the ODWC controlled hunts page. Checked November 3, 2026.
Where Nescatunga hunters take a deer
Listings come from Alfalfa County and the counties bordering it, ranked by miles from Nescatunga; big-box chain stores are left out of these lists. First taxidermy stop: Salt Plain Taxidermy Studios (Jet), 6.3 mi from Nescatunga. The handiest gun or outdoor store is Gloss Mountain Outfitters, 11 mi from Nescatunga. Sand Hill Guided Hunts in Burlington is the commercial hunting option nearest Nescatunga.
| Service | Close (15 mi) | Wider (35 mi) | Closest | Miles | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game processors | 0 | 0 | Salt Creek Wild Game & Meat Processing | 42 mi W | Waynoka |
| Taxidermy shops | 2 | 5 | Salt Plain Taxidermy Studios | 6.3 mi S | Jet |
| Sporting goods | 2 | 9 | Gloss Mountain Outfitters | 11 mi W | Cherokee |
| Outfitters and preserves | 0 | 1 | Sand Hill Guided Hunts | 18 mi NW | Burlington |
Game processors
Taxidermy shops
Sporting goods
Outfitters and preserves
Processors from the ODWC game processor list (Hunters Against Hunger column) and Yellow Pages; commercial hunting areas from the ODWC commercial hunt area list; taxidermists and shops from Yellow Pages and chain store locators (services.json). Listings without coordinates are placed at their town. Checked November 3, 2026; hours were not checked.
Nescatunga and its surroundings, event dates
A crow-flight ring of roughly 30 miles takes in 3 upcoming listings, covering ODWC controlled hunt and ODWC youth draw. The 3 controlled hunts here were filled by the ODWC random drawing that closed in May.
Next on the list
| Date | Event | Away | Location | Sign-up or details | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2–Dec 3, 2026 | Salt Plains NWR deer controlled hunt | 4 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 2–18, 2026 | Salt Plains NWR motor vehicle deer controlled hunt | 4 | Event details | Source | |
| Apr 9–18, 2027 | Salt Plains NWR youth spring turkey hunt | 4 | Event details | Source |
Nescatunga shooters: the three nearest ranges
The three ranges nearest Nescatunga, measured in a straight line.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 3, 2026.
Nescatunga legal hours
Squirrel, rabbit and prairie dog hours run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset in Nescatunga.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Birds | Upland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:27 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:57 a.m.–7:48 p.m. | 6:57 a.m.–7:18 p.m. | 7:27 a.m.–7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 7:48 a.m. | 6:47 p.m. | 7:18 a.m.–7:17 p.m. | 7:18 a.m.–6:47 p.m. | 7:48 a.m.–6:47 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 7:17 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 6:47 a.m.–5:52 p.m. | 6:47 a.m.–5:22 p.m. | 7:17 a.m.–5:22 p.m. |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Gun deer closes | 7:31 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 7:01 a.m.–5:48 p.m. | 7:01 a.m.–5:18 p.m. | 7:31 a.m.–5:18 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:42 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 7:12 a.m.–5:50 p.m. | 7:12 a.m.–5:20 p.m. | 7:42 a.m.–5:20 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery closes | 7:45 a.m. | 5:39 p.m. | 7:15 a.m.–6:09 p.m. | 7:15 a.m.–5:39 p.m. | 7:45 a.m.–5:39 p.m. |
| Apr 16, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:59 a.m. | 8:07 p.m. | 6:29 a.m.–8:37 p.m. | 6:29 a.m.–8:07 p.m. | 6:59 a.m.–8:07 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.
ODWC help nearest Nescatunga
ODWC staff nearest Nescatunga work out of Oklahoma City; the number is (405) 521-3721. Scott Parry supervises wildlife work for the Northwest Region, including Alfalfa County. The game warden captain for District 8, which includes Alfalfa County, is Ben Bickerstaff. Warden numbers printed for Alfalfa County: (580) 860-4979. For the Commission, Alfalfa County belongs to District 8.
ODWC at Oklahoma City
ODWC at Lawton
Offices from the ODWC offices list, game warden districts and captains from the ODWC game warden directory, region supervisors from the ODWC administrative boundaries layer, county warden phones from ODWC area pages (counties.json, services.json, lands.json). Offices without a geocoded address are measured to their town. Checked November 3, 2026.
Nescatunga hunting questions
When are OLAP tracts open?
September 1 to May 16, from two hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
Is there a Sunday hunting law in Oklahoma?
No Sunday restriction was found in the 2026-27 rules.
Who is the game warden captain for Nescatunga?
Ben Bickerstaff, captain of District 8, (580) 304-6034.
How long is the haul from Nescatunga to a game processor?
About 42 mi, to Salt Creek Wild Game & Meat Processing in Waynoka.
Name the WMA, OLAP tract or federal area nearest to Nescatunga.
Closest of all: Salt Plains NWR, which reaches the edge of town. One step farther lies Grant County OLAP limited LA001, with its closest edge 19 miles out.
What other base towns are close to Nescatunga?
Cherokee is closest, then Medford, Alva and Enid.
Which ODWC antlerless zone covers Alfalfa County?
Zone 2.
Is Nescatunga a good base for Oklahoma public-land hunting?
It has 1 listed area inside 10 miles, with about 25,726 mapped public acres.
Is there an elk quota in Alfalfa County?
The Northwest Zone has a quota of 8.
On what date does gun deer season end near Nescatunga?
December 6, 2026, with the holiday antlerless season later in December.
What goes on a field tag for a deer shot near Nescatunga?
Your name, customer ID number, and the date and time of harvest.
Do riders on a WMA near Nescatunga need orange?
Yes. Horse riders on WMAs during deer muzzleloader and gun seasons need 400 square inches of orange.
May I hunt deer over corn near Nescatunga?
On private land the 2026-27 rules read set no statewide ban; on ODWC land baiting is illegal.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, counties.json, services.json and the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations; reporting from ODWC, hunter orange from the ODWC big game regulations, baiting from ODWC, Sunday hunting from ODWC seasons, the Land Access Permit from the ODWC license fees, CWD from ODWC. Checked November 3, 2026.
Nescatunga final checks
Leaving Nescatunga before dawn? Look up legal light for the date and the special regulations for the area you chose.
Other photos on this page: Leaflet (CC BY-SA 4.0); Jack Gray (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Lane Pearman (CC BY 2.0); Shiva Shenoy (CC BY 4.0); Guy Teague (CC BY-SA 2.0); Kool Cats Photography (CC BY 2.0); Billy Hathorn (CC BY-SA 3.0).