Broken Bow Wildlife Management Area
By: John Skeen, Senior Biologist at Broken Bow and Ouachita (McCurtain Unit) WMA’s and McCurtain County Wilderness Area. Phone: (580) 241-7875.
Area Description:
Broken Bow WMA covers 5,420 acres in northern McCurtain County.
Located adjacent to the Broken Bow Reservoir and the Ouachita National Forest
(north and east of the town of Broken Bow), this WMA is a mixture of
hardwood/pine and riparian forests. The riparian forest consists primarily of
hardwoods, such as sweet and black gums, red maple and elms. The rugged terrain
of the area with its old forests and the adjacent reservoir offer some of the
most beautiful scenery in the state. The average annual precipitation for the
area is about 45 inches.
Turkey: Eastern wild turkeys are present in fair numbers but are highly sought after.
Rabbit: Both cottontail and swamp rabbits are present in low numbers.
Furbearers: Coyote, bobcat and raccoon are available.
Waterfowl: Migrating waterfowl and resident wood ducks occur infrequently on the reservoir.
Nongame Species of Interest:
Bald eagle: Eagles routinely winter on the Broken Bow Reservoir and Mountain Fork River.
Description of Fish and
Wildlife Management Practices:
Approximately 300 acres of the area is subjected to prescribe burning on
a three year rotation. The remainder of the area is left to natural succession.
Camping and Facilities:
None on the area, but the Holly Creek Primitive Camping Area is adjacent.
Fishing Opportunities:
Fishing opportunities are excellent on the Reservoir and in the Mountain
Fork River. Primary river species include smallmouth bass and sunfish. Broken
Bow Lake is known for its black bass fishing (largemouth, smallmouth, and
spotted bass are all present). The lower Mountain Fork River designated trout
area (below Broken Bow dam) offers year-round fishing for both rainbows and
brown trout.
Maps:
Broken Bow WMA Map pdf format (8.5x11)
For
additional information and area attractions:
Kiamichi Country Tourism
1-800-722-8180
Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce
1134 W Martin Luther King Jr,
Broken Bow 74728
(580) 584-3393 or (800) 528-7337
chamber@pine-net.com
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
Post Office Box 52002
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-2002
(800) 652-6552 or (405) 521-2409
www.travelok.com
Click here for information on the lake and surrounding area
Click here for an area map courtesy of US Army Corps of Engineers