Hal and Fern Cooper Wildlife Management Area
Mixed grass prairie and sagebrush is found on upland sites, interspersed with sand plum thickets. The river bottom is fairly open and consist of cottonwood, American elm, hackberry and eastern redcedar interspersed with sand plum thickets, salt cedar and mixed grassland. The Beaver River joins Wolf Creek to create the North Canadian river on the area. The average annual precipitation for the area is about 20 inches.
Pheasant: Present but only in low numbers, most often taken as a bonus by quail hunters.
Quail: Bobwhite quail are usually present in good numbers but are highly sought after.
Deer: White-tailed deer are present in fair numbers, mule deer are rare.
Turkey: Rio Grande wild turkeys are present in good numbers but are highly sought after.
Rabbit: Both cottontails and jackrabbits are present, but cottontails are much more common.
Furbearers: Coyote, bobcat and raccoon are available.
Dove: Dove are usually present in good numbers but are highly sought after.
Waterfowl: Duck and goose hunting opportunities are very limited.
Nongame Species of Interest:
Lesser prairie chicken: Present, but only in very low numbers.
Bald eagle: Eagles winter at Fort Supply WMA but sightings are rare on Cooper WMA.
Description of Fish and
Wildlife Management Practices:
Cooper WMA has 18 windmills and 7 solar powered water pumps to provide
watering facilities for wildlife. Management practices include prescribed
grazing of cattle, strip disking, strip mowing and prescribed burns. Management
efforts focus on producing native wildlife foods such as ragweed, croton and
sunflower. Approximately 100 acres of agricultural food plots are planted
annually in the riverbottom portion of the WMA.
Camping and Facilities:
Five designated primitive camping areas are offered on the area. The US
Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Supply Lake offer campsites with facilities and
RV hookups. The Corps of Engineers lake office can be reached at (580) 766-2701.
Both lodging and restaurants are available in Woodward. The Woodward Chamber of Commerce can be reached at (580) 256-7411.
Cooper WMA does not have a gun range and recreation shooting is not allowed.
A public gun range can be found on the south end of Fort Supply WMA. The US Army Corps of Engineers offers a public gun range located just to the north the Corps of Engineers office(2 miles south of the town of Fort Supply). Both ranges offer 50 and 100 yard shooting opportunity.
Fishing Opportunities:
Seasonal Fishing opportunity does exist on Beaver River, Wolf Creek and
the North Canadian River however, rivers can go dry during summer months. There
are no ponds or permanent pools on Cooper WMA capable of sustaining a reliable
fishery. Fishing opportunity exist at Fort Supply lake located 2 miles west of
the Cooper WMA headquarters.
Maps:
Hal and Fern Cooper WMA Map - pdf format (8.5x11)
Regulations: Consult the Wildlife Management Area General Regulations And Public Lands Restrictions in the Hunting Regulations.
For additional
information and area attractions:
Buffalo Chamber of Commerce
www.pldi.net/~buffalo/chamber.html
Laverne Chamber
of Commerce
www.laverneok.org
City of Laverne
www.lavernok.com
www.redcarpetcountry.com
1-800-447-2698
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
Post Office Box 52002
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-2002
(800) 652-6552 or (405) 521-2409
www.travelok.com
City of
Woodward
www.woodwardok.com
Woodward
Chamber of Commerce
800-364-5352
www.woodwardchamber.com