Page 41 - 2024MarApr

Across five management regions, the 2 3
Department’s dedicated biologists manage these
diverse habitats for a myriad of plant and animal a diverse collection
species. Department staff highlight many Wildlife of furbearing animals 1
4
Management Areas (WMAs) because of the excit- that are legal to har-
ing opportunities they provide using social media vest, including striped
channels or emails shared with license holders. skunk, opossum, coy- 5
Although some WMAs are in the spotlight ote, gray fox, red fox,
more often, every WMA in the state was estab- raccoon, bobcat, river
lished for a reason, and management that is otter, beaver, muskrat, and mink.
under way at these areas creates opportunities Cherokee WMA, just outside Tahlequah, Oklahoma WMAs
1 Packsaddle
that many people may not be aware of. is a great location to get started. With over 2 Cimarron Bluff
This article highlights a single WMA from each 31,000 acres and over 92 miles of public road 3 Kaw
4 Cherokee
ODWC management region and an opportuni- on the area, there is plenty of ground to cover. 5 Ouachita-Le Flore Unit
ty available on the area. The highlighted WMAs The WMA consists of oak-hickory forest on roll-
have been selected by the staff in that region — ing hills, with some lowland riparian areas, fields,
the folks who know the areas the best! native grasses, and several miles of creeks.
Additionally, the area
KELLY ADAMS/ODWC has a robust popula-

tion of furbearers.
Even though fur
prices are depressed
at present, trapping
is a great way to learn
to be more observant
in nature, learn more
about your target spe-
cies, and make great
memories with friends
and family. The skills WILDLIFEDEPARTMENT.COM
Cherokee WMA
learned in becoming a trapper will make anyone
NORTHEAST REGION: TRAPPING a better and more well-rounded hunter.
AT CHEROKEE WMA
The northeastern Oklahoma management PRIORITY OBJECTIVES OF WMAs
region has more than 208,000 acres of public
For the sound management and use of fish and wildlife resourc-
land. Stretching from the tallgrass prairie and
es on ODWC-managed land, the public use priorities in order of
cross-timbers of Osage County to the pine-cov-
importance are:
ered Sans Bois Mountains of Haskell County,
• Hunting, fishing, trapping, running dogs for sport, and associ-
this region offers something for everyone. And
ated activities.
even in a region with one of the highest popula-
• Other wildlife-oriented activities (nature observation or pho-
tions, there are still plenty of missed opportuni-
tography, and conservation education).
ties available on the Department’s WMAs.
• Non-wildlife-related activities, when such activities do not con-
One of these missed opportunities would be
flict with wildlife management objectives (picnicking, hiking,
furbearer trapping. In northeastern Oklahoma,
backpacking, short-term camping, horseback riding).
several WMAs are open to the use of foothold
• Large group activities (military training, organized trail rides, etc.).
traps for land and water trapping. The region has

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