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WES EDENS/READERS' PHOTO SHOWCASE 2020 license. Those without an
Oklahoma hunting license
can get a 5-day rattlesnake
permit. Rattlesnake sea-
son is open from March
1-June 30, and there is
no daily limit. Snakes that
can be hunted with no
daily limit are prairie rat-
tlesnakes, timber rattle-
snakes, and massasauga.
The most common
method of snake hunt-
ing is with snake tongs
and a restraining tube
to put the snake into.
This method can be used
for catch and release
of rattlesnakes at the
many snake festivals,
snake education clinics,
Hunting for western For those who have always been interested and regulated snake hunts and roundups for
diamondback rattlesnakes
is an adventure awaiting in trapping but had no mentor, the Wildlife spectators' entertainment.
visitors at Cimarron Bluff Department offers seasonal trapping work- Another way to use the rattlesnake is by har-
Wildlife Management Area.
shops at several WMAs across the state. vesting for the meat. Rattlesnake meat is con-
sidered a premium and healthy exotic meat in
NORTHWEST REGION: certain areas. Many people consider the flavor
RATTLESNAKE HUNTING AT to be like that of alligator meat.
CIMARRON BLUFF WMA It is highly recommended to have the appropri-
The northwestern region of Oklahoma has ate gear for a snake hunting adventure, including
the lowest rainfall totals in the state. Cimarron snake boots, snake chaps, snake tongs, restrain-
Bluff WMA covers 3,590 acres in northeastern ing tube or sack ,and if possible a well-educated
Harper County. This WMA is dominated by snake hunter to demonstrate how to have a safe
mixed-grass prairie vegetation with isolated and fun time in the great outdoors.
pockets of sand sagebrush, sand plum, and
sumac occurring on red clay and gypsum soils. CENTRAL REGION: SQUIRREL
Cottonwood, hackberry, and western soapber- HUNTING AT KAW WMA
ry trees exist along the creeks flowing through The central region is situated between the
the area. A limited amount of Cimarron River wetter forests of eastern Oklahoma and the
floodplain is found along the eastern bound- drier short-grass prairies of western Oklahoma.
ary of the WMA, dominated by salt flats and Portions of this region are referred to as the
interspersed with salt cedar. cross timbers and contain a mosaic of forests,
Cimarron Bluff WMA has a stable population woodlands, and prairies. This region has a high
of western diamondback rattlesnakes and prairie percentage of the state's population (52%) and
rattlesnakes that are legal to hunt. Anyone hunt- a low percentage of the Department's overall
ing rattlesnakes must have an Oklahoma hunting WMA acreage (11%). The Tulsa metro sits just

40 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA