Contacts
Area Details
Attention Hunters:
Chronic Wasting Disease has been detected in the area. A Selective Surveillance Area (SSA) has been established for Texas County.
Optima WMA covers 8,062 acres of eastern Texas County in the Oklahoma panhandle. Located just north off Hwy. 412 (northwest of the town of Hardesty), Optima WMA is a mixture of upland and river bottom.
Sagebrush and buffalo grass predominate on upland sites, which are interspersed with sand plum thickets. Bottomlands consist of sand plum thickets, salt cedar and mixed grassland. The Beaver River, which is dry, offers a classic western Oklahoma floodplain comprised of cottonwood trees. The average annual precipitation for the area is about 17 inches.
- Public Area Check-In: Non-residents must check in and out when accessing certain Oklahoma public hunting and fishing areas. There is no additional cost or limit on the number of check-ins.
- Deer Licenses: A 2 day waiting period applies to nonresident deer licenses purchased after the deer season has started. Licenses must be purchased at least 48 hours before hunting.
Closed Seasons
Same As Statewide Seasons
Seasons w/ Special Restrictions
- Crow, Snipe, Woodcock, Squirrel
Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season.
- Deer Muzzleloader
Closed to antlerless hunting.
- Deer Gun
Open during the first nine days only. Closed to antlerless hunting.
- Pursuit with Hounds for Furbearers, Predator/Furbearer Calling
Closed during deer gun season.
- Pheasant
Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. Hunting hours close at 4:30 p.m. daily.
- Turkey Fall Gun
Shotgun only.
- Trapping
Open to water sets, live box traps and enclosed trigger traps only through Jan 31. Open same as statewide Feb 1 through end of February.
- Turkey Spring, Youth Turkey Spring
One-tom limit; seasons combined. Hunting hours close at 7:00 p.m. daily.
- Quail
Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. Hunting hours close at 4:30 p.m. daily. Closed to non-resident hunting February 1-15.
Hunter and angler camping is allowed in designated areas.
From Hardesty: 3 miles west on U.S. Hwy 412, 3 miles north on State Hwy 94.
- Pheasant: Present in low numbers, most often taken as a bonus for quail hunters.
- Quail: Bobwhite quail are usually present in good numbers but are highly sought after. Very few blue quail present.
- Deer: Mostly white-tailed deer. Mule deer present, but not in large numbers.
- Turkey: Rio Grande wild turkeys are present, but not abundant.
- Rabbit: Both cottontails and jackrabbits are present, with cottontails being more common.
- Furbearers: Coyote, bobcat and raccoon are available.
- Dove: One of several western Oklahoma WMAs that offers good dove hunting opportunities based on its semi-arid habitat and location within a major migration corridor.
- Waterfowl: The early Teal season can be good dependant upon weather and water level in Optima Lake. Other waterfowl opportunities for ducks or geese are generally poor.
- Black-tailed Prairie Dog: Present on the WMA; no hunting of prairie dogs allowed on Optima WMA.
- Bald Eagle: Eagles winter around Optima WMA.
Approximately 3 windmills and 9 guzzlers have been installed to provide watering facilities for wildlife. Management practices include prescribed burns, strip disking and strip mowing. Management efforts focus on producing native wildlife foods such as ragweed and sunflower, although some small agricultural food plots are planted annually throughout the WMA. An additional 200 acres of agricultural plots are planted in an agriculture lease program.
Two designated primitive camping areas are offered on the area.
The towns of Hardesty and Hooker offer fuel and food. Both lodging and restaurants are available in Guymon. The Hooker Chamber of Commerce can be reached at (580) 652-2809. The Guymon Chamber of Commerce can be reached at (580) 338-3376.
Features: 100-yard rifle range with 4 covered shooting benches, 50-yard pistol range with 4 covered shooting benches, and ADA access and parking.
Range Coordinates: 36°42'1.93"N 101° 8'59.06"W
Driving Directions: From Hardesty, take US-412 west for 3 miles. Turn right onto OK-94 N. Travel 3.6 miles and then turn right at U 5 Rd. Turn right again just after U 5 Rd merges with Mile 49 Rd and after ½ mile the rifle range will be on your left.
Be sure to review Department-Managed Area Rules on shooting ranges before use.
Optima Lake has historically been subject to water levels too low to sustain a permanent fishery. And, there are no ponds or permanent pools on Optima WMA to sustain a reliable fishery. A winter time trout fishery is run at Sunset Lake in Guymon is available, about 15 miles west of the area. Contact City of Guymon for cost and season dates at (580) 338-3396.
Guymon Tourism
www.guymonok.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
Build Your Own Dog Safety Field Kit
Whether you’re a seasoned hunter with decades of experience working alongside hunting dogs or just beginning to train your first four-legged companion, having a well-stocked field kit is essential. Your kit should include items for safety, and emergency care to ensure your hunting dog stays healthy and ready for the challenges of the field.
Endangered Whooping Cranes to Move through Oklahoma
Whooping cranes are migrating through the Central Flyway and stopping over in Oklahoma before continuing to coastal Texas. Sportsmen, bird watchers, and other outdoor enthusiasts can join the Wildlife Department in documenting this federally endangered bird’s route by sharing photographs and sighting details at wildlifedepartment.com.
