Created in 1995, Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area, located near Frederick in southwestern Oklahoma, offers 7,120-acres of wildlife recreational opportunities. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, along with many conservation-minded partners, restored this legendary wetland, creating a vast mosaic of wetland habitats for prairie waterfowl, shorebirds and other wetland-dependent birds. Upland areas of native sunflowers and cultivated fields interspersed with mesquite have become one of the state’s premier dove-hunting destinations. Open for scheduled events, the modern William H. "Bill" Crawford Hackberry Flat Center offers interpretive guidance for wildlife enthusiasts, students and educators.
With the completion of the William H. "Bill" Crawford Hackberry Flat Center, this wetland area now offers wetland classroom experiences for school children, meeting facility for workshops, programs and presentations and a place to offer skill development workshops such as waterfowl identification, bird identification and hunter education classes.
Visiting Hackberry Flat Center and William H. "Bill" Crawford Building
The Hackberry Flat Center is open for scheduled events. Restrooms are available year-round and a pavilion offers a shady place to have a picnic. Before taking the nature trail to the wildlife-viewing blind or driving the wildlife management area, be sure to pick up the Hackberry Flat brochure at any of the message boards. This brochure contains a map of the area, the official checklist of birds for the season and local amenity and emergency information. Learn how this wetland is managed for wildlife in "Experiencing the Wetlands."
Walking the nature trail below the Hackberry Flat Center and enjoying the rest of Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area requires a valid hunting or fishing license or the conservation passport for each person unless exempt under the normal license exemptions. This conservation passport is valid for all other Department-owned lands not just for Hackberry Flat WMA, such as Gist Wildlife Management Area.
Getting There
From the south end of the town of Frederick, continue south on Highway 183 for one mile. Turn east (left) on County Road E183 (also known as Airport Road). Travel 3 miles and then follow the blacktop as it curves sharply to the right. You are now on County Road N2240. Travel 6 miles. You will pass two Hackberry Flat WMA signs but continue to the third sign, the Hackberry Flat Center sign.
Coordinates: 34.277642, -98.963945
In Google Maps, type in 'William H. “Bill” Crawford Building'.
***Please do not select 'Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area' in Google Maps, as this will take you into the WMA and not to the William H. “Bill” Crawford Building.
Lodging, restaurants and shopping are available in nearby Frederick. Visit frederickokchamber.org to learn more about the town.
Hackberry Flat is just one destination on the Hackberry Flat Loop of the Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma. The road-based wildlife viewing trail is made up of 13 different western Oklahoma driving loops.