Attention Non-Residents
The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission adopted new rules in 2025 that require non-residents accessing certain Oklahoma public hunting and fishing areas to check in and out of the area. By checking in and out of these areas, hunters, anglers, shooters, birdwatchers, hikers and any other users can help the Wildlife Department better understand how the area is being used. There is no additional cost associated with checking in or out of an area. There is no limit to the number of check ins for an individual in a year.
Contacts
Area Details
For details on Wichita Mountains WR visit our partners with the USFWS:
All hunting seasons are closed except controlled turkey, elk and deer hunts. Contact the refuge for waterfowl special restrictions.
Channel and/or blue catfish: six combined per day.
Allowed methods: rod and reel only.
For One Survey Team, “Getting Skunked” Smells Like Success
Getting skunks on camera was a critical first step in an Oklahoma State University survey team’s effort to learn more about the Plains spotted skunk population in southeastern Oklahoma. The secretive and little-known skunk was detected at about half of the survey sites on the Ouachita National Forest.
Apprentice Designation: A Learner's Permit for Hunting
Hunter education has greatly reduced hunting accidents, but if you can’t complete a course right away, the apprentice designation allows you to hunt under supervision. It works like a learner’s permit, giving you the chance to gain real experience safely until you finish hunter education.