Page 4 - Outdoor Oklahoma - May/June 2021 Issue

Off the Beaten Path

NOT ES ON WILDLIFE • OU T DOOR TI PS • R EA DERS’ LET T ERS • EN V I RON MEN TA L NEWS
C OM PILED BY DON P. BROW N
LANCE MEEk/ODWC

Cherokee WMA
SIX SHOOTING RANGES RENOVATED; MANY MORE IN THE WORKS

The Wildlife Department is in the process of improving and present, users should bring their own throwers.
expanding existing gun ranges and constructing new gun ranges Current ranges awaiting renovation include Texoma-Washita
on Wildlife Management Areas statewide. Arm, Hickory Creek, Fort Supply, Fort Gibson, Canton and
“Wildlife management is funded by hunters and shooters Optima. New ranges will be added to Atoka, Copan, Kaw,
through the Pittman-Robertson Act,” said Lance Meek, Com- Packsaddle, Sandy Sanders, Heyburn, Robbers Cave, Hulah,
munication and Education Senior Specialist. “A huge part of Waurika and Cimarron Hills
being a successful, safe and ethical hunter comes from practice WMAs. Also, ODWC is work-
at the gun range. Since it has become increasingly hard to find ing with the U.S. Army Corps LANCE MEEk/ODWC
a place to shoot, we are working on creating more opportunity of Engineers to acquire a range
for our hunters and shooters.” adjacent to Hugo WMA.
Renovations have been completed at Lexington, Cherokee, “Most of our ranges were
Pushmataha, Beaver, Okmulgee and James Collins WMAs. built years ago with a mini-
Improvements include covered shooting benches, updated mum of funding or assis-
backstops and berms, better stormwater runoff management, tance,” Meek said. “This new
new target frames, ADA accessibility, and more. effort has really improved
All renovated ODWC ranges have rifle and pistol ranges. existing ranges by providing
Cherokee and Beaver have 200-yard rifle ranges, and Cherokee, quality experiences, more
Beaver and Okmulgee have trap ranges. Where trap ranges are safety, less maintenance and Pushmataha WMA
better lead management. We are using what we’ve learned over
kELLY bOYER/ODWC the years to construct new and renovate existing ranges.”
ODWC has provided funding and assistance to construct
a new range at Oklahoma Panhandle State University and
replace obsolete throwers at Silverleaf Sports. In addition, the
ODWC is working with the Cherokee Nation to construct two
archery ranges. Additional partnerships and new shooting
opportunities will continue to be developed.
All ranges funded through this process are open to the pub-
lic. Privately owned or partner-owned ranges are available to
The Okmulgee WMA manager takes a look at work being done on a berm use for a reasonable fee. ODWC-managed ranges are free to use
as the area’s shooting range is being renovated. for those with a hunting license.

2 Off the Beaten Path

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