Page 38 - May/June 2022 Outdoor Oklahoma

In recent years,
JENA DONNELL/ODWC hunters have cited a

lack of access to land
for hunting. The sur-
vey asked licensed
hunters, “How has
your access to pri-
vate land for hunt-
ing changed over
the last five years?”
Responses showed
that 31 percent said
they had less access,
while 47 percent had
about the same level
of access.
Many WMAs are WMAs offer more than just hunting and fishing opportunities. They are also
great locations
for birdwatching, used for outdoor events such as bird watching and educational tours, camping,
as this group boating, horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking.
experiences
at Hackberry The survey asked licensed hunters if they visit WMAs for reasons other than
Flats WMA in
southwestern hunting, and about four out of 10 said they had visited a WMA for nonhunt-
Oklahoma. ing-related activities. Consequently, about 60 percent of surveyed hunters had

not visited a WMA for reasons other than hunting, which represents a sizable
opportunity for ODWC to share with more license holders the wide array of
activities available on WMAs.

WHERE ARE WMAs FOUND?
The Wildlife Department manages 102 public hunting and fishing areas
across the state, ranging from Rita Blanca National Grasslands in Cimarron
County to the McCurtain County Wilderness Area in McCurtain County.
Among those areas are 83 WMAs and 13 ODWC-owned fishing lakes. WMAs
can be found in at least 55 of the state’s 77 counties, and some counties con-
tain multiple WMAs.
The Department’s WMAs reflect how Oklahoma is blessed with a wide range of
wildlife habitats.
Habitat ranges Ponca City
from shortgrass
prairie to tallgrass WMA LOCATIONS Tulsa
prairie, from pine IN OKLAHOMA
forest to des-
Elk City Oklahoma City
ert areas in the
southwest, and McAlester
river bottoms, Altus Lawton
hill country, cross
Ardmore
timbers, sloughs
and wetlands.

36 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA

4/18/2022 2:45:16 PM
OutdoorOK-2022-May-June-1.indd 36
OutdoorOK-2022-May-June-1.indd 36 4/18/2022 2:45:16 PM