Page 40 - May/June 2022 Outdoor Oklahoma

IS THE ODWC BUYING MORE LAND?

Yes, the ODWC does look for opportunities to add more public access areas
to its holdings. The Department is especially interested in acquiring acres that
are adjacent to existing WMAs. However, in the past five years, several new
WMAs have been added: Neosho Bottoms, Sans Bois, Sandhills, Arbuckle
Springs, Barren Fork, and Thomas A. Bamberger Sr.
Here’s a breakdown of the Wildlife Department’s holdings:
• ODWC owns 346,790 acres in
WMAs along with 3,814 acres of
surface water. TONY CRAWFORD/ODWC
• ODWC manages 312,549 acres
under license from the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers and the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation.
• ODWC is under agreement or leas-
es to manage 720,570 acres from
the U.S. Forest Service, National
Park Service, state Commissioners
of the Land Office, and several
timber companies. Mulching is a habitat
management practice
at many WMAs.
In all, these lands under management by ODWC provide 1,339,708 acres that
are accessible for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation by the public.
Regulations require anyone entering a WMA to possess a hunting or fish-
ing license (unless otherwise exempt) or a Wildlife Conservation Passport,
DARRIN HILL/ODWC

Designated shooting ranges are found at 11 WMAs across the state, and more are in the planning stages.

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