Contacts
The Hal and Fern Cooper WMA covers 16,120 acres of northwestern Woodward and south central Harper Counties. Located just east of Hwy. 270 (northwest of the city of Woodward), the area is primarily upland rolling sand hills with around 4,500 acres of river bottom.
Mixed grass prairie and sagebrush are found on upland sites, interspersed with sand plum thickets. The river bottom is fairly open and consists of cottonwood, American elm, hackberry, and eastern red cedar interspersed with sand plum thickets, salt cedar, and mixed grassland. The Beaver River joins Wolf Creek to create the North Canadian River in the area. The average annual precipitation for the area is about 20 inches.
Going Quail Hunting?
During quail hunting season, wing collection boxes are placed at several wildlife management areas: Beaver River, Optima, Packsaddle, Cooper, Kaw, Drummond Flats, Canton, Fort Supply, Cross Timbers, and Pushmataha. Hunters are asked to donate a wing from each quail they harvest for research purposes. Ultimately, the wings can help determine the status of the quail populations at the WMAs and can offer clues about how next year’s season might pan out.
From Woodward: 9 miles northwest on U.S. Hwy 270/U.S. Hwy 183. East side of the highway.
- Pheasant: Present but rare.
- Quail: Bobwhite quail are usually present in good numbers but are highly sought after.
- Deer: White-tailed deer are present in fair numbers, mule deer are rare.
- Turkey: Rio Grande wild turkeys are present in good numbers but are highly sought after.
- Rabbit: Both cottontails and jackrabbits are present, but cottontails are much more common.
- Furbearers: Coyote, bobcat and raccoon are available.
- Dove: Dove are usually present in good numbers but are highly sought after.
- Waterfowl: Duck and goose hunting opportunities are very limited.
- Bald Eagle: Eagles winter at Fort Supply WMA but sightings are rare on Cooper WMA.
Cooper WMA has 12 windmills and 15 solar powered water pumps to provide watering facilities for wildlife. Management practices include prescribed grazing of cattle, strip disking, strip mowing and prescribed burns. Management efforts focus on producing native wildlife foods such as ragweed, croton and sunflower. Approximately 50 acres of agricultural food plots are planted annually in the river bottom portion of the WMA.
Five designated primitive camping areas are offered on the area. The US Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Supply Lake offer campsites with facilities and RV hookups. The Corps of Engineers lake office can be reached at (580) 766-2701.
Both lodging and restaurants are available in Woodward. The Woodward Chamber of Commerce can be reached at (580) 256-7411.
Cooper WMA does not have a gun range and recreation shooting is not allowed.
A public gun range can be found on the south end of Fort Supply WMA. The US Army Corps of Engineers offers a public gun range located just to the north the Corps of Engineers office(2 miles south of the town of Fort Supply). Both ranges offer 50 and 100 yard shooting opportunity.
Seasonal Fishing opportunity does exist on Beaver River, Wolf Creek and the North Canadian River however, rivers can go dry during summer months. There are no ponds or permanent pools on Cooper WMA capable of sustaining a reliable fishery. Fishing opportunity exist at Fort Supply lake located 2 miles west of the Cooper WMA headquarters.
Closed Seasons
Same As Statewide Seasons
Seasons w/ Special Restrictions
- Crow, Snipe, Woodcock, Waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, Rabbit, Squirrel
Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season.
- Deer Muzzleloader
Closed to antlerless mule deer hunting.
- Deer Gun
Open the first nine days only. Closed to antlerless hunting.
- Pursuit with Hounds for Furbearers, Predator/Furbearer Calling
Closed during deer gun season.
- Pheasant
Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. Hunting hours close at 4:30 p.m. daily.
- Turkey Fall Gun
Shotgun only.
- Trapping
Open to water sets, live box traps and enclosed trigger traps only through Jan 31. Open same as statewide Feb 1 through end of February.
- Turkey Spring, Youth Turkey Spring
One-tom limit; seasons combined, area combined. Hunting hours close at 7:00 p.m. daily.
- Quail
Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. Hunting hours close at 4:30 p.m. daily. Closed to non-resident hunting February 1-15.
Hunter and angler camping is allowed in designated areas. Prairie dog hunting is closed.
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
Post Office Box 52002
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-2002
(800) 652-6552 or (405) 521-2409
www.travelok.com
