Hunting in Oklahoma: Top Spots for Hunting in the Sooner State

There's a lot more to Oklahoma than the tornadoes, cattle ranches, oil fields, and long lonely roads for which it is famous. The state is rich in public lands, most of which are open to hunting, and the shooting sports are popular in this Old West territory. Hunting is also allowed on private land and even at Army Corps of Engineers projects.

Deer, boar, and waterfowl, among others, all find themselves in the gunsight (and subsequently on the dinner table). A company called "No Mercy Hunting Services" even offers high-thrills guided boar hunts, along with buffalo, elk, and goat hunts, as well as prairie dog shoots. (Presumably the last-named critters are excluded from coverage under the company's "Kill It and Grill It" motto).

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Many, if not all, of the listed lands are spectacular enough that you don't even need to hunt to enjoy them, and you may be sharing your range with campers, hikers and picnickers.

State and Federal regulation makes sure that wildlands and wildlife thrive and remain accessible to all the state's residents and visitors, and hunting seasons vary according to the needs of the wildlife populations – so always check with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife's regulations before loading up and heading out.

Here's a list of some of the top spots for hunting in Oklahoma, along with the beasts that might feed you if you get lucky and shoot straight:

Optima Wildlife Management Area and National Wildlife Refuge
Deer and turkey abound here, though obviously the boundaries of the refuge make for a safe haven for critters.

Cimarron Bluff WMA
Quail, pheasant, and turkey.

Sandy Sanders WMA
Quail and whitetail deer.

Ouachita National Forest
Deer and turkey.

Three Rivers WMA
Deer, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, turkey.

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Honobia Creek WMA
Deer, bear, turkey, and duck.

Hackberry Flat WMA
Prime waterfowl hunting.

Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge
Quail, deer, turkey, rabbit, dove, and squirrel.

Black Kettle National Grassland
Deer, turkey, rabbit, quail, coyote, and raccoon.

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Elk, whose numbers have boomed as their natural predators have been hunted out.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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