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The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge hosts two of Oklahoma's
most popular controlled hunts, the annual elk and deer hunts. The
hunts are 2 1/2 days of exhilarating scenery and are known as some
of the best-managed hunts in the country. While the white-tailed
deer herd is native to the area, the elk herd started with introductions
in 1911-1912 when Rocky Mountain elk were reintroduced from Jackson
Hole, Wyoming. The original herd had been wiped out by
indiscriminate hunting before this area was protected as a wildlife
refuge. Today, careful management insures their survival, controls
their numbers, and allows a portion to be harvested.
The elk and deer hunts on the Refuge are a cooperative effort
between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Recent Hunt Results:
The 2010 deer hunts resulted in a 49% overall success. Seventy
three hunters participated in the hunt out of 100 permits issued. Of
the 32 buck hunters participating, 14 filled their permits,
resulting in a 44% success rate. Of the 41 doe hunters
participating, 22 filled permits, resulting in a 54% success rate.
Overall, 73 hunters removed 36 animals, resulting in a 49% success
rate. Read
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The 2010 elk hunts resulted in an overall 66% success rate. A
total of 309 permits were issued for the hunt and 272 hunters
actually participated with a 66% overall success rate. Sixty hunters
had tags for either sex, with 55 being successful, resulting in a
92% success rate. Of these, 54 were bulls and one was a cow. Two
hundred twelve (212) hunters participated in the cow hunt, and 125
of them were successful in filling permits, resulting in a 59%
success. The elk hunt is a once-in-a-lifetime hunt and, once drawn,
hunters may not reapply for this hunt. Read
More
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