Current Events on the Refuge
(Updated 6/15/11)

2011 Prescribed Burns at the Refuge

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge intends to conduct prescribed burns, scheduled to occur late-January through March – weather permitting.  The Refuge is continuing proactive land management using prescribed fire as a management tool.  Three prescribed burns, 1) Dog Run Trailhead, 2) pastures of the Turkey Creek Unit, and 3) the central portion (including picnic area) of Mt. Scott Canyon, are planned.  These areas combined are approximately 2,800 acres in size.  These burns are planned to reduce future possibilities of uncontrollable wildfires while enhancing critical wildlife habitat and remove the extensive limb debris from last winter's ice storm. Read more here.

Comprehensive Conservation Planning (CCP)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working on a long-term management plan for the Wichita Mountains WR. This plan, called a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP), will serve as a guide for managing the Wichita Mountains WR over the next 15 years. Track the progress of this planning effort through the Planning Update.

Visitor Center Hours have Changed!!

Happy Summer! Visitor Center hours are 8:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. These hours will continue throughout the summer until the time change in the Fall.

Be ready for Summer! How to Have a Firewise Home.

Stay up to date on the weather at the Refuge by checking with the Weather Channel.

Want to Volunteer?

The Refuge accepts qualified volunteers for several projects. Give us a call or fill out an application

Been to the Refuge's Visitor Center lately? You'll be amazed by what you've missed!

Links to Area Attractions

Find information on area hotels, B&B's and cabins, local news, Chamber of Commerce and other items of interest to our visitors.

Outdoor Learning Adventure - 2011 Nature Quest Camp

Open to 4th grade students entering the 5th grade & 5th grade students entering the 6th grade, this 5 day camp with a 2 night campout was held in early June. Sixty students had fun and learned about the Refuge. Mark your calendar for next year.

Tony Booth, new Refuge Manager!

I just wanted to briefly say hello and introduce myself as the new manager for the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.  I just transferred here from Tok, Alaska, where I had been the refuge manager for the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge.  I feel very pleased and honored to have been selected for the manager of the Wichita Mountains NWR, which is one of the oldest and most prestigious of the 553 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System.  This refuge renders some of the best outdoor recreational opportunities in the nation, and I want to welcome and encourage you to come and enjoy the resources of this area.    

2011 Public Tours Announced

Public tours are conducted year around by the Association of the Friends of the Wichitas. Reservations are required for these popular tours and can be made by contacting the Visitor Center at 580-429-2151. Please check the tour schedule for reservation dates for each tour.

Prescribed Burns at the Refuge

Four prescribed burns were accomplished this past August (2010); an area near West Gate, acreage northwest of Mt. Scott, Comanche Lake Rx Unit, and part of the Dog Run Hollow Rx Unit system. These areas combined were approximately 9,000 acres in size.

Planning is underway for FY-2011 prescribed fires. Areas proposed include, Mt. Scott canyon, North Mountain Wilderness, Big 4 Rx Unit, Turkey Creek Rx Unit, Quanah and Crater Lakes Rx Units, and cut cedar between French Lake trailhead and Dog Run trailhead. Implementation will depend on weather and environmental conditions, funding, and public safety.

FREE Weekend Events are being scheduled! Join Us!!

A wide variety of free weekend events are being scheduled. Plan to include these tours and interpretive walks in your visit to the Refuge. Call the Visitor Center at 580-429-2197 to check if a tour is happening when you visit and to get more information.

Refuge Maintenance Team Receives Award

The Maintenance Team at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge received the 2009 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Environmental Leadership Award for its exemplary efforts in Recycling. Service Director Sam Hamilton presented the award on October 28 during a Directorate Retreat at the Refuge.

According to Acting Director Rowan Gould, "The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Maintenance Team has reason to be proud. Their innovative approach to recycling resulted in a significant increases in the amount of solid waste recycled. Additionally, they reduced the amount of energy and water consumed by the efficient use of resources and by working with volunteers to collect and separate recyclables."

The Refuge now recycles all of its paper, cardboard and aluminum used at the Headquarters, Visitor Center and at many of its outdoor public locations. Additionally, the maintenance team replaced all toilets with water efficient models and has replaced most lighting fixtures with energy efficient alternatives.

WMWR Visitors Receive National Award - Photo Contest

Two visitors to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge took Honorable Mention Awards in the National Wildlife Refuge Association's 2009 Photography Contest. Grace Haight of Pottsboro, Texas won for her bison photograph and Albert Lavallee was honored for his image of a collared lizard. Both will receive a copy of "Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature," a book by Linda Lear.

This year's contest resulted in over 2,000 entries from 44 states. The Refuge is tremendously proud that two of our own ranked within the Top 15!

Visit the National Wildlife Refuge Association to see all the winning entries.

The Refuge Designated as an Important Bird Area!

The Oklahoma Audubon Council recently recognized the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge as an Important Bird Area (IBA) to Oklahoma.  Important Bird Areas are sites that provide essential habitat for one or more species of birds.  IBAs range in size from just a few acres to thousands of acres, but are usually discrete sites that stand out from the surrounding landscape. 

A panel of Oklahoma’s leading avian researchers reviewed species data and descriptions for a number of significantly threatened bird species.  The panel agreed that the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge qualified for recognition at the state level.

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is home to over 240 species of birds, including ones that are considered near-threatened, threatened or endangered at international, federal or state levels.  The Black-capped Vireo, and endangered species, resides on the refuge during their breeding season.  The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge supports the second largest breeding population of Black-capped Vireo’s in the world.  Painted Bunting, Northern Bobwhite Quail, Red-headed Woodpecker and Chestnut-collared Longspur are some of the other species that helped qualify the site for designation.

New Video Page

Check out the newest addition to our website. Here you will find video clips of the Refuge and special events taking place. Enjoy!

Elk and Deer Hunts

The special hunts at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge are a management tool to maintain the elk and deer populations at a level compatible with good habitat conditions. A management objective is to maintain the populations as they would naturally occur, which includes maintaining a one-to-one sex ratio rather than maximizing numbers of females for production.

The hunts are a cooperative effort between the Refuge and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The number of permits issued annually varies depending upon animal production, herd sex ratios, and the success of previous hunts in removing excess animals.

Annual Bison Auction Results

Annual Texas Longhorn Auction Results