Fire Management
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 hunt is a once-in-a-lifetime hunt and, once drawn, hunters may not reapply for this hunt.
Last Updated: Nov 30, 2011