Nashoba
259
Smithville
Signal Mountain
Walk-In
Turkey Hunting Area
Boktuklo Creek
Walk-In
Turkey Hunting Area
259
Mt. Herman
259
3
3
Total Acreage: 250,190
3
98
Wright City
259
70
3
98
Broken Bow
Three Rivers
Wildlife
Management
Area
Three Rivers WMA
A
decade ago, a unique public/private partnership was
created in southeast Oklahoma with the establishment
of the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area. Through a
landmark cooperative agreement between the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) and
Weyerhaeuser Company, the agreement allowed hundreds
of thousands of private-land acres to be open for public
recreation.
In the years since the agreement was established, tens of
thousands of hunters, anglers, hikers and campers have
visited the Three Rivers WMA for a nominal annual fee
known as the Land Access Permit. Proceeds from the Land
Access Permit have been used by the ODWC to conduct
multiple wildlife enhancement practices in concert with
Weyerhaeuser’s cultivation of tree species used for lumber,
plywood and paper products.
Among various forms of recreation, Three Rivers WMA has
been a particularly popular destination for Oklahoma hunters.
Each fall, thousands descend on the area to camp and hunt
in the rugged hills and forests in pursuit of white-tailed deer.
In the spring, Three Rivers is also a popular destination for
turkey hunters, many of whom take advantage of two special
Walk-In only areas.
Within the new cooperative agreement, sportsmen must be
aware of several new policies pursuant to the area. The Land
Access Permit Fees have risen, and there are new policies
governing the operation of ATVs and ORVs.
The new fee structure for the land access permit is as follows:
• Oklahoma Residents: Ages 18 to 63 - $40 per year. (ages 17 and younger; and
age 64 and older are exempt).
• 3 Day Oklahoma Resident (non-hunting/non-fishing permit): $10
• Non-Residents: $85 per year (no exemptions).
GENERAL REGULATIONS GOVERNING USE OF THREE RIVERS WMA
Consult the current Oklahoma Hunting Regulations for specific hunting regulations that apply to Three Rivers WMA.
1. PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
All persons who hunt, fish or otherwise use Three Rivers WMA
must possess a valid annual Land Access Permit or proof of exemption (see current hunting regulations).
2. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
All persons carrying a firearm, bow and arrow, or anyone fishing on
Three Rivers WMA must possess a valid hunting, fishing or combination license unless exempt (see current hunting or fishing regulations).
3. GROUP ACTIVITIES
Any activity involving groups of 25 individuals or more must receive
prior written approval from the area biologist.
4. CAMPING
Camping is limited to a maximum of fourteen (14) days.
5. BUILDINGS AND PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT
No permanent or temporary structures (buildings, earthworks, boat
docks, etc.) may be constructed on Three Rivers WMA.
6. VEHICLES
1. It shall be unlawful to operate an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or
off-road vehicle (ORV) on the Three Rivers WMA except under the
following restrictions:
(a) During any open deer season,
(b) any deer hunter licensed in Oklahoma, unless otherwise
exempt,
(c) any hunter while operating a ATV/ORV shall comply with
daylight fluorescent orange head and chest covering as required
for hunting deer gun seasons. If a crash helmet is worn, only the
fluorescent orange chest covering is required.
(d) ATV/ORV use is restricted to WMA roads that are delineated
on the current Three Rivers WMA map unless otherwise closed.
2. ATV/ORV Three River WMA restrictions:
(a) Only unaltered standard manufactured ATV/ORV’s with a
700 cc motor displacement or less are allowed
(b) ATV/ORV use shall be restricted to a maximum speed of 25
mph.
(c) Operator and/or passenger under the age of 18 shall wear a
crash helmet of a type which complies with standards established
by 49 C.F.R., Section 571.218.
(d) No operator of an ATV/ORV shall carry a passenger unless
that ATV/ORV has been specifically designed by the manufacturer
to carry passengers in addition to the operator.
(e) Leaving any ATV/ORV, tree stand, game camera unattended
on Three Rivers WMA without owner’s name and address affixed
thereto in a conspicuous manner is prohibited.
3. Use of ATV/ORV’s off of delineated roads for retrieval of lawfully
taken and tagged deer shall be permissible only with the following
restrictions:
(a) ATV/ORV’s shall not travel more than ½ mile from the nearest road.
(b) ATV/ORV’s shall not cross rivers and streams unless on a
road with constructed stream crossing structures.
(c) ATV/ORV’s used for deer retrieval shall not be used in areas
otherwise closed to the use of motor vehicles (walk-in only hunting
areas, etc).
7. LITTERING
Disposal of garbage, trash, refuse, litter, sewage, debris or any
other form of solid waste is prohibited.
8. USE OF HORSES
Horses and mules may be used anytime on established roads and
trails open for public use unless otherwise posted. During deer
primitive and deer gun seasons, riders must wear both a head
covering and an outer garment above the waistline consisting of
daylight fluorescent orange color totaling not less than 400 square
inches.
9. THEFT OR VANDALISM
A. It is unlawful for any person to shoot at, deface, damage,
destroy, remove or steal all or any part of physical structures, any
equipment or machinery, fences or fencing materials, cattle guards,
gates, signs or any other state-owned property on Departmentmanaged lands.
B. It is unlawful to cut, dig, damage or remove crops, trees,
shrubs, timber (including dead standing trees) water, gravel, sand,
earth, rocks, materials or other natural resources other than legally
harvested fish and wildlife from Three Rivers WMA without prior
written approval from the Wildlife Department.
10. DEER STANDS
No permanent-type stands may be constructed in or on a tree, nor
shall cleats be driven into a tree to gain access to a portion of any
tree, nor shall any person hunt from such a stand. Only portable
type stands which do not require the use of any fastening device
that has the potential to damage a tree are permitted. Such stands
shall be removed from the tree immediately following the closure
of the day’s hunt for which they were used. Stands remaining after
this time become the property of the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation to be disposed of in the best practical manner.