Oklahoma Alerts Back to Main

If you enjoyed riding in the Broken Bow Area specificially the Three Rivers Management Area you won't enjoy it anymore because its off limits. Any area designated Three Rivers Management which basically encompasses the entire area will be closed to Recreational Atving as of August 1, 2008. Upset about it? Contact the following places and express your opinion act now its never to late. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and Conservation Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation Oklahoma State Senate and House

New Three Rivers agreement approved At its May meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to accept a new land use agreement with Weyerhaeuser Company for the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area in McCurtain County. Under the new three-year agreement, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will lease 250,190 acres at 50 cents per acre per year for recreational public access as the Three Rivers WMA. As in the past, a Land Access Permit will be required of users. Beginning Aug. 1, the cost of that permit will increase to cover the cost of the new lease. Oklahoma residents ages 18-63 are required to purchase the annual Land Access Permit, which will be available for $40 at any vendor that sells hunting and fishing licenses. A three-day non-hunting and non-fishing permit will be available to Oklahoma residents for $10. A non-resident permit will be $85 per year, with no exemptions. Permits purchased prior to the price increase will be valid through the end of the year. Additionally, ATV use will only be allowed during deer season (Oct. 1 – Jan. 15) and only by licensed deer hunters. The following guidelines will apply to ATV use on the area: * Any hunter while operating an ATV/ORV at any time must comply with daylight florescent orange requirements as required for deer gun seasons. If a crash helmet is worn, only the fluorescent orange chest covering is required. * ATV/ORV use is restricted to WMA roads that are on the current Three Rivers WMA map unless otherwise closed. * Only unaltered standard manufactured ATV/ORVs with a 700 cc motor displacement or less are allowed. * ATV/ORV use shall be restricted to a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. * ATV/ORV operators and passengers under the age of 18 must wear a crash helmet that complies with standards established by 49 C.F.R., Section 571.218. * Passengers in addition to the operator are not allowed on ATV/ORVs unless that ATV/ORV has been specifically designed by the manufacturer to carry passengers in addition to the operator. * Leaving any ATV/ORV unattended on Three Rivers WMA without the owner’s name and address conspicuously attached is prohibited. Use of ATV/ORVs off of delineated roads for retrieval of lawfully taken and tagged deer is permissible only with the following restrictions. * ATV/ORVs shall not travel more than one half mile from the nearest road. * ATV/ORVs shall not cross rivers and streams unless on a road with constructed stream crossing structures. * ATV/ORVs used for deer retrieval shall not be used in areas otherwise closed to the use of motor vehicles. “For the past 10 years Weyerhaeuser, through an agreement with the Wildlife Department, has allowed hunters and anglers to use our property; however, that contract will expire this May,” said Matt Williams, Weyerhaeuser timberland manager in Oklahoma and Arkansas. “Many things have changed in the past 10 years, including the economies of timber production. Although this new agreement will be much different than our previous one, we think it represents a significant opportunity for hunters and anglers, with over 1,000 miles of private roads, hundreds of streams and rivers for all types of outdoor recreation.” Williams said the company looks forward to building on the success of the last 10 years, which has included both opportunities for sportsmen and benefits for conservation. “There’s been quality hunting and fishing experiences for the public to enjoy. There’s been a reduced incidence of wildfire, unauthorized access and dumping on the property that is critical to our continuing this agreement,” Williams said. Williams said the Department’s agreement with Weyerhaeuser involves what may be the largest property in the country of its kind where a private timberland company and public entity have entered into a cooperative agreement to allow public access. “Although we manage our properties primarily for timber production, Weyerhaeuser is dedicated to enhancing fish and wildlife resources and we hope to continue providing quality public recreation on a good portion of our property,” Williams said. “This new agreement solution is positive for all parties involved — Weyerhaeuser, the Wildlife Department and the sportsmen.” Richard Hatcher, assistant director of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, said the encouraging thing about the new agreement is that both the Wildlife Department and Weyerhaeuser are very committed to maintaining the strong tradition of public hunting and fishing in the area. “This area is a large contiguous area that will continue to allow us to focus our resources and management efforts,” Hatcher said. “Every dollar brought in from the land access permit goes right back into the area, whether to pay the lease or manage the property.” Though there are different terms and conditions with the new agreement than there has been in previous agreements, Hatcher says it is important for sportsmen to look at the big picture. Located in McCurtain County, Three Rivers WMA comprises thousands of acres of timberland in the rugged hill country of the Ouachita Mountains. Each year about 15,000 users purchase a Land Access Permit. The area is a popular spot among deer hunters, and last year, hunters harvested more than 1,200 deer on the area. Composed primarily of pine and mixed oak forests, Three Rivers supports large numbers of whitetail deer and eastern wild turkey, as well as plentiful numbers of small game such as rabbits and squirrels. The area also supports an abundance of non-game wildlife, particularly songbirds. Several highland streams flow through both areas, offering excellent fishing opportunities for a number of game species, particularly smallmouth bass. Land access permit holders also have access to the nearby Honobia Creek WMA, an additional 75,000 acres of land. For more information about the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.

There maybe some hope of riding back up in the Broken Bow, OK area. They are trying to pass a bill that would allow Atvs to ride on County roads, and if this passes it will allow riding from Doug and other cabin owners properties to the National Forest, and other riding areas. This will be a significant change, but keep in mind the Three Rivers Management Area is still closed. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and Conservation Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation Oklahoma State Senate and House