Pine Creek Wildlife Management Area
By: Richard Beagles, Biologist at Hugo, Pine Creek, Whitegrass Flats, Red Slough and Grassy Slough WMA’s. Phone: (580) 320-3176.
Area Description:
Pine Creek WMA covers 10,280 acres and is located
in McCurtain and Pushmataha Counties approximately 7 miles North of Valliant,
Oklahoma. The WMA is adjacent to Little River and Pine Creek Lake. Habitat
consists of mature stands of hardwoods in the bottom land areas to hardwood/pine
tree mixes in some areas as well as large stands of mostly pine located through
the area. Some of the area is old farm field habitat that is maintained through
intensive management practices. The variety of trees include six species of oak
as well as ash, hickory, pine, river birch, willow, as well as sand plum, holly,
sumac, and a great variety of grasses and legumes. Soil types vary from deep
sand to rocky and the area is part of the Kiamichi Uplift. The average annual
precipitation for the area is 53 inches.
WMA Driving Directions: From Valliant: 8 miles north on Pine Creek Rd to lake.
Game Species of Interest:
Quail: Bobwhite quail are present in low numbers.
Black Bear: Same as statewide.
Deer: Whitetail deer are present in good numbers but are highly sought after.
Turkey: Eastern wild turkeys are present in fair numbers but are highly sought after.
Rabbit: Both cottontails and swamp rabbits are abundant, with cottontails being more common.
Furbearers: Coyote, bobcat, beaver, mink, and raccoon are available.
Dove: Dove are usually present in fair during the migration.
Waterfowl: Goose numbers are low but duck numbers can be fair on the open water.
River Otters: Same as statewide.
Nongame Species of Interest:
Bald eagle: Eagles winter at Pine Creek Lake and travel the Little River Basin.
Description of Fish and Wildlife Management
Practices:
Approximately 250 acres of food plots
are planted yearly. Management practices such as burning, plowing, and bush
hogging are used to provide quality native plant food resources and to maintain
habitat diversity. Pine Creek WMA has plenty of water sources for all game and
non-game species.
Camping and Facilities:
Camping is allowed at primitive sites on the management area with food and
lodging available in Valliant. The Corps of Engineers Pine Creek Lake project
office also offers year round camping with full utilities at some very scenic
campsites. The C.O.E. phone number is: 580-933-4239.
No rifle range facilities exist at this project.
Fishing Opportunities:
Fishing opportunities exist at Pine
Creek Lake both on the main water and below the dam. The C.O.E. has convenient
boat ramps that allow easy access too many parts of the lake. Black bass,
catfish, crappie, and smallmouth are all in abundance at Pine Creek Lake. Nearby
Little River provides quality fishing for smallmouth bass and sunfish species,
and is floatable via canoe during spring.
Maps:
Pine Creek WMA - best general purpose map, pdf format (8.5x11)
Pine Creek WMA Map - interactive map with aerial photography available
Information on the lake and surrounding area
Area map courtesy of US Army Corp of Engineers
Regulations: Seasons on public lands section of hunting regulations
For
additional information and area attractions:
Kiamichi Country Tourism
1-800-722-8180
Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce
1134 W Martin Luther King Jr,
Broken Bow 74728
(580) 584-3393 or (800) 528-7337
chamber@pine-net.com
Clayton
PO Box 279, Dept KC03
Clayton 74536
(918) 569-4135
Hugo Area Chamber of Commerce
200 South Broadway
Hugo OK 74743
(580) 326-7511
hugochamber@lstarnet.com
http://www.hugochamber.com
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
Post Office Box 52002
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-2002
(800) 652-6552 or (405) 521-2409
www.travelok.com