Ouachita Wildlife Management Area
McCurtain Unit

By: John Skeen, Senior Biologist at Broken Bow and Ouachita (McCurtain Unit)  WMA’s and McCurtain County Wilderness Area. Phone: (580) 241-7875.

Area Description :
Ouachita WMA – McCurtain Unit covers 131,000 acres in central and southern McCurtain County in the southeast corner of the state.  The Broken Bow Subunit is located north of Broken Bow, surrounding Broken Bow Lake and the Glover River.  The Tiak Subunit is located southeast of Idabel surrounding the towns of Haworth and Tom. 

Loblolly pine plantations and upland hardwood forests dominate the 111,000 acres found within the Broken Bow Unit.  This area contains the Ouachita mountain foothills and also surrounds the Lower Mountain Fork River.  This portion of the WMA was acquired in 1997 from Weyerhaeuser as part of a Forest Service/Weyco land exchange.  Within the 20,000 acre Tiak Unit, mixed loblolly pine/hardwood forests and mature, bottomland hardwood forests dominate the landscape.   

Game Species of Interest: 

Quail: Bobwhite quail are present in low numbers. 

Deer: White-tailed deer are present in good numbers but are highly sought after. 

Turkey: Eastern wild turkeys are present in good numbers but are highly sought after. 

Rabbit: Both cottontails and swamp rabbits are present with cottontails being more common.   

Furbearers: Coyote, bobcat, fox, beaver and raccoon are available. 

Nongame Species of Interest: 

Bachman’s Sparrow: Present in low numbers on the Broken Bow Unit. 

Black Bear: Present in low numbers. 

Swainson’s Warbler: Present in very low numbers on the Tiak Unit.

Bald eagle: Eagles routinely winter on the upper and lower Mountain Fork River and on Broken Bow Lake. 

Description of Fish and Wildlife Management Practices:
Management efforts on both units are focused on improving habitat conditions within the managed pine and pine/hardwood stands.  Timber harvest, prescribed burning, and midstory removal are the main tools used for habitat improvement.  Approximately 50,000 acres within the Broken Bow Subunit is dedicated to shortleaf pine bluestem restoration and Red-cockaded Woodpecker recovery.   

Camping and Facilities:
No designated camping facilities are available.  Camping is allowed anywhere on the WMA except for day use areas.  Kulli Recreation Area, on the Tiak Unit, is open for day use only between late spring and early fall.  A 7-acre stocked pond highlights this recreation area.   

Fishing Opportunities:
Fish for smallmouth, spotted and largemouth bass along with sunfish within the Broken Bow Unit on the Glover, Mountain Fork, and Buffalo Creeks.   There are no fishable ponds within the Broken Bow Unit.  On the Tiak Unit, fish for bass, sunfish, and channel catfish within Kulli Pond, Hunter’s Pool (5 acres), Midway Store Pond (1 acre), and Compartment 48 Pond (1 acre).

FOR A MAP OF THE AREA CLICK HERE.

For additional information and area attractions:
Kiamichi Country Tourism  
1-800-722-8180

Heavener Chamber of Commerce
501 West First St, Heavener 74937
(918) 653-4303
heavenercofc@leflorecounty.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

Poteau Chamber of Commerce
200 South Broadway, Poteau 74953
(918) 647-9178
www.poteau.org

Talihina Chamber of Commerce and Ouachita National Forest Interpretive Association
900 Second St, Suite 12, Dept 03,
Talihina, OK 74571
(918) 567-3434
www.talihinacc.com
vera@talihinacc.com

PLEASE CONSULT WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA GENERAL REGULATIONS AND PUBLIC LANDS RESTRICTIONS IN HUNTING REGULATIONS.