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.
Three Rivers WMA
Three Rivers Map and Brochure