Shorb WMA covers 160 acres in southeastern Texas County in the Oklahoma panhandle. Located south of hwy. 412 (southeast of the town of Hardesty), the area is a mixture of upland and floodplain habitats.
Side oats and buffalo grass predominate on the upland sites. Bottomlands consist of salt cedar and cottonwood. The Palo Duro creek travels through the WMA. The average precipitation for the area is approximately 17 inches.
- Public Area Check-In: Non-residents must check in and out when accessing certain Oklahoma public hunting and fishing areas. There is no additional cost or limit on the number of check-ins.
- Deer Licenses: A 2 day waiting period applies to nonresident deer licenses purchased after the deer season has started. Licenses must be purchased at least 48 hours before hunting.
Closed Seasons
Same As Statewide Seasons
Seasons w/ Special Restrictions
- Crow, Snipe, Woodcock, Rabbit, Squirrel
Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season.
- Deer Muzzleloader
Closed to antlerless hunting.
- Deer Gun
Open the first nine days only. Closed to antlerless hunting.
- Pursuit with Hounds for Furbearers, Predator/Furbearer Calling
Closed during deer gun season.
- Pheasant
Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. Hunting hours close at 4:30 p.m daily.
- Turkey Fall Gun
Shotgun only.
- Trapping
Open to water sets, live box traps and enclosed trigger traps only through Jan 31. Open same as statewide Feb 1 through end of February.
- Turkey Spring, Youth Turkey Spring
One-tom limit; seasons combined. Hunting hours close at 7:00 p.m. daily.
- Quail
Closed during the first nine days of deer gun season. Hunting hours close at 4:30 p.m. daily. Closed to non-resident hunting February 1-15.
From Hardesty, OK travel east on 412 highway for 5 miles, turn right on county road 52 and travel 5 miles south to county road FF, turn left on FF and travel 1 mile east to county road 53. turn right on 53 and travel 2 miles on the curved road to the parking area along the county road.
- Pheasant: Present in very low numbers.
- Quail: Blue quail are present in very low numbers.
- Deer: White-tailed deer are present in very low numbers.
- Rabbit: Both cottontails and jackrabbits are present with cottontails being more common.
- Furbearers: Coyote present.
- Dove: Dove may be present in low numbers.
- Bald Eagle: Eagles winter around WMA.
Management efforts focus on producing native wildlife foods such as ragweed and sunflower.
No designated camping areas are offered on the WMA.
The town of Hardesty offers fuel and food. Both lodging and restaurants are available in Guymon. The Guymon Chamber of Commerce can be reached at (580) 338-2809.
Limited fishing can be available on Palo Duro creek when water levels are high enough. Largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish have the potential to frequent the large pool of water located near the center of the WMA on the creek.
