New 17,720 Acre Herron Wildlife Area Opens, Expands Public Access

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation announced on November 17 that the Herron Family Wildlife Management Area, a 17,720 acre property in southeastern Oklahoma, is now open to the public under an annual Land Access Permit program limited to Oklahoma residents. The department described the area as a mixture of pine plantations and hardwood bottomlands managed for game species and sustainable use, and highlighted a public private partnership with Herron Industries that enabled public access to this large tract.

ODWC staff outlined active habitat and access management techniques used on the WMA, including prescribed fire to maintain understory diversity, sustainable timber harvests to support both habitat goals and working forest economics, and brushhogged roads to provide internal access for managers and visitors. Game species management at the site focuses on white tailed deer, eastern wild turkey, and bobwhite quail. The department issued a Know Before You Go guidance package with permit information and habitat tips for prospective visitors.

For Texas County residents the immediate takeaway is eligibility and regional context. Because access is restricted to Oklahoma residents with an annual Land Access Permit, residents of Texas County qualify to hunt, bird watch, or otherwise use the WMA within the rules set by ODWC. The announcement also comes from the ODWC journal that Texans County readers follow for nearby notices, including recent updates on whooping cranes and Optima Lake. That continuity makes the Herron release part of a broader stream of information relevant to outdoor recreation and wildlife management across the state.

The opening raises several broader policy and market implications for rural Oklahoma. The public private partnership model illustrates how private forest owners and a state agency can combine conservation and recreational access without full public purchase of land. Sustainable timber harvests can help fund long term management while prescribed fire and road maintenance maintain habitat quality, but they also require careful monitoring to balance wildlife objectives with timber revenue. For local economies, expanded public access can increase spending on equipment, lodging, and services near popular public lands, while residency restrictions will concentrate that activity among Oklahoma households.

Visitors should note the permit requirement and follow ODWC guidance before planning a trip. The Herron Family WMA adds a sizable public access area to the state portfolio at a time when ODWC is actively publishing notices and management updates that affect recreation and conservation priorities across Oklahoma.