Refuge to conduct Elk hunt Tuesday through Thursday

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge will temporarily close portions of the public use area for a few days in December and January to conduct controlled hunts.

These hunts, which are conducted in cooperation with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, are an important part of the elk management on the Refuge.

The elk hunt will be conducted Tuesday through Thursday.

The Refuge’s public use areas west of the Visitor Center will be closed to other public uses during this hunt.

The closed areas include Quanah Parker Lake and Dam, Boulder Picnic area, Lost Lake, Burford Lake, Osage Lake, French Lake, Burma Road, the Narrows, Dog Run Hollow trail system, Charon’s Garden, Elk Mountain, Heart Rock, Post Oak and Treasure Lakes, Sunset Picnic area, and Caddo Lake.

All of the public use areas east of the Visitor Center will remain open to the public during this hunt. These areas include Mt. Scott, Jed Johnson Lake, and Rush Lake.

Specific details on closed areas will be posted in the Visitor Center.

Further hunt closure information will be available on the Refuge website at: www.fws.gov/refuge/wichita_mountains, Facebook, or by contacting the Refuge Visitor Center at 580-429-3222.