Most of the men doing the arguing are elderly and unable to walk long distances. These men are also unable, due to either US Corp of Engineers policy or Oklahoma Department of Wildlife policy to ride an ATV or UTV on these roads.
Further inflaming the road closure issue is Senate bill 448. A copy of it was passed out to everyone in the meeting. Senate bill 448 requires nonresident hunters, fishermen, or outdoor enthusiasts to buy a $100 permit before accessing the wildlife management areas and refuges in the state, but that’s not all it does.
Senate bill 448 was passed in the 2025 legislative session. It was authored by Senator Hamilton from McCurtain, Oklahoma and Representative Grego from Wilburton, Oklahoma. The bill passed the House of Representatives with only one no vote (a representative from the Oklahoma City area voted no) and not one senator voted against the measure. Also, there were no amendments added to the bill after February 7, it went through the legislative process unchanged after the February 7 committee substitute. The House of Representatives passed the bill April 21, 2025.
After the legislature adjourned in May the Oklahoma Wildlife Commission met June 13 and passed “emergency” rules and resolutions for public hunting, this included lands on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property and establishing rules for a new wildlife management area (WMA).
Additionally, anyone accessing a WMA will need to check-in using an online system starting this fall. This requirement applies to both residents and non-residents, including lifetime license holders. The only exceptions are individuals driving through the areas on county roads. The Check-in and check-out is required for every visit to an Oklahoma WMA or refuge.
As soon as these new rules were made public, the public outcry began. It didn’t take long and the Wildlife Commission backed off this idea of having people check in and out of a WMA or refuge every time they enter and exit.
At its regular August meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission revised an emergency rule to require that only nonresidents need to check in to public hunting and fishing areas. Upon the governor’s approval, nonresident hunters and anglers who use wildlife management areas and some public fishing areas will need to check in through the Go Outdoors Oklahoma app beginning this fall.
Some check-in requirements still exist for residents and nonresidents who use limited access areas within the Oklahoma Land Access Program.
The Southeastern Oklahoma Sportsmen association invited Representative Grego to attend the meeting this past weekend, he was the house author of senate bill 448. He didn’t not attend meeting in Heavener.
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