Black bear hunting in SE Oklahoma

Have any of you hunted the public land between Stringtown and Sardis Lake? McGee Creek WMA. Atoka Wildlife hunting area or Stringtown WMA? Archery season starts October 1st. Looking for info for a better chance to see a couple. I’ve got a permit and I’ll start scouting next weekend. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I own some property north of Redoak. Wouldn't mind if I had some intel on bears out there.

Rickt, I sent you a PM

I haven't hunted OK for bear but I have successfully hunted bear in Southeast CO in Oct. I did a couple of scouting trips and keyed in on water holes and food supplies. I found the heaviest crop of abundant food which was Gambel Oak acorns, and got a good vantage point. Less than 20 minutes after sunrise on opening day I slapped a tag on this 240 lb boar.


I'm guessing what worked for me in CO would probably work in neighboring OK.

SE okla is a lot lot thicker.

But in Oct bear will still be focusing on food sources. Key in on food sources and then pick your spot. The basic concept still applies

Thanks guys. Hopefully I can fill a tag on a good one. I’ll do some scouting next month in a few places.

I’ve hunted McGee creek for WT. did not know you could hunt it for bears honestly. I would think 3 rivers would be a good area (permits required) pine creeek as well. Broken bow probably has them.

I honestly did not know you could hunt them on public in Oklahoma. Good luck. I researched it for Arkansas and they take very very few off public land because of the quota. The quota is met pretty quickly off of private land over bait. There is one unit with no quota in Arkansas. Reason I looked there is 400 bucks gets you all weapons, 6 deer a bear and 2 turkey. Heck of a deal if you have the time to put in. Heck their bow season is long like starts in September and goes to February. Longer gun and muzzle loader season than Oklahoma.


Good luck

Legal to bait on private and bet a lot of the surrounding owners/lessors bait to pull off the WMA’s. Image those trails are pretty distinct

I hunt in SW Arkansas. Bears on camera all summer. The only luck we’ve had is opening weekend of bow season which is usually the last weekend of September. After that they are scarce.

I’ve never hunted anywhere in Oklahoma. The quotas are very low though. Rules are, you have to check each day before hunting to see if quotas have been met yet. May not get one but it’ll be fun to give it a try. I’ve bear hunted Alaska and Canada and love it in those areas. Lots of bears in both. It’s a cool rush watching them walk in on you. 45-70 is good medicine on them too.