SECTION 800:10-5-2. Department fishing areas

  The following rules and restrictions govern public use on all Department Fishing Areas, including:

(1)   Department owned lakes and access areas. The following rules apply:

(A)   Camping is permitted, but limited to three (3) days duration at all areas, except at the Kiamichi River Access Area and the Lower Illinois River Public Fishing and Hunting Area - Simp and Helen Watts Management Unit where no overnight camping is permitted and at Lakes Watonga, Carl Etling and the Illinois River Access Areas where camping shall be limited to fourteen (14) consecutive days. Camping is permitted only in designated camping areas.

(B)   Boats and motors are permitted except at Doc Hollis Lake. All boats and motors must comply with existing state boat regulations and boat operators must obey Oklahoma State Boat Laws. All boats must be operated at no-wake speed (six '6' miles per hour or less) and may not be left on the water or the areas longer than the limit on camping.

(C)   Water skiing is prohibited.

(D)   Disposal of trash, refuse and debris is prohibited, except in designated trash containers. This includes organic and inorganic materials.

(E)   Glass beverage containers are prohibited at Department fishing areas except in designated camping and parking areas.

(F)   Commercial concessions and private developments on Department property are prohibited. Soliciting, advertising or promoting any commercial or private activity is prohibited. The use of these areas for any commercial operation in any way is prohibited.

(G)   Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, except when used to hunt with, during legal open hunting seasons on those areas where hunting is permitted.

(H)   Boat houses, ramps, docks and other facilities may not be constructed on Department property without specific approval of the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission.

(I)   It shall be unlawful to drive, occupy or park any motor driven vehicle, including automobiles, trucks, mini bikes, motorcycles, etc., except on maintained roads, (unless posted as "no parking zones"), designated parking areas, and designated camping areas. It shall be unlawful to operate any vehicle in a manner to create a public nuisance or to park in a "no parking zone." Operators must be licensed drivers.

(J)   Cutting or defacing of trees and vegetation shall be prohibited. Removal of any vegetation, soil, rocks, water or minerals is prohibited except under written approval of the Department Director.

(K)   Vandalism, theft, and damage to State property are prohibited.

(L)   No person shall use threatening, abusive, or indecent language, participate in a disorder assemblage, nor publicly appear nude or intoxicated on any lands owned or managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

(M)   After 10:00 p.m., and until 5:00 a.m., all Department fishing areas will be restricted to fishing and fishing related activities only, and hunting if permitted by Commission.

(N)   Swimming is not permitted unless a designated swimming area is established by the Wildlife Conservation Commission.

(O)   Hunting is permitted on the following lakes: Hall, Jap Beaver, Burtschi, Nanih Waiya, Ozzie Cobb, Schooler, Evans-Chambers, American Horse and Vanderwork during the period of September 1 through Spring Turkey Season, including migratory bird seasons. Hunting regulations and restrictions for lakes Dahlgren, and Doc Hollis, and Vincent are the same as those listed for Lexington WMA (Dahlgren), Sandy Sanders WMA (Doc Hollis), and Ellis County WMA (Vincent). The following lakes are closed to hunting or taking of wildlife by any means: Elmer, Etling, Raymond Gary and Watonga. Hunting is restricted to shotguns or archery only. These lakes are closed to antlerless deer harvest, except during archery season. Hunting and shooting other than that provided above is prohibited. The Director may designate "closed areas" for purposes of safety and/or security.

(P)   Fishing is permitted in accordance with provisions provided in OAC 800:10, Subchapter 1. The Director may designate "closed areas" for purposes of safety and/or security.

(Q)   No person may fish with more than two (2) poles, except during trout seasons at "Designated Trout Areas" where no person may fish with more than one (1) pole.

(R)   Trotlines, throwlines, limblines, juglines, nets, seines, yo-yo's, spearguns, and the taking of any fish by noodling and the taking of bait minnows by any method is prohibited, except cast nets may be used to take bait for personal use at Lake Carl Etling.

(S)   No person shall possess, consume or use any intoxicating beverage or low-point beer, as defined in Title 37, except in camping and parking areas on any lands or waterways subject to the control of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation except U.S. Forest Service regulations shall apply to Black Kettle, Ouachita, Rita Blanca and Tiak Wildlife Management Areas.

(T)   No person shall possess, consume, use or manufacture any controlled or dangerous substance, as defined in Title 63 on any lands or waterways subject to the control of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

(U)   All impoundments are catch and release only on the following Department property unless determined otherwise as published in the Oklahoma Fishing Guide: Cimarron Bluff WMA.

(2)   Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area. The following rules apply:

(A)   Hunting shall be permitted during regular hunting seasons and is restricted to shotgun and long bow and arrow only. No other use or other firearms are permitted.

(B)   Blue River PFHA is closed to all except emergency traffic from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. throughout the year.

(C)   Glass beverage containers are prohibited at Blue River PFHA except in designated camping and parking areas.

(D)   Fishing is permitted in accordance with provisions provided in OAC 800:10, Subchapter 1.

(E)   Trotlines, throwlines, noodling, limblines, spearguns, juglines, nets, seines, and yo-yo's are prohibited throughout the year.

(F)   No person may fish with more than two (2) poles, except only one (1) pole and line or rod and reel is permitted during the designated trout season.

(G)   The following special rules pertain to the Carl R. and Ruth Walker Landrum Wilderness and Plaster Wildlife Management Unit:

(i)   no camping

(ii)   areas closed from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

(iii)   no swimming

(iv)   walk-in access only (except where wheelchair access is provided).

(H)   The Blue River Campground Area is closed to swimming, effective January 1, 1990, unless suitable agreement can be reached between the Department and an acceptable second party who would be responsible for managing a designated swimming area for a three month season, annually. The Department will assume no cost or liability for development and operation of a designated swimming area.

(I)   Effective July 1, 2000 the following rules apply to camping at the Blue River Campground Area:

(i)   Camping is restricted to 14 days in a 30 consecutive day period. The Area Manager may grant extensions by issuing a permit for camping beyond the 14 day limit. Such extensions shall be based upon degree of area use, anticipated weekend or holiday occupancy and recreation season. Extensions shall be requested 48 hours prior to the requested date of the extension.

(ii)   Camping is permitted only in designated camping areas.

(iii)   No person shall leave a vehicle, camper, tent or any personal property unattended for more than a 48-hour period without approval of the Area Manager.

(iv)   If property must be removed, it will be at owners expense and liability. The unauthorized placement of camping equipment or other items on a campsite and/or personal appearance without overnight occupancy at a campsite for the purpose of reserving a designated campsite for future occupancy is prohibited.

(3)   Arcadia Conservation Education Area

(A)   Walk-in fishing permitted on all parts of the lake shoreline. No fishing in any ponds or wetland areas unless part of an ODWC sanctioned education event.

(B)   Camping prohibited except as authorized by ODWC

[Source: Amended at 15 Ok Reg 2050, eff 7-1-98; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 2185, eff 7-1-00; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 2908, eff 7-1-01; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 2214, eff 7-1-03; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 226, eff 10-9-06 (emergency); Amended at 24 Ok Reg 2467, eff 7-1-07; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 2625, eff 1-1-10; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 686, eff 6-1-11; Amended at 32 Ok Reg 263, eff 11-3-14 (emergency); Amended at 32 Ok Reg 1443, eff 9-1-15]