National Wildlife Refuge · Oklahoma · FWS Region 2

Optima National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Optima National Wildlife Refuge lies in Texas County, Oklahoma, within an approved boundary of roughly 4,340 acres. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open with special regulations, covering about 4,341 huntable acres.

1 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
4.3Khuntable acres
4.3Kboundary acres
5game categories

Optima NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Optima NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Optima National Wildlife Refuge is known for the healthy mixed grass prairie on its 4,200 acres, where there are often abundant quail populations.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Oklahoma regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 4,341 (100%)4.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations4,341 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open on entire refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,341 —

Optima NWR by the numbers

With about 4,341 huntable acres, Optima NWR ranks #8 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Oklahoma and #272 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open on entire refuge (4,341 acres, special regulations).

When to hunt Optima NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Oklahoma sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Oklahoma hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Optima NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Optima NWR.

How to get to Optima NWR

Navigate

Destination: Optima National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
36.64131, -101.21182
DMS
36°38′28.7″N 101°12′42.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Garden City, KS94 mi S of town
  • Dodge City, KS101 mi SW of town
  • Woodward, OK102 mi W of town
  • Amarillo, TX104 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • AMA Rick Husband Amarillo102 mi
  • LBB Lubbock Preston Smith209 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Optima NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM8:15 PM12h 60m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:56 AM7:26 AM7:54 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:08 AM7:38 AM7:30 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:20 AM7:50 AM7:09 PM11h 19m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM5:49 PM10h 42m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM5:37 PM10h 15m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:08 AM7:38 AM5:29 PM9h 52m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:19 AM7:49 AM5:30 PM9h 41m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:26 AM7:56 AM5:38 PM9h 42m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:26 AM7:56 AM5:50 PM9h 55m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:17 AM7:47 AM6:08 PM10h 22m

Computed for 36.641, -101.212 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Optima NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

Optima NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Optima NWR?

Yes. Optima National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (4,341 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Optima NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Optima NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Optima NWR located?

Optima National Wildlife Refuge is in Texas County, Oklahoma, about 94 miles S of Garden City, KS (straight-line). GPS: 36.64131, -101.21182.

What are legal shooting hours at Optima NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Washita NWR

Custer County, OK · 130 mi SE

4 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

5.9K huntable acres

Buffalo Lake NWR

Randall County, TX · 131 mi SW

3 special2 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐗

6.7K huntable acres

Salt Plains NWR

Alfalfa County, OK · 166 mi E

11 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.6K huntable acres

Quivira NWR

Stafford County, KS · 176 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

8.2K huntable acres

Maxwell NWR

Colfax County, NM · 187 mi W

1 closed
🎣

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Comanche County, OK · 195 mi SE

10 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

53.3K huntable acres

All refuges in Oklahoma →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.