Hackberry Flat WMA: A Waterfowler's wonderland

Touted as one of the most significant wetland restoration projects in North America, Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area in southwest Oklahoma is making a grand entrance to the forefront of waterfowling destinations.

In only its premier season after completion, Hackberry is not only becoming a major stopover destination for migrating waterfowl, but also a prime destination for hunters. Levees, ditches, water control gates and an enormous water supply pipeline were constructed to provide ideal wetland conditions even during the dryest of years. Moviegoers are familiar with the famous phrase, "If you build it, they will come." And that's certainly the case with Hackberry Flat. Scores of waterfowl are flocking to the massive wetland and area biologists say hunting conditions on the area this season are near perfect. With 35 miles of internal roads on the WMA, hunters will find plenty of access as well.

Mixed bags are commonplace at Hackberry. Right now, there are plenty of mallards, pintails, widgeons, gadwalls, ringnecks and teal to buzz your spread of decoys.

"It's pretty overwhelming when I think of all that has been accomplished in such a relatively short time," said Rod Smith, Southwest Region Supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "If there was ever a time to revisit or try Hackberry out for the first time, it's definitely this season.". When pioneers arrived on the plains of southwest Oklahoma a century ago, they encountered clouds of waterfowl so thick that they darkened the skies over what would later be Frederick, Oklahoma. The area's abundance of wildlife even drew the attention of one of America's most famous outdoorsmen, President Theodore Roosevelt, who once hunted coyotes in the area. In the early 1900s, locals, using hand shovels and mule teams, drained the impressive wetland by constructing a massive four-mile long ditch, 20 feet deep and 40 feet across. But their efforts to gain more fertile land for agriculture proved futile. They later abandoned their attempts.

Restoration efforts began in 1993 to reverse the struggle of what generations had tried to tame. "We now know that wetlands are not only extremely beneficial to wildlife, but they also serve as natural environmental purifiers," said Smith.

Unfortunately, Oklahoma has lost two-thirds of its wetlands to various types of development, which makes the 7,120-acre Hackberry Flat such an important restoration project. Ground was broken in August 1995 and the project was dedicated in May 1999.

"Hackberry would not be the success story that it is without strong local support and the generous funding partners that were right beside us every step of the way," said Smith.

To waterfowl hunt Hackberry Flat WMA, you must obtain either an Annual Hunting ($12.50 resident; $85 nonresident), Annual Combination Hunting and Fishing ($21.00 resident), Lifetime Hunting ($400 resident; $450 nonresident) or Lifetime Combination Hunting and Fishing license ($525 resident; $650 nonresident). Annual license holders must also obtain an Oklahoma Waterfowl License ($4.00). All waterfowl hunters must obtain a Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit (free) and a Federal Waterfowl Stamp ($15.00).

As with all waterfowl hunting, hunters can only use federally approved nontoxic shot. Shooting hours for waterfowl at Hackberry are restricted to 1/2 hour before official sunrise to 1 p.m. daily.

For directions and more information about Hackberry Flat WMA, call the Wildlife Department at 405/521-2739.

Hackberry Flat Facts * 7,120 acres in size.

* 4,000 acres can be flooded, 2,000 of which is planned to be flooded at any one time.

* 3,120 acres of upland habitat.

* 17-mile water delivery pipeline from Tom Steed Reservoir.

* Pipeline delivers 2,800 gallons of water per minute.

* 35 miles of dikes and canals.

* 70 water control structures.

* 32 wetland units.

* 13,000 tons of gravel used.

* $14 million price tag, $10 million of which came from private and public partners.

Hackberry's Key Funding Partners North American Wetlands Conservation Council The Williams Companies, Inc.

Natural Resources Conservation Service Wildlife Restoration City of Frederick Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

Bureau of Reclamation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Phillips Petroleum Co., Inc.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Tillman County Commissioners First Southwest Bank Pioneer Trucking Company Wildlife Forever Arrow Trucking Company Oklahoma Station of Safari Club International Oklahoma City Sportsman's Club U.S. Geological Survey