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ATV Riding in Oklahoma

McCurtain County has hundreds of miles of forest roads for the off-road enthusiast.  The Ouachita National Forest, Three Rivers Wildlife Management, and Honobia Creek Wildlife Management are the only areas available in the county for legal public off highway vehicle use.  A permit is required for the Three Rivers Wildlife Management and Honobia Creek Wildlife Management areas. 

New ATV Laws (effective November 1, 2007)
A. It shall be unlawful for a person less than eighteen (18) years of age to operate or to be carried as a passenger upon an all-terrain vehicle unless the person wears a crash helmet of a type which complies with standards established by 49 C.F.R., Section 571.218.
B. It shall be unlawful for the operator of an all-terrain vehicle to carry a passenger unless that all-terrain vehicle has been specifically designed by the manufacturer to carry passengers in addition to the operator.
C. Fine and court costs for violating the provisions of this section shall not exceed Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00). Any peace officer of this state including, but not limited to, park rangers, is authorized to enforce the provisions of this section. All monies collected pursuant to a citation for a violation of this section shall be deposited in the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department Revolving Fund for credit to the cost center of the state park or public recreation area where such citation was issued.
D. Any parent, legal guardian or person having actual responsibility for a person under eighteen (18) years of age, or who is the owner of the all-terrain vehicle operated by a person under eighteen (18) years of age, who knows, or should have known, that the person operating the all-terrain vehicle is not in compliance with the provisions of this section, shall be punishable according to the provisions of subsection C of this section.
E. As used in this section, "all-terrain vehicle" means a motorized vehicle manufactured and used exclusively for off-highway use which is forty-eight (48) inches or less in width, with an unladen dry weight of eight hundred (800) pounds or less, traveling on two or more low-pressure tires, having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator, and which is steered by the use of handlebars.
F. The provisions of this section shall apply only to persons operating all-terrain vehicles on public lands.
G. The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons operating an all-terrain vehicle on privately owned property.
Other rules and regulations

All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Riding on the
Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area

Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Where can I ride my ATVs?
The limited use of ATVs is allowed on the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area, which is
privately owned by Weyerhaeuser Company. To access the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area, a Land Access Fee permit is required for each person. The permit is $16 for Oklahoma residents between the ages of 18 and 64 and $25 for non-residents regardless of age.
2.  Where is the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area?
The Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area consists of 450,000 acres and is located in the northern half of McCurtain County, Oklahoma. Numerous entry points are located along Highway 3, Highway 70, and Highway 259. 
3.  Where is the Broken Bow Wildlife Management Area?
The publication or website which suggests riding ATVs on the Broken Bow Wildlife Management Area approximately 3 miles north of Broken Bow is inaccurate. The Wildlife Management Area they are referring to is the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area. The Broken Bow Wildlife Management Area is the Corps of Engineers buffer zone immediately surrounding Broken Bow Lake that is licensed to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The use of ATVs is strictly prohibited on land immediately surrounding Broken Bow Lake.
4.  Where are the trails located?
There are no trails in the Broken Bow area that are open and legal for ATV use. Only maintained roads on the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area are open for motor vehicle traffic of any type i.e. ATV, dirt bike, etc. No off-road use is available in the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area.
5.  Which roads are open for ATV use?
Off-highway vehicles (ATVs, dirt bikes, etc.) may be used on open unpaved roads on the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area that were constructed and intended for normal or regular motor vehicle use.
A road is considered closed if there is a sign, gate, or other barricade, including a dirt mound, blocking the road. Prior illegal off-road use does not imply permission to ride off the open road. As a general rule of thumb, if a car can travel the road easily and without getting scratches from overhanging tree limbs then the road is open for ATV travel. In addition, riding on powerline, seismic line, pipeline, and railroad right-of-ways is prohibited.
6.  How many miles of trails/roads are there to ride?
There are no trails in the Broken Bow area that are open and legal for ATV use. There are hundreds of miles of maintained roads open for ATV travel on the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area.
7.  Are there designated riding areas or can I ride anywhere?
Open unpaved roads on the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area that were constructed and intended for normal or regular motor vehicle use are open for ATV riding. A road is considered closed if there is a sign, gate, or other barricade, including a dirt mound, blocking the road or is not suited for travel by normal vehicles.
8.  Are the trails/roads challenging or are they relatively flat?
There are no trails in the Broken Bow area that are open and legal for ATV use. The maintained roads open for ATV, dirt bike, etc. use allow for travel over varying levels of terrain including roads that are flat and slightly inclining to roads which are moderately sloping. Most of the roads with very steep slopes are closed with earthen mounds or water bars to address erosion concerns. The roads closed with earthen mounds or water bars are not open to ATV use.
9.  What is the scenery like in the Broken Bow, Oklahoma area?
The Broken Bow, Oklahoma area incorporates the Kiamichi Mountains with pine and pine-oak, and oak-hickory forests.
10.  Where can I park and unload my ATVs?
There are no designated parking areas; however, there are large intersections, turnouts, etc. along all entry points that allow for parking and unloading. Please choose to park and unload in a location large enough to allow other road traffic to pass by safely. Do not use a dirt mound that was designed to block a road to unload an ATV. This erodes the mound and makes it appear that it is open for ATV traffic. 
11.  Where can I purchase the Land Access Fee permit to access the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area?
The Land Access Fee permit can be purchased at any place in Oklahoma that sells hunting and fishing licenses or on-line at www.wildlifedepartment.com.
12.  Is the Land Access Fee permit per vehicle, per ATV, or will each person need to purchase one?
To access the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area, a Land Access Fee permit is required for each person. The permit is $16 for Oklahoma residents between the ages of 18 and 64 and $25 for non-residents regardless of age.  There are no group permits or vehicle permits available. A $5 three-day permit is available to Oklahoma residents for non-hunting and non-fishing activities on the Three Rivers WMA.
13.  How long is the Land Access Fee permit good for?
The annual Land Access Fee permit is good for the remainder of the calendar year in which it is purchased.
14.  Do you have a one-day permit or a three-day permit?
There is no one-day Land Access Fee permit. There is, however, a three-day Land Access Fee permit for Oklahoma residents for all non-hunting and non-fishing activities. The three-day permit is not valid for anyone accessing the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area for hunting or fishing.
15.  Do I need to check in somewhere before entering into the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area?
No check in is required on the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area. Be sure to purchase the Land Access Fee permit before entering the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area.
18.  Do you have cabins for rent?
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation does not rent out cabins. There are many private cabin owners that have cabins for rent in the Broken Bow, Oklahoma area. Most of these cabin owners have internet websites which show pricing and contact information.
19.  I would like to be able to rent a cabin and ride my ATVs directly from the cabin to the trails. Is this possible?
There are no trails on the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area that are open and legal for ATV use. In addition, the use of ATVs on county roads or state highways is strictly forbidden by state law. Vehicles allowed traveling on state highways or county roads must be street legal and registered to operate on public roads in compliance with Oklahoma State law Title 47. Even if an ATV is registered and street legal in another state, IT IS NOT street legal in Oklahoma. Unless a cabin owner has a trail or road that immediately intersects a maintained road on the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area, then it is against state law to do so. There are extremely limited opportunities to do this as most cabins are only accessible by a county road or state highway. For this reason, it is recommended to trailer your ATV to the area you wish to ride.
20.  Are there campgrounds available?
Camping is allowed on the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area, but there are no designated camping areas. Camping is prohibited for more than 14 days in the same location. People wishing to camp on these areas may choose to camp anywhere they find a nice location, preferably an established campsite.  There are hundreds of established campsites already in place. Using an established campsite reduces vegetation damage and habitat degradation. For camping sites with water, electricity, and/or bathrooms contact Beavers Bend State Park.
21.  How far is Beavers Bend State Park from the ATV riding area?
There are entry roads into the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area within just a few minutes’ drive from Beavers Bend State Park. The majority of the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area is located north of Beavers Bend. Riding ATVs inside the Beavers Bend Resort Park is prohibited.
22.  Are there any restrictions on the types of ATVs which are legal?
For now, there are no restrictions on the types of ATVs which are legal to ride on the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area.
23.  Is safety gear including safety helmet or eye protection required?
Yes, children 18 years of age and under MUST wear a helmet when while riding an ATV.  The guardian or parent will be held responsible if this law is not followed.  No gear for those over the age of 18 is required at this time.  A safety helmet is required if under 18 years old.
24.  Do you rent ATVs or is there a place that does rent ATVs?
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation does not rent out ATVs. Some private cabin owners may rent ATVs. Refer to their specific websites for more information.
25.  Do you offer guided ATV rides?
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation does not offer guided ATV rides. Some cabin owners may offer guided ATV rides: HOWEVER, anyone offering or even advertising any type of guiding service, including ATV rides, for money on a Wildlife Management Area is in violation of State law.  This includes guided trips that are included in the price of a cabin. Both the person offering the rides or guiding service and the participants are subject to prosecution.
26.  Where can I obtain a map showing the trails and roads?
There are no trails on the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area that are open and legal for ATV use. Maps of the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area are available from most vendors in the Broken Bow Area that sell hunting and fishing licenses and from the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce.
27.  Can I ride my ATV to Broken Bow Lake or Pine Creek Lake?
NO. The Corps of Engineers maintains a"buffer" zone around both lakes. Even if an open road goes to the lake, only vehicles that are registered and licensed to operate on public roads or highways are allowed in these areas. The Corps of Engineers strictly prohibits ATV use in these areas and violators are subject to Federal prosecution.
28.  What will happen if the unlawful use of ATVs and off-highway vehicles continues to be a problem on the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area?
The ODWC will continue to enforce the lawful use of ATVs and other off-road motor vehicles. Violators will be ticketed. If the unlawful use of ATVs and off-road vehicles continues to be a problem, then very limited and/or seasonal use of ATVs or an outright ban of ATVs may be necessary.

 

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For More Information:

Antlers MotorSports
216 W. Main, Antlers
580-298-3379
www.antlersmotorsports.com     
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Silver Creek Cabins ATV Trail Rides
Battiest
580-241-5142
www.atvtrailriding.com