Chouteau Wetland Development Unit
McClellan-Kerr WMA
Wagoner
County
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This account has
written in October 2007 by George Kamp
The Chouteau Wetlands Unit
of McClellan-Kerr Wildlife Management Area is an area of low deciduous
forest, interspersed with some agriculture fields, slow flowing streams,
and wetlands areas. In both Spring and Fall, migrating warblers use the
trees and brushy fence rows. There is good habitat for winter ducks,
depending on hunting pressure. Waders are frequent, but there is little
shorebird habitat. Field borders and fence rows provide good habitat for
winter sparrows, wrens, and towhees. Woodpeckers and nuthatches are
common throughout the wooded areas.
In October 2007 I found
the Palm Warbler is a large soybean field about 100 yards before you
reach the end of the road. This field is on the north side of the road
and has a small side road parking spot. The soybeans flooded out along
the east edge of this field, leaving good open Palm Warbler habitat.
The area is a bit challenging to find in
itself, although it is shown on the ODWC website maps. There is no sign
until you're actually there. It can be accessed from U.S. 69 or Oklahoma
51; there's currently a bridge out on the route from 69, so I suggest
going in from Oklahoma 51. Approximately 2.5 miles west of the 69-51
intersection at Wagoner, turn south on county road 250 (also signed as
4250). Go south approximately 4 miles until you come to the large WMA
sign. Continue south here on the main gravel road, which winds around
until ending at a parking area in approximately 2 miles.
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