A place rich in nature & history. The Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is a great place to fish for crappie and catfish or to enjoy a little peace and quiet in the beautiful wilderness of south-central Oklahoma. Upon visiting, you'll be able to see that this is a place where it is easy to imagine a past era when great herds of wild animals grazed the prairies.
The 16,464 acre refuge is one of more than 540 refuges throughout the United States managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge lies at the upper Washita arm of Lake Texoma and is administered for the benefit of migratory waterfowl in the Central Flyway. Most of the refuge including the 4,500 acre Cumberland Pool, was acquired in 1946. Teeming with life, Cumberland Pool is alive with plants and animals invisible to the naked eye and critical to the survival of many species of wildlife. The pool makes up a quarter of the refuge and is especially important to fish, migratory birds and resident wildlife.
Visitors to the National Wildlife Refuge can enjoy a variety of wildlife-related activities, including wildlife watching and photography as well as hunting, fishing, environmental education and interpretation programs. Staff and volunteers are also available on-site to provide guests with maps, brochures, checklists and refuge updates. Start planning your visit to the refuge and come explore a fascinating world of wildlife in Tishomingo!