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Drone Rules for Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters

Name: Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters
Address: Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, Oklahoma 73552, USA, Cache, ok, us

Cache, Oklahoma (ok) • United States

Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, Oklahoma 73552, USA

Lat: 34.7326 • Lng: -98.7137

Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 30, 2026

Summary

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USFWS prohibits drones on Wichita Mountains NWR. The refuge maintains one of the oldest conservation herds of American bison (700+) and Texas longhorn cattle; drone noise causes herd stampedes.

Drone Rules - Wichita Mountains NWR, Oklahoma

Drones are prohibited under USFWS Director's Order 210.

Airspace / Site Context

59,020-acre refuge established in 1905 as one of the first wildlife preserves in the US; the bison herd descends from a Bronx Zoo founder's gift
A stampeding bison herd creates extreme safety hazards; drone incidents have triggered herd runs in similar refuges
Lawton-Fort Sill Regional (LAW) Class D is ~25 NM southeast; Tinker AFB Class D is ~80 NM northeast

Key Rules

Fort Sill artillery range restricted area (R-5702) may activate over the eastern edge of the refuge; check NOTAMs
USFWS Special Use Permit required for research or commercial UAS; bison herd management protocol must be followed
Black-capped vireo and black-tailed prairie dog colonies are also ESA-protected on the refuge

Source

USFWS Wichita Mountains: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/wichita-mountains

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Rule sources

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-27/section-27.34 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703), Wilderness Act motorized equipment prohibitions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/wichita-mountains — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703), Wilderness Act motorized equipment prohibitions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.

Parent Rule Pages

United States
Oklahoma
cache
Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters