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In case you haven't been to Haikey Creek Park in Broken Arrow lately, here's a bit of advice: Watch your step. 

Also, bring a bucket. 

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Oklahoma is famous for a lot of things - cowboys, Indians and Head Country BBQ sauce, just to name a few. 

We're also known around the world for something else: Our pecans. They're good. Really, really good. 

<a href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/oklahoma-pecans-foraging-haikey-creek-park/dsc_1620-3/" rel="attachment wp-att-4121"><img src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/DSC_1620-500x332.jpg" alt="Haikey Creek Park Pecans" title="Haikey Creek Park Pecans" width="500" height="332" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4121" /></a>. 

Pecan trees grow like crazy around here, especially in low-lying areas around creeks and streams. Many farmers who keep pecan groves don't even need to irrigate - the trees like it here so much, they don't need much convincing to produce some of the tastiest, meatiest nuts around. 

The winner in this situation? You, the Tulsa park-goer. 

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<a href="http://www.parks.tulsacounty.org/HaikeyCreek.aspx">Haikey Creek Park</a> is covered with hundreds of native pecan trees, and it doesn't cost a dime to grab a bucket or a pillowcase or whatever container you can get your hands on and head out there to forage to your heart's content.

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I'll tell you straight up: When it comes to native pecans, you work for the meat you get. The shells are hard and it takes some practice to crack them without breaking the nut (and your fingernails) apart. They're not like their store-bought, paper-shelled brethren in that way, but the upshot is that the native pecans are sweeter and much more flavorful.

Plus, the kids love - and I mean <em>love</em> - to hunt them. It's like Easter in December, and without that freaky bunny hopping around. 

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When we went to Haikey Creek to go pecan hunting, the little suckers were everywhere. One can hardly take a step around the trees without crunching or slipping on pecans.  

In case you're new to this pecan hunting thing, here's what to look for when you get to the park: 

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See the pods? They're where the pecans fall from. Weird, I know. 

Here's a closer view: 

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I think they might be aliens. 

This photo was taken a week ago. The trees were still loaded, which means that one could probably go to Haikey Creek once every day for the next few weeks and bring home a couple pounds of pecans each time. Easy. 

If you go pecan hunting with your kids, be sure to show them why the heck they're doing that they're doing. 

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"Nuts!" my son exclaimed when we finally showed him why he was, as he called it, searching for rocks. 

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And if you're hunting with older kids, let 'em break open and eat one of the pecans they find every once in awhile. The intermittent positive reinforcement will keep 'em hunting until you have enough nuts to make one of these: 

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<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/bourbon-and-chocolate-pecan-pie-recipe/index.html">A bourbon chocolate pecan pie</a>. Which, as I now know from experience, adds a local flavor to any holiday feast that'll have your guests making sounds that would otherwise be appropriate only during a deep-tissue massage. 

Yeah. Best Thanksgiving dessert ever. 

Good thing pecans keep until Christmas, because I'm gonna need to go ahead and make some more of that. 

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Lots more. 

I have memories of hunting pecans that go back to when I was just a little older than my son is now - it's an Okie tradition, really. Have you ever been pecan hunting? Leave your tips, tricks and war stories in the comments - I'd love to hear about them. 