Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  CHRISTMAS JAMES W
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
07/12/2006		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
PETROHAWK ENERGY CORP [HAWK]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
1100 LOUISIANA, SUITE 4400		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) __X__ Other (specify below)
Vice Chairman
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

HOUSTON, TX 77002		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 140,802
I
Through 401(K) Plan
Common Stock 1,746,081
D
 
Common Stock 59,400
I
See Note (1)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (right to buy) 07/12/2006 01/01/2016 Common Stock 82,851 $ 10.22 D  
Stock Option (right to buy) 07/12/2006 06/30/2015 Common Stock 59,382 $ 7.59 D  
Stock Option (right to buy) 07/12/2006 01/02/2015 Common Stock 59,832 $ 5.75 D  
Stock Option (right to buy) 07/12/2006 06/30/2014 Common Stock 71,117 $ 5.62 D  
Stock Option (right to buy) 07/12/2006 01/01/2014 Common Stock 71,117 $ 4.4 D  
Stock Option (right to buy) 07/12/2006 02/19/2011 Common Stock 223,092 $ 2.54 D  
Stock Option (right to buy) 07/12/2006 06/30/2013 Common Stock 148,161 $ 2.24 D  
Stock Option (right to buy) 07/12/2006 12/31/2012 Common Stock 148,161 $ 0.73 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
CHRISTMAS JAMES W
1100 LOUISIANA
SUITE 4400
HOUSTON, TX 77002		   X     Vice Chairman

Signatures

David S. Elkouri, Attorney in Fact 07/14/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) These shares are held in a trust for the reporting person's children, the beneficial ownership of which is disclaimed. This report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of the shares for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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