Washington’s Wildlife Areas
Mark Quinn, Lands Division Manager

I began my career with the old Department of Game in the mid 70’s as a Game Range Manager on the 12,000 acre William T. Wooten Game Range (named for an old game warden) in SE Washington’s Blue Mountains. I was plunked down in the middle of an incredible mountain landscape. Complete with deer and elk grazing in my backyard, bighorn sheep on the hillside, fish in the river and nearby lakes, no neighbors and few humans around with the exception of my wife and our young son, oh, and one loaner St. Bernard. The Wooten was purchased by the Game Department back in the 40’s because it was important winter range for deer and elk. Nestled at the foot of the Blues with the Tucannon River as a centerline, the Wooten is one of WDFW’s oldest Wildlife Areas and since part of me is still there I would say one of our most special, but they are all special.

WDFW owns or controls almost 800,000 acres around the state for fish and wildlife and related recreational opportunities. These wildlife areas range in size from just a few acres to over 100,000 and include ponds, estuaries, deserts, and mountain landscapes. While these areas were obtained by the WDFW under a variety of administrations and for a variety of reasons, each parcel now provides habitat to fish and wildlife. In some cases, these areas support potentially imperiled species like the Ord kangaroo rat or spotted bat. In other cases, these lands simply help sustain some of Washington’s abundant natural heritage. In an era of rapid human growth, wildlife areas represent some of the best last places in Washington State.

There are 65 Wildlife Areas in the state; 46 of these are located in eastern Washington and 19 in western Washington. In addition to the Wildlife Areas, there are numerous WDFW owned and maintained access sites. State Wildlife Areas were originally purchased to enhance, preserve, and perpetuate important wildlife resources or unique and important habitats. Wildlife areas established for the primary benefit of and emphasis on waterfowl management number about 26, mostly located in the Columbia Basin in eastern Washington. There are 25 areas dedicated to big game management, primarily deer and elk.

It’s been suggested that hunters were the first conservationists in part because they naturally recognized the connection between wildlife and its habitat. Indeed taxes on sporting arms and ammunition have funded Washington’s first wildlife land acquisitions. Recently others have gotten into the act as the value and need to protect these important habitats has been more widely recognized.

No matter where I traveled with the department, my job has always been related to managing or caring for WDFW’s lands. Despite the different settings, each new area I visit provides me the same sense of wonder and enjoyment. Wildlife areas have always been conserving fish and wildlife. To me, they are all about no houses, barking dogs, traffic, people, smoke, airplanes….