This unit is named for the 12-acre Buzzard Lake, which lies at the bottom of a narrow valley between Neville Ridge and Wright Mountain. Anglers can retain large trout from this lake, making this a very popular fishing option and drawing a significant number of visitors each year. The lake is in a broad valley bottom surrounded by steep hillsides; this land supports a variety of wildlife including black bears, moose, waterfowl, cougars, and song birds.
The Buzzard Lake Unit is located 12 miles west of Okanogan in Okanogan County. The unit can be accessed via Buzzard Lake Road, Windy Hill Road or Arlington Ridge Road.
The Buzzard Lake Unit occurs in the Okanogan Watershed in the Columbia River Basin. The unit lies at the bottom of a narrow valley between Neville Ridge and Wright Mountain. Little Loup Loup Creek flows from the south end of Buzzard Lake. The property is bordered by Department of Natural Resources land. Land use includes grazing and recreation.
This unit is part of the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 233
Getting there
Maps and directions to WDFW-managed access points for this unit. Opens Google Maps in a new tab.
Recreation and public access
A Discover Pass is required on WDFW lands -- including water access areas, wildlife areas, and campgrounds -- unless you already have a Vehicle Access Pass issued with the purchase of an eligible hunting or fishing license. Recreate responsibly on public lands: please know the Public Conduct Rules.
Public facility information:
- Parking area
- No restroom
- Primitive boat launch at Buzzard Lake water access site
- Primitive campground
- Reader board
Recreation and access advisories
- Private property borders a significant portion of the Buzzard Lake Unit. Please respect private property and follow posted regulations when visiting the wildlife area.
- The road to Buzzard Lake is not plowed in winter.
Hunting
Primary hunting opportunities on this unit include mule deer, black bear, and small game.
Hunting advisories
- Consult Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hunting regulations for seasons and dates.
Fishing
The Buzzard Lake water access site offers a car-top boat launch for access to the lake. Trout fishing draws the highest number of visitors to this property.
Fishing advisories
- Be sure to visit the Fish Washington online regulations app before hitting the water.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes mixed coniferous forest with scattered patches of sagebrush-steppe, offering opportunties to view a variety of wildlife, including black bear, cougar, mule deer, moose, and songbirds.
Search for potential birding opportunities on or near a wildlife area unit by using eBird Northwest, a citizen science database portal that provides freely-shared bird lists at 'hotspots' and interactive maps plus other birding information updated daily.
Conservation
The dominant habitat on this unit is mixed conifer forest, including Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, western larch, and lodgepole pine. Patches of aspen are widely scattered throughout the unit, and shrubsteppe habitat occurs on drier sites and south-facing slopes.
Special habitats and species
The unit includes wetlands, and patches of aspen are widely scattered throughout the unit, as well as shrubsteppe on dryer sites.
Conservation goals
- Develop a plan to survey and inventory all riparian ecosystems and restore degraded riparian habitat
- Implement the Forest Management Plan which identifies current forest habitats, conditions, and future management needs
- Improve the distribution and abundance of western gray squirrel populations
The unit includes wetlands, and patches of aspen are widely scattered throughout the unit, as well as shrubsteppe on dryer sites.
- Develop a plan to survey and inventory all riparian ecosystems and restore degraded riparian habitat
- Implement the Forest Management Plan which identifies current forest habitats, conditions, and future management needs
- Improve the distribution and abundance of western gray squirrel populations
Land stewardship
The property was purchased for critical mule deer wintering habitat.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased in 2008.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| State of Washington | Legislative Appropriation |
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | Endangered Species Act Section 6 Program |
Management planning
2017 Scotch Creek and Sinlahekin Wildlife Areas Management Plan
In 2017, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife updated the management plan for the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area, which encompasses 23, 980 acres in Okanogan County, and the nearby Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in north central Washington. The plan, called the Scotch Creek & Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Management Plan, addresses the status of wildlife species and their habitat, ongoing restoration efforts and public recreation opportunities at both Scotch Creek and Sinlahekin wildlife areas. Every eight to 10 years, WDFW revises management plans for each of its 33 wildlife areas to document current conditions, address new agency initiatives, and identify new management priorities and actions. In between those major revisions, WDFW updates plans every two years to outline short-term objectives and accomplishments.
Planning Advisory Committee
Okanogan Valley Wildlife Area Advisory Committee