Permanent Rule WSR 23-02-069: It is unlawful for any person to cause or allow goats or sheep to be untethered or unattended on this wildlife area unit, unless otherwise permitted by the director to do so. Goats or sheep that have tested positive for Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae or that are displaying signs of pneumonia or other illness will not be permitted. Goats or sheep showing signs of pneumonia or other illness while on department lands must be removed within 48 hours. If a goat or sheep becomes lost, the owner must make every effort to locate and recover it. If the goat or sheep cannot be recovered, the owner shall contact the department by telephone as soon as possible.
Hunting opportunities at the Tunk Valley Unit include white-tailed deer, mule deer, quail, gray partridge, ruffed grouse, dusky grouse, black bear, cougar, and bobcat. Other recreation opportunities include pack-in style camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing. Most of the unit is shrubsteppe, important habitat for the state-listed endangered Columbian sharp-tailed grouse.
The Tunk Valley Unit is located about 12 miles northeast of Omak in the Tunk Valley of Okanogan County. The unit can be accessed from Tunk Valley Road out of Riverside.
The Tunk Valley Unit occurs in the Okanogan Watershed in the Columbia River Basin. The unit is situated east of the Okanogan River and north of the Colville Indian Reservation. Bureau of Land Management lands are adjacent to the unit.
This unit is part of the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 204
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:
- Gravel parking areas
- No restroom
- Reader boards
Recreation and access advisories
- Motorized recreation activities are prohibited on this unit
- Parking area is large enough for trailer turn around
- The access road to parking area is open July 1 through Dec. 15
Hunting
Primary hunting opportunities include white-tailed deer, mule deer, and black bear. Hunters may also find quail, gray partridge, ruffed grouse, dusky grouse, cougar, and bobcat.
Hunting advisories
- All lands in Washington are closed to the taking of sharp-tailed grouse, including all Scotch Creek Wildlife Area units.
- Consult WDFW hunting regulations for seasons and dates
Wildlife viewing
This unit is mostly shrubsteppe with creeks, beaver ponds, and riparian areas, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including black bear, bobcat, cougar, mule and white-tailed deer, blue, Columbian sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse, gray partridge, California quail, cavity-nesting birds, songbirds, and waterfowl.
In winter, the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and other upland birds may be seen along riparian areas along Tunk Creek and waterfowl around beaver ponds. Also, in winter, view deer roaming the hills and hawks soaring high above in the sky. Elk and moose are extremely rare, but are seen on occasion.
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.
Wildlife viewing advisories
- Columbian sharp-tailed grouse are sensitive to human disturbance. Do not flush or otherwise disturb these birds.
Other recreational opportunities
This unit offers opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and nature photography. There are no developed trail systems, but farm roads can be used as trails.
Conservation
With gentle topography and a mostly north-facing aspect, this unit includes about two miles of Tunk Creek and its riparian trees and shrubs. It also has several springs and one man-made pond. Most of the habitat is shrubsteppe, with a small stand of timber on the steep north slope in the center of the property.
Special habitats and species
Native shrubsteppe and riparian habitat protects the state threatened Columbia sharp-tailed grouse. A large flock of 64 sharp-tailed grouse were observed along Tunk Creek in the winter of 2003. The area also supports mule and white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, California quail, gray partridge, hawks, owls, woodpeckers and other cavity-nesting birds, and many species of songbirds. Tunk Creek has rainbow and brook trout.
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
- Recover sharp-tailed grouse populations in the wildlife area to healthy, self-sustaining levels
- Restore degraded shrubsteppe habitat
Native shrubsteppe and riparian habitat protects the state threatened Columbia sharp-tailed grouse. A large flock of 64 sharp-tailed grouse were observed along Tunk Creek in the winter of 2003. The area also supports mule and white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, California quail, gray partridge, hawks, owls, woodpeckers and other cavity-nesting birds, and many species of songbirds. Tunk Creek has rainbow and brook trout.
- 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
- Recover sharp-tailed grouse populations in the wildlife area to healthy, self-sustaining levels
- Restore degraded shrubsteppe habitat
Land stewardship
The Tunk Valley Unit was purchased to protect native shrubsteppe and riparian habitat for Columbian sharp-tailed grouse conservation.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1991 and 2001.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| Bonneville Power Administration | Mitigation Funds |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Washington Wildlife and Recreation 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