Public Land: Hunting and Fishing in Washington

With nearly 16 million acres of publicly-owned land, Washington state is a model of public access.

Chief Joseph Wildlife Area

• 14,000 acres

• Mule deer, predator hunting

• Trout, steelhead fishing in Grand Ronde River

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

• Nearly 1.4 million acres

• 1,360 miles of stream and 100 lakes offer trout fishing as well as steelhead and salmon

• Noted for elk hunting

Olympic National Forest

• 1.8 million acres

• Good big game and forest grouse hunting

• Salmon, steelhead and trout fishing in rivers and streams

Wenatchee National Forest

• 4 million acres

• Good fishing on rivers, streams and lakes

• Excellent big game hunting

Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge

• 41,568 acres

• Good big game and grouse hunting

• Trout fishing on ponds and streams

Find more public land access opportunities with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Hunt Planner.

Photo: Joseph Creek Canyon, Chief Joseph Wildlife Area

Photo credit: flickr