Managing game populations

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Close up photo of a bull elk with a "dropper antler"
Photo by Scott Gentry
Bull elk with a 'dropper' antler, Kittitas Valley

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is tasked with responsibly preserving, protecting, and perpetuating wildlife in the state, while maximizing hunting opportunities to all residents. To that end, the department develops management plans for individual species, tracks statewide harvests of game species, and monitors the status of populations around the state.