This unit has limited access due to no available parking.
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.
Shrubsteppe habitat
The Whiskey Dick Unit offers steep, rocky slopes and rolling ridges and canyons, most of which are covered by shrubsteppe habitat. The Wild Horse Wind Farm, owned and managed by Puget Sound Energy is adjacent to the boundary of the Whiskey Dick Unit, and spans from Quilomene Ridge Road south to Vantage Highway.
The Whiskey Dick Unit is located about 15 miles east of Ellensburg in Kittitas County.
The Whiskey Dick Unit is bordered by the Quilomene Unit, the Wild Horse Wind Farm, the Columbia River, and State Parks' Ginkgo State Park.
This unit is part of the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 329
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.
This location participates in the Green Dot system which restricts motorized vehicle use to marked roads. See the Green Dot Page for more information and detailed maps.
Public facility information:
- No developed parking
- No restroom
- Reader boards with information and maps are at entry points
Recreation and access advisories
- A motorized closure is in effect from Feb. 1 through April 30 to protect wintering elk. The closure extends from the Vantage Hwy north up to the Quilomene Ridge Road (Jackknife Ridge road and east to the river is open to motorized vehicles year-round), west to the Wild Horse Wind Project.
- Motorized vehicles must stay on designated Green Dot roads. All other roads not marked with a green dot are not open to motorized vehicles.
- Visitors are asked to avoid driving on roads when soft and wet.
- Vehicle camping is prohibited beyond 100 feet of open roads.
- Permanent camps or structures are not permitted. All man-made materials must be removed.
- No campfires allowed from April 15 through Oct. 15.
- The Whiskey Dick Unit is within a Green Dot Road Management area. Maps and regulations are available at the WDFW Region 3 Office, online, and the Department of Natural Resources's Southeast Regional Office.
Hunting
Hunting Introduction Big game and upland birds, including chukar, California quail, turkey, mourning dove, partridge, forest grouse and ring-necked pheasant, provide significant hunting opportunity on this unit
Fishing
There are numerous fish-bearing streams on the unit that contain both resident and anadromous fish stocks.
Wildlife viewing
This unit offers shrubsteppe, sagebrush and bitterbrush mixed with bunchgrasses, streams, springs, and riparian habitats, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including deer, elk, bighorn sheep, a myriad of small mammals, Greater sage grouse, quail, wild turkey, neo-tropical/upland birds, raptors, and reptiles.
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
- Greater sage grouse (state-listed threatened species) are sensitive to human disturbance. Do not flush or otherwise disturb these birds.
Conservation
Vegetation is mostly shrubsteppe, sagebrush and bitterbrush mixed with bunchgrasses. Streams and springs provide narrow bands of riparian habitat, which supports highly productive ecological communities.
Special habitats and species
Two rare plant species, Hoover's tauschia and a Pediocactus species occur on the wildlife area unit. This unit also contains the largest core habitat for striped whipsnake.
Conservation goals
- Improve and maintain fish populations
- Maintain or improve conditions for priority species and habitats
- Protect and restore native plant communities
- Protect critical elk winter range and upland game bird habitat
- Preserve habitat and species diversity of fish and wildlife resources
Two rare plant species, Hoover's tauschia and a Pediocactus species occur on the wildlife area unit. This unit also contains the largest core habitat for striped whipsnake.
- Improve and maintain fish populations
- Maintain or improve conditions for priority species and habitats
- Protect and restore native plant communities
- Protect critical elk winter range and upland game bird habitat
- Preserve habitat and species diversity of fish and wildlife resources
Land stewardship
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1966 and 2011.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program |
| US National Park Service | Land and Water Conservation Fund |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | State Bond Account |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program |
Management planning
The planning process for the new management plan for the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area has begun. In lieu of hosting a public workshop, we have prepared some materials for you to learn more about the wildlife area, the planning process, and how to provide your input to us.
Description of the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area (video): An overview of the wildlife area and the key habitats, species, and recreation opportunities.
Management Planning Process (video): An overview of the wildlife area management planning process.
PDF: Brief description of the planning process and wildlife area units.
2023 L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Management Plan
Planning Advisory Committee
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Advisory Committee