W.T. Wooten Unit's primary management emphasis is big game winter range and fish habitat. Activities enjoyed on this unit include fishing and camping near multiple man-made lakes, as well as other wildlife-oriented recreation. Camp Wooten, an Environmental Learning Center, was established in 1949 on WDFW land, and is leased and operated by the State Parks and Recreation Commission.
The W.T. Wooten Unit is located 25 miles east of Dayton and 14 miles south of Pomeroy, in Columbia and Garfield Counties.
The W.T. Wooten Unit is located on the Tucannon River in the Snake River Watershed, within both the Columbia Plateau and Middle Rockies-Blue Mountains. The Umatilla National Forest borders the unit on the south.
This unit is part of the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area.
Game Management Units: 162, 166, 178, 163
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
- Restrooms
- Developed campgrounds (See Other Recreational Opportunities section below for rules and information)
- Informational kiosks
- Environmental Learning Center
Recreation and access advisories
- Motorized vehicle access is restricted to main roads on the unit.
- There is a seasonal winter closure in the Cummings Creek drainage from Jan. 1 through April 1 to protect wintering wildlife.
Report a problem: Please report any issues you experience. Submit a report online or call 877-933-9847.
Hunting
Lands in and around the Tucannon River are historic wintering areas for big game and receive year-round use by a variety of game
WDFW releases pheasants on the Hartsock portion of this unit.
Hunting advisories
- On all WDFW designated pheasant release sites it is unlawful to possess shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for muzzleloading), other than nontoxic shot, when hunting for upland game birds (pheasant, quail, chukar, and gray partridge), mourning dove, and band-tailed pigeon (WAC 220-414-040).
- SAFETY ZONES are established around the Wooten Headquarters buildings, the Tucannon Fish Hatchery, and the Camp Wooten Environmental Learning Center. Weapons may not be discharged within these zones.
Fishing
Eight artificial lakes were created in the 1950s with the Tucannon Fish Hatchery. The hatchery propagates and stocks steelhead, chinook salmon, and rainbow trout to enhance public fishing opportunities and supplement Endangered Species Act-listed stocks in the Tucannon subbasin. Approximately 90,000 rainbow trout are stocked in the lakes annually. Salmon and steelhead smolts are released into the Tucannon River, and return as adults to augment steelhead recreational fishing and maintain native runs.
Big 4 Lake is a fly-fishing only lake.
Fishing advisories
- The Tucannon River is not a boatable river; there is no boating access on the W.T. Wooten Unit.
- The Tucannon River must be crossed to reach Big 4 Lake and spring river flows may impede safe access to the lake.
- No fishing is allowed in any of the lakes from any flotation devices.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes eight human-made lakes and 17 miles of river, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including black bear, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and wild turkey.
Deer are commonly seen feeding in fields in the evening around the WDFW headquarters buildings.
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.
Other recreational opportunities
There are 11 designated campgrounds with vault toilets.
Camping Rules
- Designated campgrounds: Camp only in designated campgrounds. Other areas are for day use only.
- Parking: Vehicle Access Pass (free with the purchase of an eligible fishing or hunting license) or Discover Pass is required for parking and camping.
- Quiet hours: Please respect other campers. Quiet hours in the campgrounds are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Maximum stay: Camping is limited to no longer than 21 consecutive days.
- Camp unit must not be left unattended for longer than 24 hours.
- Be a good steward: Remove all camping equipment and clean up the campsite before you leave.
- Do not dump refuse or drain waste from your RV or other vehicle.
- Protect our public lands and do not dump or burn garbage.
- Drive motorized vehicles only on open, established, and designated roadways. Unnecessary noise and travel are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to destroy, injure, deface, remove or disturb any public building, sign, equipment, marker or any natural feature, plant or tree.
- Firewood: Cut only downed wood to use for campfires on the wildlife area.
- To protect wildlife habitat, do not cut wood within 200 feet of the Tucannon River or any perennial stream.
- Christmas tree cutting is not allowed.
- Firearms: No discharging of firearms within 500 feet of campgrounds.
There is a shooting range located approximately 1 mile north of the WDFW headquarters buildings.
Other advisories
- A burn ban may occur during summer months, at which time campfires or briquette barbecues are prohibited in the campgrounds. Check informational kiosks on the W.T. Wooten Unit for the most up-to-date information.
Conservation
Lands in and around the Tucannon River are historic wintering areas for big game and receive year-round use by a variety of game and non-game species of wildlife, from black bears to wild turkeys. About 17 miles of the Tucannon River are located within this unit's boundaries.
Special habitats and species
The Tucannon River drainage is designated critical habitat for three federally endangered species—steelhead, chinook salmon, and bull trout. Deer are commonly seen feeding in the fields near the headquarters buildings in the evenings.
Conservation goals
- Continue fish monitoring/tagging efforts on the Tucannon River
- Implement the Forest Management Plan
- Improve habitat for mule deer populations
- Maintain healthy bighorn sheep population by communicating risks from domestic animals to the public
- Conduct an assessment of native prairie habitat by 2022; and by 2024, develop a strategy to protect and restore native prairie habitat
- Develop plan to survey entire wildlife area for rare plants by 2024
- Implement Wooten Floodplain Management Plan
The Tucannon River drainage is designated critical habitat for three federally endangered species—steelhead, chinook salmon, and bull trout. Deer are commonly seen feeding in the fields near the headquarters buildings in the evenings.
- Continue fish monitoring/tagging efforts on the Tucannon River
- Implement the Forest Management Plan
- Improve habitat for mule deer populations
- Maintain healthy bighorn sheep population by communicating risks from domestic animals to the public
- Conduct an assessment of native prairie habitat by 2022; and by 2024, develop a strategy to protect and restore native prairie habitat
- Develop plan to survey entire wildlife area for rare plants by 2024
- Implement Wooten Floodplain Management Plan
Land stewardship
The W.T. Wooten Unit was acquired to both minimize conflicts between wildlife and livestock and preserve habitat for wildlife and outdoor recreation. While early acquisitions were recommended to protect deer and elk range, later acquisitions focused on upland game bird habitat enhancement.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1941 and 2022.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation | Private Donation |
| US Army Corps of Engineers | Snake River Mitigation Account |
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WA Dept. of Fisheries Funds |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Salmon Recovery Fund |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program |
Management planning
2019 Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas Management Plan
Every eight to 10 years, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (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. In 2014, WDFW began the process of updating existing plans, many of which were written in 2006. The new plans are being developed with significant public participation and input.
Planning Advisory Committee
W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area Advisory Committee