Washington · Public Land · 2026 Edition

Washington Public Hunting Land 2026: WMAs & Access Rules

2 wildlife management areas tracked here, from 18,138 to 21,500 acres. A hunting license covers you on Washington WMA land the same as anywhere else in the state — but read the access rules below before you assume that's all you need.

01 — Wildlife management areas

AreaCountyAcresSpecies
Skagit Wildlife Area Skagit, Island, Snohomish, San Juan 18,138 Waterfowl, Small game
Sunnyside Wildlife Area Yakima, Benton, Franklin 21,500 Pheasant, Waterfowl, Small game

Skagit, split into 21 separate units across the tidal delta north of Seattle, is one of North America's genuinely elite waterfowl destinations — snow geese and ducks pour into the intertidal estuary and managed farmland in numbers that draw hunters from across the state. Sunnyside-Snake River, in the Yakima River floodplain further east, runs a different game entirely: WDFW releases pheasants here every fall on top of the wild upland birds and waterfowl already using the 13 miles of river shoreline. This list is a starting point, not WDFW's full inventory of wildlife areas statewide.

02 — Access rules beyond your hunting license

Any WDFW recreation land requires a Discover Pass or Vehicle Access Pass to park — but hunters don't need to buy either separately: an annual hunting, trapping or fishing license (except an annual razor clam or shellfish/seaweed license on its own) comes with a free Vehicle Access Pass bundled in, transferable between two vehicles.

03 — Where to go next

Washington hunting license costs and permits →

Washington hunting seasons →

Verified · Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-08

Publisher's note. WMA list and access rules read from WDFW, retrieved 2026-08-08. Review due 2027-08-01. This is a starting list, not the agency's full WMA inventory — confirm current rules for a specific area before you hunt it.