STATE OF WASHINGTON 2017 Game Status and Trend Report AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 2017 GAME STATUS AND TREND REPORT July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way North Olympia, WA 98501-1091 STATE OF WASHINGTON Jay Inslee Governor WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE Dr. Jim Unsworth Director WILDLIFE PROGRAM Eric Gardner Assistant Director GAME DIVISION Anis Aoude Game Division Manager This Program Receives Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration, Project W-96-R, Statewide Wildlife Management. This report should be cited as: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2017. 2017 Game status and trend report. Wildlife Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington, USA. TABLE OF CONTENTS Deer .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Blue Mountains Mule Deer Management Zone ....................................................................... 2 Columbia Plateau Mule Deer Management Zone ................................................................... 6 East Columbia Gorge Mule Deer Management Zone ............................................................13 East Slope Cascades Mule Deer Management Zone ..............................................................17 Naches Mule Deer Management Zone ................................................................................... 22 Northern Rocky Mountains Mule Deer Management Zone ................................................... 26 Okanogan Highlands Mule Deer Management Zone .............................................................29 Blue Mountains White-tailed Deer Management Zone .......................................................... 32 Columbia Basin White-tailed Deer Management Zone .......................................................... 35 North Cascade Mountains White-tailed Deer Management Zone ..........................................38 Okanogan Highlands White-tailed Deer Management Zone .................................................. 41 Palouse White-tailed Deer Management Zone ....................................................................... 44 Selkirk White-tailed Deer Management Zone ........................................................................ 48 Islands Black-tailed Deer Management Zone ......................................................................... 53 North Cascade Mountains Black-tailed Deer Management Zone ..........................................56 Olympic Peninsula Black-tailed Deer Management Zone ..................................................... 60 South Cascade Mountain Black-tailed Deer Management Zone ............................................ 65 Willapa Hills Black-tailed Deer Management Zone............................................................... 71 Elk .................................................................................................................................................. 77 Blue Mountains Elk Herd ....................................................................................................... 78 Colockum Elk Herd ................................................................................................................ 83 Mount Saint Helens Elk Herd .................................................................................................88 North Cascade Elk Herd ......................................................................................................... 96 North Rainier Elk Herd......................................................................................................... 101 Olympic Elk Herd ................................................................................................................. 110 Selkirk Elk Herd ................................................................................................................... 116 South Rainier Elk Herd.........................................................................................................1 22 Willapa Hills Elk Herd ......................................................................................................... 129 Yakima Elk Herd .................................................................................................................. 135 Mountain Goat ............................................................................................................................ 141 Statewide Summary ..............................................................................................................142 Region 2, Chelan County...................................................................................................... 145 Region 2, Methow ................................................................................................................ 150 Region 3, Blazed Ridge, Bumping River, Naches Pass........................................................152 Region 4, Mt. Baker and Boulder River North Areas .......................................................... .157 Region 5, Goat Rocks, Smith Creek, Mt. St. Helens ............................................................ 162 Region 6, Olympic Mountains .............................................................................................. 168 Bighorn Sheep ............................................................................................................................. 173 Statewide Summary .............................................................................................................. 174 Region 1, Blue Mountains .................................................................................................... 180 Region 1, Hall Mountain and Vulcan Mountain .................................................................. 186 Region 1, Lincoln Cliffs ....................................................................................................... 193 Region 2, Mt. Hull and Sinlahekin ....................................................................................... 199 Region 2, Swakane, Chelan Butte, and Manson ................................................................... 206 Region 3, Quilomene, Cleman Mtn., Umtanum/Selah Butte, and Tieton ............................ 216 Moose ........................................................................................................................................... 223 Statewide Summary .............................................................................................................. 224 Cougar ......................................................................................................................................... 229 Statewide Summary .............................................................................................................. 230 Black Bear ................................................................................................................................... 237 Statewide Summary .............................................................................................................. 238 Band-Tailed Pigeon and Mourning Dove ................................................................................. 247 Statewide Summary .............................................................................................................. 248 Waterfowl .................................................................................................................................... 255 Breeding Populations and Production ..................................................................................256 Winter Populations and Harvest ........................................................................................... 278 Wild Turkey ................................................................................................................................ 305 Statewide Summary .............................................................................................................. 306 Pheasant ...................................................................................................................................... 313 Statewide Summary .............................................................................................................. 314 Chukar ......................................................................................................................................... 323 Statewide Summary .............................................................................................................. 324 Quail ............................................................................................................................................ 329 Statewide Summary .............................................................................................................. 330 Grouse.......................................................................................................................................... 335 Statewide Summary .............................................................................................................. 336 Private Lands Access .................................................................................................................. 341 Statewide Summary .............................................................................................................