State might buy Central and Eastern Washington land for recreation

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife wants to know what you think about the state buying land on Bickleton Ridge and in Columbia County.

The proposed purchases are among nine the agency is considering to benefit wildlife and to provide outdoor access.

It is looking at 256 acres of the Bickleton Ridge in Klickitat County. Purchasing the land would provide public access for deer hunting and help preserve habitat for western gray squirrels, mule and black-tailed deer, and Oregon white oak.

In Columbia County, the agency is looking at 43 acres of land bordered on two side by the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area. It includes Goat Mountain Road, which runs through the wilderness area.

More land would be available for hunting and other recreation, and the area could be better managed, the agency said. Mule deer, bighorn sheep and golden eagles use the area.

Submit comments to lands@dfw.wa.gov by Nov. 2. More information is posted at bit.ly/WAlandproposals.

This story was originally published January 22, 2018 at 5:17 PM with the headline "State might buy Central and Eastern Washington land for recreation."