| Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife | |
| Preceding1: | Washington Department of Fisheries |
| Preceding2: | Washington Department of Wildlife |
| Superseding6: | --> |
| Jurisdiction: | State of Washington |
| Headquarters: | Natural Resources Building, Olympia, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates: | 47.0372°N -122.8978°W |
| Employees: | 1,001-5,000 (2023) |
| Budget: | 515.5 million (2021-23) |
| Chief1 Name: | Kelly Susewind |
| Chief1 Position: | director |
| Child25 Agency: | --> |
| Keydocument1: | Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Code |
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is a department of the government of the state of Washington, United States of America. The WDFW manages over a million acres of land, the bulk of which is generally open to the public, and more than 500 water access sites.[1] Many of the sites are termed "wildlife areas" and permit hunting during the hunting season, typically in the autumn and early winter for birds, but all year round for coyotes.[2] Due to declining participation, the department has a hunter and angler recruitment, retention and reactivation plan.[3] A Discover Pass is required to park in the wildlife areas.[1]
The department's history starts with the appointment of a fisheries commissioner in 1890 by Governor of Washington Elisha P. Ferry.[4] The department is overseen by a director appointed by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission; Kelly Susewind was appointed to the position in June 2018.[5] Hunting and fishing license sales and income from the Discover Pass recreational access fee make up about one-quarter of the department’s budget.