WHITE SALMON — Cougar hunting will be closed beginning Saturday in the Wind River and West Klickitat game management units.
This is the third year the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has managed cougar hunts under a plan that establishes harvest guidelines for specific areas of the state based on cougar populations.
The agency can close areas where cougar harvest guidelines have been met or exceeded, while continuing hunting opportunities elsewhere.
“The goal is to preserve a variety of cougar age classes — particularly older animals — in numerous areas throughout the state, said Dave Ware, game division manager. “Those older cougars tend to be more effective maintaining sustainable populations.”
