Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)

Notify WDFW within 72 hours of discovering damage and at least 72 hours before harvest. A Wildlife Conflict Specialist verifies the damage, then the Claims Analyst in Olympia sends a claim packet with a list of approved crop adjusters. Submit the completed packet within 60 days of final harvest to WDFW, Attn: Wildlife Conflict Program, Claims, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, WA 98504-3200, or wildlifedamageclaims@dfw.wa.gov.

Deadline text on the page: The producer must notify WDFW within 72 hours of discovery of crop damage and at least 72 hours prior to harvest of the claimed crop. ... A complete, written, signed claim packet must be submitted by the producer to WDFW within 60 days of final harvest.

General office — Wildlife Conflict Program, Claims

General office — WDFW Wildlife Program

WDFW can pay eligible commercial farmers for deer or elk damage to their commercial crops, including growing or harvested product. Claims run from $1,000 to $30,000, with one claim per producer per year. The producer must have used agreed prevention measures, and in most cases must allow public hunting access. Cash payments depend on funding appropriated by the legislature.



- "Eligible farmer": gross sales or harvested value of agricultural products of at least $10,000
- Commercial crops only (commercially grown Christmas trees, managed pasture and horticultural trees count; livestock and rangeland do not)
- Must have an active Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreement, a WDFW-approved checklist, or a Director's Waiver
- Generally must allow public hunting access at an appropriate time, manner and level
- Must pursue other compensation sources first (e.g., crop insurance)

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

One claim per producer per year; $1,000 minimum, $30,000 maximum. WDFW cost-shares an adjuster from its approved list (a producer who picks their own adjuster pays the full cost). Payment only when funds are appropriated.

Published amounts: Claims for less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) will not be accepted. The maximum payment for a claim is $30,000. Cash compensation will only be provided to producers by WDFW when specifically appropriated by the legislature or other funding entity.

Notify WDFW within 24 hours (WILDCOMM 360-902-2936 option 1 during business hours; state patrol after hours). Protect the carcass for investigation. Request a claim form within 30 days from the Wildlife Conflict Section (PO Box 43141, Olympia, WA 98504-3141; 360-902-2515; wildlifedamageclaims@dfw.wa.gov). Submit the completed form within 120 days.

Deadline text on the page: Notify WDFW within 24 hours of discovering a livestock attack. ... Request a claim form within 30 days of discovering the loss ... Submit a completed claim form within 120 days of notifying WDFW of the loss.

WILDCOMM (attack reporting)

WDFW pays commercial sheep, cattle and horse owners for animals killed or injured by cougars or wolves, using available state funds; bear losses are currently unfunded. Confirmed wolf kills on large grazing acreage are paid at twice the verified loss to account for missing animals. Claims start at $500 and are capped at $30,000. The producer must show the non-lethal prevention measures they used.



- Commercially raised sheep, cattle or horses (other domestic animals only if federal or private funds exist)
- Loss caused by bear, cougar or wolf (bear currently unfunded)
- Claim of $500 or more
- Proof of ownership or lease, commercial value records, and a WDFW-approved checklist of non-lethal measures tried

Value based on market values from the claimant or a certified third-party livestock appraiser. 60 days to accept or appeal the offer; $30,000 cap per claim.

Published amounts: State law requires that only claims of $500 or more may be filed with the department for compensation from state funds. Individual claims are limited to no more than $30,000, even if appealed. Confirmed wolf depredations: paid verified losses under 100 acres, twice the verified losses over 100 acres; probable: verified loss on 100+ acres, half on under 100 acres. Bear depredations are currently not funded for claim payment.

Contact your regional WDFW private lands biologist (list linked from the page) or the nearest regional office. Questions: Wildlife Program 360-902-2515, wildthing@dfw.wa.gov.

Deadline text on the page: No enrollment window published; contact a private lands biologist.

Joe McCanna

Private Lands Access Program Manager

WDFW signs access agreements with farm, ranch and timber landowners to open their land to public hunting under four options: Feel Free to Hunt, Register to Hunt, Hunt by Written Permission and Hunt by Reservation. WDFW provides all signs and technical help, and qualifying landowners are paid from the federal VPA-HIP grant. Enrolled landowners keep state liability protection for recreational access.



- Private landowners (agricultural farmland, industrial timberland, wetland/water access sites), large or small
- Payments only for landowners who qualify for VPA-HIP-funded access agreements (criteria not published)

Payment per unit of land to do or avoid certain practices related to land management.

Easement

Formal agreement with WDFW; landowner keeps control under Hunt by Written Permission. RCW 4.24.210 liability protection applies unless the landowner charges an access fee.

Published amounts: Landowners who qualify for payments and enroll in access programs are paid out of the Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) grant awarded from the Natural Resource Conservation Service. No payment rates are published.

Landowners contact their local conservation district, which submits projects on the WSRRI application form during a solicitation. Projects are ranked by the WSRRI steering committee.

Deadline text on the page: Page: "WSRRI Solicitation for Projects!" and "A competitive solicitation for projects was announced this week" (undated). Guidelines effective September 18, 2025: "Application deadlines and availability of funds will be announced on the SCC WSRRI program webpage."

Allisa Carlson

Regional Manager – South Central (WSRRI staff)

General office

Cost-share through conservation districts for shrubsteppe habitat restoration, wildlife-friendly fencing (new, replacement of burned fence, barbed-wire retrofit, removal, virtual fence) and post-fire deferred grazing in prioritized areas of Eastern Washington's Columbia Plateau. Private ranch land is eligible, and grazing-management cross fencing and virtual fence are prioritized.



- "Conservation districts are eligible to apply to WSRRI under these program guidelines."
- "All landownerships are eligible under this program including private, tribal, federal, state, non-profit organization, or local government ownerships."
- "Projects must demonstrate a benefit to shrubsteppe habitat and associated wildlife"; spatial selection criteria by county.

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

"Work must begin on all funded proposals within 120 days of the award of funding." Fencing must follow WSRRI specifications. SCC cost-share policies apply.

Published amounts: 2025-2027 proviso: "Funded at $3,000,000 from the State Building Construction Account to implement the Washington Shrubsteppe Restoration and Resiliency Initiative 30-year strategy."

Contact your local WDFW wildlife conflict specialist, the nearest regional office, or the Wildlife Program at 360-902-2515 or wildthing@dfw.wa.gov. Agreements are tailored to each producer.

Deadline text on the page: No deadline published; producers contact their local wildlife conflict specialist.

WDFW signs damage prevention cooperative agreements (DPCAs) with landowners and livestock producers to prevent wildlife damage to crops or livestock. The agreements provide state cost-sharing for preventive measures such as specialized fencing, guard dogs, range riders, hazing equipment and carcass removal. They can also pay for some livestock losses and share wolf-location information. An active DPCA is also one way to qualify for WDFW's crop-damage compensation.



- Landowners and livestock producers experiencing or at risk of wildlife damage to crops or livestock
- Must agree to share information on wolf activity, livestock behavior and preventive actions, and allow WDFW staff access to lands used for livestock production

Agreements tailored to individual producer situations; landowner shares information and grants WDFW access. Lethal-removal permits available only in the eastern one-third of Washington where WDFW leads wolf management.

Published amounts: State cost sharing of proactive preventative methods, including specialized fencing, guard dogs, range riders, hazing equipment, and sanitation (carcass removal, etc.). No rate or cap published.

List of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Funding Opportunities