The development of the wenaha wildlife area began in 1953 with the acquisition of five parcels of land consisting of 4,400 acres

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $643,092 Formula Grant under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education program (CFDA 15.611) to the State of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). The grant will fund the continued development and expansion of the Wenaha Wildlife Area in Oregon, which was established in 1953 to address elk damage on private lands. Over the life of the project, ODFW has acquired over 12,419 acres of land and manages an additional 1,329 acres through agreements with the Bureau of Land Management. The grant will support ongoing habitat restoration, wildlife population monitoring, and public access to the wildlife area to promote responsible hunting and outdoor recreation.

The department continued to purchase additional lands, acquiring 1,670 acres in 1954 and another 760 acres in 1955. From 1961 to the present, the department has purchased or received another 4,219 acres. The wildlife area currently consists of 12,419 acres. In addition, management agreements with the bureau of land management (BLM) were written for 1,329 acres within or adjacent to the wildlife area. The wenaha wildlife area established in response to continuing complaints from landowners concerned with ELK damage on private lands during winter months. Over 18,000 acres near the initial wildlife area purchase has been identified as critical big game winter range. A small resident population of ELK and deer summer in the wenaha basin however, the problem stemmed primarily from ELK, which summered in oregon and washington and then migrated down the wenaha river drainage into the troy area in early winter months. ELK remained on private lands until april when they returnehe development of the wenaha wildlife area began in 1953 with the acquisition of five parcels of land consisting of 4,400 acres. The department continued to purchase additional lands, acquiring 1,670 acres in 1954 and another 760 acres in 1955. From 1961 to the present, the department has purchased or received another 4,219 acres. The wildlife area currently consists of 12,419 acres. In addition, management agreements with the bureau of land management (BLM) were written for 1,329 acres within or adjacent to the wildlife area. The wenaha wildlife area established in response to continuing complaints from landowners concerned with ELK damage on private lands during winter months. Over 18,000 acres near the initial wildlife area purchase has been identified as critical big game winter range. A small resident population of ELK and deer summer in the wenaha basin however, the problem stemmed primarily from ELK, which summered in oregon and washington and then migrated down the wenaha river drainage into the troy area in early winter months. ELK remained on private lands until april when they returned to summer range in the wenaha basin, on lands administered by the U.S. Forest service in both oregon and washington.there is a need to alleviate damage to private lands by wintering ELK and provide high quality wildlife habitat near troy in northeast oregon. The WWA is managed primarily for providing natural and supplemental forage for rocky mountain ELK, mule and white-tailed deer, and rocky mountain bighorn sheep as well as minimize big game damage to adjacent private agricultural crops. The wildlife area also is managed to enhance habitat for indigenous fish and wildlife species in addition, to provide wildlife oriented recreational opportunities for the public. The natural resources on the WWA need to be managed in such a manner as to protect, maintain, enhance, and restore fish and wildlife habitat to support optimum population levels of all species for the enjoyment of present and future citizens. To protect these natural resources, management programs and strategies utilized on the WWA will meet or exceed habitat protection policies and standards set by the oregon department of fish and wildlife. The goal of the wenaha wildlife area is to manage lands in order to meet one or more of the following needs: (1) to protect or enhance wildlife species (2) protect or enhance existing habitat conditions or restore lost habitats and (3) provide quality wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities. Properly manage the land, and ensuring their availability for future generations, and provides benefits for all citizens.to protect these natural resources, management programs and strategies utilized on the wenaha wildlife area will meet or exceed habitat protection policies and standards set by the oregon department of fish and wildlife.