- Great backpack hunting unit, make sure to bring your GPS
- Get up high and glass
Species | General Size | Trophy Potential |
---|
Mule Deer | 110"-130" | 140"+ |
Whitetail Deer | 110"-120" | 130"+ |
Elk | 310"-340" | 340"+ |
This large unit consists primarily of Umatilla National Forest, Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness and a W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area in the northern tip. There are both quality deer and elk special permits offered by WDFW within this unit that are worth applying for. Hunting for mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, and black bear are all good, however, wolves tend to move game around a bit. The 2005 School and 2006 Columbia Complex fires burned a major portion of the Tucannon unit. These significant old burns left the thickest forest along the southern boundary right in the most rugged roadless portions of the unit including Al Williams Ridge, Horse Ridge, and Elk Flat. The Tucannon River Valley is historic wintering grounds for big game and is the low ground of the unit at 1,800-ft, with the highest ground to the south topping out at just over 6,000-ft.
The Tucannon River Valley is historic wintering grounds for big game and is the low ground of the unit at 1,800-ft, with the highest ground to the south topping out at just over 6,000-ft.
This is a perfect unit for hunting as timber and brush are at multiple age classes due to the two-decade old burns, which devastated this area. There is now incredibly rich habitat offering a variety of bunch grasses and buck brush for browse, with thickly covered hills interspersed with open hillsides and benches, allowing hunters to spend quality time behind the glass. Many small creeks and drainages feed the Tucannon River and ultimately create a diverse riparian ecosystem in the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area.
The Tucannon River is fed by this rugged and partially forested unit. The densest forest is located along the southern edge of the unit and consists of pine and fir. The unit becomes more open the further north you go, with the tip consisting of open scabland. The mid-section has open native grasses on the south slopes and is thickly covered on north slopes. Good browse has re-established after two huge forest fires, however, deadfalls in some locations can make hunting difficult. As the Tucannon River flows north, it widens out with multiple lakes, ponds and thick marshland.
This unit is almost all public and offers lots of access. However, it is a physical unit with limited roads and trails.
Primitive camping in the National Forest is allowed for the majority of the year, but various fire bans and forest road closures may be in effect, so double check any restrictions or permits necessary prior to your trip. Lodging, gas stations, restaurants, and a grocery store are located in Dayton, although, it is a drive.
Roughly 132 square miles
96% public land
Elevations range from 1,800– 6,200 feet
Backpack hunting opportunities
Predominantly USFS and WDFW owned land