Okanogan National Forest makes up the majority of this GMU. Methow Wildlife Area Big Valley Unit holds decent populations of deer; the deer migrate out to the farm ground in the late afternoon till dusk. The GMU’s namesakes, Gardner Mountain and North Gardner Mountain, both peak out at above 8,900-ft, right in the middle of the vast roadless area, are dissected by multiple steep drainages, some dropping 3,000-ft in just over a mile in a straight line to the creeks below. The most western portion is Wenatchee National Forest, with Copper Pass dividing the two national forests and Road 20 forming the northwestern boundary. The 2018 Crescent Mountain fire burned a bit of ground along the southern border, south of Gilbert Mountain and Abernathy Peak. There are not a lot of whitetail in this GMU; they most commonly prefer the private lands along the riparian corridors and farmland. There are no resident elk herds and finding them can be extremely difficult. This GMU lies within the North Cascades grizzly bear recovery zone.

Deer herds are in terrible shape, nothing like what they used to be. There are a few black bears around, including some color phase bears.

This is a large, steep, roadless GMU with thick stands of old-growth conifer forests dominating the north slopes. This area is extremely rocky, and covering this open and broken country can take longer than expected. Northern mountains have much thicker forests, and slowly open up as you move south and southeast to the small town of Twisp which is open rolling rangeland. Large meadows and drainages are located in the roadless National Forest area, with enormous, wide open or spotty timbered south slopes rising sharply from the valley floor. At higher elevations, alpine lakes provide year-round water fed by summer snowmelt and Lyall Glacier.

Old pine and fir forests dominate the northern mountains. As you move south and west, the south slopes open up in vast seasonal bunch grasses, forbs, and broken rock. The high peaks are scattered with bits of grass, lichen, and short alpine browse, typically found in small patches between the numerous rockslides. Small alpine lakes hold a little bit of water year round. The cooler, narrow, sharp valleys are choked with brush and sparse grass. Valleys meander downstream and open up into wider valleys and meadows, filled with seasonal bunchgrasses and wildflowers. Rainy Lake and Ann Lake, located in the shadows of Frisco Mountain and Lyall Glacier, both provide a much lusher browse, along with the heavily forested Bridge Creek just to the east.

Okanogan National Forest, Methow Wildlife Area, and small pieces of BLM and state ground make access relatively easy, but watch regulations for localized closures. A good majority of the GMU has backpack and horseback access with no roads. The foothills and river ground are all private, so landowner permission is essential and holds some of the best whitetail deer hunting.

Primitive camping on National Forest land is allowed for most of the year, but various fire bans and forest road closures may happen, so double check any restrictions or permits necessary prior to your trip. If you are more interested in a bed and a shower, and being closer to gas stations, restaurants, and a grocery store, your best options will be in the small towns of Twisp and Winthrop.