This is a medium sized unit with approximately a 50/50 mix of private and public land. Fish Lake is located on the northern border, and Okanogan River runs along most of the eastern border, down past the town of Omak and Okanogan, before heading north along Road 20 and South Fork Salmon Creek. Public land consists largely of Loup Loup State Forest, Okanogan National Forest, Scotch Creek Wildlife Area, Sinlahekin Wildlife Area and scattered BLM and state ground. Large tracts of the public and private are highly broken, so a quality GPS is vitally important when hunting and retrieving game. This GMU has experienced multiple significant burns over the years. Since 2008, roughly 90% of the GMU has experienced wildfires to some degree, and now many spots offer some excellent forage for deer. This unit is predominantly mule deer country, with few scattered whitetails in the lower, thicker riparian cover adjoining private farming ground. Hunting tends to improve later in the season after snows push migrating mule deer into lower elevations. Later hunt dates also come with more hunters and some pressure; with the rut coming on, patience is the key to success. There are no resident herds of elk, and finding them can be extremely difficult. This unit is on the extreme edge of the grizzly recovery zone and Loup Loup wolf pack territory.

This unit tends to get a little more crowded than others.

Buck Mountain, in the western mountains, peaks at 5,955-ft, with the mountains quickly losing elevations as you move east through a series of long north to south ridge lines. This country has a decent system of roads along the canyon floors and winding two tracks into the hills. The eastern portion is basically all open, rolling hills with scattered brush and cover in the drainages as always. The northwest corner is loaded with small lakes and ponds in these short rolling mountains, with Chilson Mountain peaking at only 3,054-ft, making excellent deer habitat even though the majority of it is privately owned.

Okanogan River on the eastern boundary is riparian by nature, although it is a bit more open than most, and feeds irrigated cropland, which is mostly grains and hay. A wide swath runs vertically through the center of the unit and consists of open rangeland with various warm and cool seasonal bunch grass and invasive cheatgrass. Taller needle and thread grass grows in the lower drainages and lakes, along with various reed grasses and brush, providing the thickest cover and additional browse. The higher mountains in the west are largely conifer forests in various stages of growth due to recent fires. Several of these burns currently offer excellent grazing with the more tender protein that the deer favor as opposed to the older stands of fibrous brush that was burned out.

Scotch Creek Wildlife Area can be productive, open country, with better hunting later in the season when migratory mule deer show up after snow falls in the higher country. The south fork of Salmon Creek can provide public access to the Okanogan National Forest with traditionally fewer hunters. There are some large tracts of public land allowing access opportunities for hunters willing to do a bit of homework and scouting. Don’t overlook private land hunting opportunities, with a bit of effort you can lock in a low pressure, fun hunting experience.

Scotch Creek allows camping adjacent to established roads. Primitive camping on National Forest land is allowed for the majority 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 Omak and the small town of Okanogan on the eastern border.