Quick Tips
- Private land access in the south can make for a great hunt with much less pressure from other hunters
- There are grizzly bears living in this unit
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 170"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 100"-110" | 120"+ |
| Elk | Little-to-none | N/A |
On The Ground
Okanogan National Forest dominates this small unit, along with the large Methow Wildlife Area in the southwest. From around 2003 to 2015, the bulk of this unit has been burned by a handful of large wildfires, leaving basically the Chewuch River basin and the eastern tip untouched. Mule deer are widely dispersed throughout the unit and favor a bulk of habitat and higher elevation burns with high-quality summer forage. With a decent road system into the National Forest, access is fairly easy. Hunters who are willing to backpack in farther will reach places with much less hunting pressure. The whitetail population is lower, and they are typically found in the lower elevations further south where the foothills and rangeland intertwine. The densely covered draws and small creeks are their favorite bedding areas. They come out at dusk to feed, especially on the few irrigated crops on private land. There are no resident herds of elk and finding them can prove to be extremely difficult. This GMU lies within the North Cascades grizzly bear recovery zone.
Easy to reach burns will be full of hunters. Private land between National Forest and agriculture can produce if you can gain access to these areas.
Terrain
From north to south, this unit has a steady transition, from alpine peaks over 8,000-ft, down through Okanogan National Forest at various stages of regrowth, to the foothills transforming from broken conifer forests to vast open rangeland with densely covered drainages, and down to the Chewuch and Methow Rivers at approximately 1,800-ft. Up north in the mountains there is a small portion of roadless, however, the bulk of the unit has a good network of roads.
Roughly 305 square miles
87% public land
Elevations range from 1,800– 8,200 feet
Vegetation
Tiffany Mountain peaks out above timberline with stubby alpines, short seasonal grasses, forbs, and lichen are broken up by large rock fields. The bulk of the unit consists of conifer forests with pine and fir trees in various stages of regrowth from multiple wildfires. With a lot of burnt timber laying around, a wide variety of grass, bushes, and wildflowers are filling in the gaps and new stands of young pine and fir trees are slowly regenerating. The southern end opens up into wide open native grass fields used for grazing and grass hay, with a few irrigated crops along the lower flat ground consisting of alfalfa and various grains. The invasive non-native cheatgrass is becoming more widespread here.
Access
Okanogan National Forest, along with Methow Wildlife Area and small pieces of BLM and state ground, makes access relatively easy. The foothills and river ground are all private, so landowner permission is essential as these areas hold some of the best whitetail deer hunting. There is a decent road system throughout most of the National Forest, however, for physically fit hunters and horseback hunters, there are drainages without road access allowing hunting opportunity without a lot of pressure. Outside the town of Conconully, the land is broken between private and public making a GPS an essential piece of equipment. Recent fires and mudslides may affect road closures and access. Good mix of easy access along with some backcountry hunting
Good mix of easy access along with some backcountry hunting
Pay attention to any road closures
Camping and Lodging
Primitive camping in the National Forest is allowed for the majority of the year, however, 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 the small towns of Conconully on the east, and Twisp and Winthrop on the west.
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