Quick Tips
- Glass early and late to locate deer in this flat country
- Carry a GPS when hunting small sections of public scattered throughout private
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 110"-130" | 130"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 100"-110" | 120"+ |
| Elk | Little-to-none | N/A |
On The Ground
This large unit sits on the northern shore of Banks Lake, south of Electric City. This GMU is a diverse mix of farm and ag related grasslands and scattered pothole lakes, with the highest density between Big Bend Wildlife Area and Electric City along the Columbia River. With only around a 1,000-ft elevation gain, this unit is rather flat and is comprised largely of rolling sand hills with the steepest ground right at the water’s edge. A large rangeland fire burned a huge piece of land from Banks Lake well into the middle of the GMU past Road 174. Columbia sharp-tailed grouse, mule deer and upland game birds favor this ecosystem. Mule deer hunting can be quite good, however, access to private lands is key and can make a huge difference in your hunting experience. The WDFW has worked hard to gain hunters private land access and currently have approximately 60,000-acres of private land enrolled in public access. There are also scattered BLM and state lands, some of which may be landlocked by private, a GPS unit is valuable gear here. Elk are basically nonexistent in this GMU. Whitetail numbers are low as well.
There is not much public ground in this unit, and gaining access to private land can be hard.
Terrain
This unit is very open and can be challenging to find deer in with elevation difference running a mere 1,000-ft. Various farming and ranching operations range widely. Based on crops planted, maturity dates, and rotation, there is always some activity and crops that deer favor. Seeing as this unit is relatively flat, it does not drain quickly, thus creating some great mixed game riparian habitat covered with ponds of all sizes and intermittent streams.
Roughly 521 square miles
19% public land
Elevations range from 1,600– 2,600 feet
Vegetation
The vegetation in this unit is split between arid grasslands, prairies, and dryland farms and crops ranging from wheat, cereal grains, hay, canola, barley and grass seed. Big Bend Wildlife Area in the northeast, along the Columbia River, features numerous pothole lakes and an intermittent creek.
Access
There is not much public land in this unit, however, hundreds of miles of road allow access into small pieces of public and provide easy scouting so you know what private land you would like to try and gain access to. Between the Feel Free to Hunt and Hunt by Written Permission programs, the state has secured approximately 60,000-acres of private land for public access hunting.
Secure private land hunting access early
Camping and Lodging
There are very few public campgrounds in this area. 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 Coulee Dam and Electric City.
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