This GMU is predominantly private land with a few far and is in between state and BLM sections. Unfortunately, some of the state, DNR and BLM are landlocked from public access. On the bright side, landowners tend to allow significant access throughout the GMU and there are numerous landowners who participate in WDFW private lands access programs, specifically in the southwestern portion of the unit. With a large amount of private, it’s no surprise that elk numbers are managed to minimize numbers due to conflict with agricultural activities, this simply makes elk hunting highly variable with hunter having private land access and knowledge of herd movements. Both mule deer and whitetail deer hunting are good given the land access opportunities and offer great hunting success for those willing to do a bit of pre-season work. Pataha Creek cuts the western portion in half with large farms on both sides. From the bluffs, the land slowly tapers its way to Pomeroy with miles of tilled land in between. Alpowa Creek parallels to the east; from there, numerous gorges point east to vast grain fields eventually ending at Clarkston on the Snake River, which is also the Idaho border.

Elk are rarely found on the Hunt by Written Permission ground in this unit.

The southwest border has lightly timbered high ground, representing the very end of the Blue Mountain foothills. This transitions to large farms and ranches very quickly. A couple of creeks cut the unit in half vertically. From the river’s edge, bluffs, numerous gulches, and ridgelines stretch out to flatter ground. The majority of flat ground is good for crops with minimal water runoff. The far eastern border is just a touch of urban sprawl from Clarkston, WA to Lewiston, ID where the Snake and Clearwater Rivers converge.

The majority of the unit is private so you will need to do some work prior to the beginning of your season. There is a very limited amount of state and BLM ground here.

This unit consists of large tilled lands with a wide variety of crops, mainly various grains, cereal, and hay, as they all do well in this short growing season. Scattered pine and fir along the southwestern border follow the creeks until they run out of needed water. Creeks supply a variety of wildlife with protein-rich grasses and forbs. To the very northwest corner, and past Alpowa Creek, are short grass prairies with a variety of cool and warm weather bunch grasses and sage. Every inch of flat ground to the east has been plowed into large dryland farms and eventually drops down to the Snake River.

There are limited camping areas here, as the unit is basically all private. There are several towns close by providing lodging, fuel, restaurants, and groceries, such as Pomeroy and Clarkston.