At a Glance
Quick Tips
- GPS showing land classes is a must
- Know your land to avoid trespassing when navigating corners and retrieving game
species | general Size | trophy potential |
---|---|---|
Mule Deer | Dummy | Dummy |
Whitetail Deer | Dummy | Dummy |
Elk | Dummy | Dummy |
species | general Size | trophy potential |
---|---|---|
Mule Deer | Dummy | Dummy |
Whitetail Deer | Dummy | Dummy |
Elk | Dummy | Dummy |
This unit is primarily river basin ground which is primarily agricultural crops except for the Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge which allows no hunting. The Bur of Reclamation is the centerpiece in the Columbia Basin which provides water storage for irrigation and hydroelectric powerplants, flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. White Bluff in the national wildlife refuge is found on the highest ground and borders the Columbia River. Overall the unit is relatively flat with the southern tip around 350-ft. This is all excellent mule deer habitat and an important wintering area for mule deer which typically start migrating in October. Mild winters can cause a delay and the deer will remain up north.
Cattle have overgrazed and hurt most of the local deer habitat.
This unit is mostly gently sloping river basin country with bluffs along the Columbia River representing the high ground. From these high points, the elevation slowly tapers off where most of the land has been tilled into farmland of all shapes and sizes.
This is a tough unit for access due to a high amount of farming activities and private lands. There are just a few small Hunt by Written Permission or Feel Free to Hunt land’s enrolled for public access.
Irrigated crops represent a wide variety of the area's agriculture from fruits and vegetables to seeds, wine grapes and hops. In between in the low lying areas you have a variety of ponds, drainages, creeks and marshlands that are not suitable for farming. This ground is fertile and consists of warm and cool season grasses, wildflower, reeds and bushes and provide excellent browse and graze. Some reports indicate that in some areas leased cattle grazing rights may have overgrazed depleting the habitat for wildlife.
Some primitive camping opportunities can be found at Scooteney Reservoir. If you are more interested in a bed and a shower, as well as staying closer to gas stations, restaurants, and a grocery store your best option will be local B&B’s and hotels in the small town of Connell up north or the city of Pasco down south.
Roughly 520 square miles
21% public land
Elevations range from 300– 750 feet
Private land offers the best hunting opportunities
Private ground pieces can be small and difficult to hunt