GMU 105 - Kelly Hill, Washington

Triangle-shaped unit of 296 square miles extending from Kettle Falls north to the Canadian border. Elevation ranges from 1,290 feet at Lake Roosevelt (southern tip) to over 4,350 feet on the Kettle Crest ridgeline; the district high point of 7,309 feet (Gypsy Peak in the Selkirks) is adjacent. Topography is defined by the Kettle Mountain Range running north-south, with drainages including Sheep Creek, Crown Creek, Flat Creek, and Little Boulder Creek draining west into the Kettle River and Columbia River system. The southern half of the unit is largely open river bottom and valley private land; the northern interior rises into dense coniferous forest on Colville National Forest. A 2018 wildfire burn scar along the Canadian border corridor created early-successional habitat that benefits both deer and bear.

Northern interior is predominantly Colville National Forest with good road access — a Colville NF motor vehicle use map is strongly recommended. Southern portion is a mix of DNR state land (scattered blocks), industrial timber company land (primarily Manulife/Hancock Forest Management), and private agricultural land. Timber company lands are often open to foot access but not motorized vehicles; written permission required. Southern Lake Roosevelt shoreline is National Recreation Area (NRA). Access the unit from Kettle Falls on Hwy 395 north, or from Republic on Hwy 21 east. The Republic Ranger District (509-775-7400) and Colville Ranger District (509-684-7000) are primary Forest Service contacts. Private land access: check current plat maps for landowner contacts and use WDFW's Private Lands Access Program.

Approximately 68% of District 1 is coniferous forest (ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, western larch, Engelmann spruce at elevation). Valley floors and benches support agricultural fields (dryland wheat, hay) mixed with riparian brush and second-growth timber. Recent clearcuts and the 2018 Canadian border burn have produced dense berry-producing shrub fields (huckleberry, serviceberry, thimbleberry) that are prime bear and deer habitat. Huckleberry patches at higher elevations in early fall are the top black bear draw. Lake Roosevelt NRA shoreline offers riparian willow and cottonwood corridors.

White-tailed deer densities are highest in the valley and foothill-bench farm-forest mosaic in the southern portion of the unit. Deer concentrate on private agricultural fields at night and use adjacent forest cover during daylight. Elk are part of the Selkirk Elk Herd and are widely scattered in small groups; bulls tend to avoid open clearcuts during daylight hours, using closed-canopy forest and swamps. Moose use the Kettle Range creek drainages — Churchill Mountain, Lead Pencil Mountain, Sheep Creek, Crown Creek, and Flat Creek corridors near the Canadian border are documented moose areas. Grizzly bears are confirmed resident in the northern unit; all black bear hunters must carry proof of completing the WDFW annual bear ID test.

Deer hunting quality is strong for District 1: GMU 105 ranks #1 in hunter success rate for modern firearm deer (28.4%, 3-yr avg), with 191 deer harvested by 675 hunters over 296 sq mi (0.65 deer/sq mi). Muzzleloader deer success is exceptional at 34.7% (best in district, rank sum 5/15). Archery deer success 17.0% with light pressure (61 hunters, 0.21/sq mi). Elk hunting is marginal — 7 elk/season (firearm, 3-yr avg), 5.7% success rate, 131 hunters — but the low density is partly offset by low competition. Archery elk success 11.7% is second-best in district. Moose permits issued for the Kettle Range unit (GMU 101/105/204 combined); no permits in 2024 for Parker Lake sub-unit due to logging. CWD detected in GMU 124 (adjacent Spokane County) — test harvested deer. No antlerless deer harvest allowed (regulation since 2019). Mule deer present but sparse; 3-point minimum restriction applies to mule deer. Merriam''s turkey hunting available spring and fall. WDFW runs weekend check stations during modern firearm deer season.