GMU 111 - Aladdin, Washington

GMU 111 covers the Selkirk Mountain range in northeastern Washington between the Columbia River to the west and the Pend Oreille River to the east. Elevations range from roughly 1,400 ft in the river valleys to over 5,000 ft on ridgelines such as Aladdin Mountain (5,015 ft) and Abercrombie Mountain. Terrain is steep and densely forested; approximately 80% of the area has slopes of 24 degrees or less though rugged draws and canyon walls are common. The community of Aladdin sits at ~2,369 ft elevation. Dominant forest cover is mixed conifer: western larch, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, grand fir, western white pine, and subalpine fir at higher elevations. River bottoms support riparian corridors used heavily by deer and elk.

Public land within GMU 111 is primarily Colville National Forest (part of the 1.5-million-acre forest spanning Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties), Washington DNR state forest (Little Pend Oreille State Forest in Stevens and Pend Oreille counties), and the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge (~40,198 acres, 13 miles SE of Colville — hunting allowed with a free refuge permit for deer, elk, bear, turkey, and upland birds Sept 1–Dec 31). The primary access corridor is Aladdin Road running north from SR-20 east of Colville toward Northport; SR-25 parallels the Columbia River along the western edge. A network of maintained Forest Service and DNR gravel roads provides dispersed vehicle access into the interior. Private timberland and agricultural land are interspersed; landowner permission required. Mountain bikes are popular for penetrating gated timber company roads. CWD regulations (WAC 220-413-030) require all harvested deer, elk, and moose in 100-series GMUs to be tested; whole carcasses cannot be transported out of the region — only deboned meat, clean skulls, and taxidermy mounts.

Lower elevations (1,400–3,000 ft): open ponderosa pine parklands, riparian cottonwood/alder corridors, and brushy clearcut regeneration providing high deer forage. Mid elevations (3,000–4,500 ft): dense mixed conifer with western larch, Douglas fir, and grand fir; shrub understory of serviceberry, huckleberry, and snowbrush provides food and cover. Upper elevations (4,500–5,200 ft): subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce; important summer range for elk. Clearcuts and forest openings at all elevations concentrate deer and elk feeding activity especially in early morning and evening.

White-tailed deer are year-round residents distributed throughout the unit at all elevations. Pre-rut and rut activity (late October through late December) concentrate bucks along forest edges, creek drainages, and agricultural interfaces. Elk from the Pend Oreille sub-herd are present but widely scattered in small groups in the dense forest interior; they are less pressured than other units and thus less wary. Elk tend to use mid-elevation benches and south-facing slopes in fall before dropping to river corridor wintering areas. Black bear are active spring through fall, focusing on berry patches and riparian zones. Turkey are found in ponderosa pine and oak zones at lower to mid elevations near Colville.

GMU 111 ranked among the top three rifle deer units in District 1 over multiple recent years (alongside GMU 105 Kelly Hill and GMU 108 Huckleberry). Deer hunting pressure is moderate-high with 1,000+ modern-firearm hunters; elk pressure is lower at ~274 hunters in 2024. The unit offers general over-the-counter tags for both deer and elk — no draw required. CWD surveillance is active in the 100-series region; five cases were confirmed in Washington in 2024 (none yet in District 1 as of reporting). Little Pend Oreille NWR is located southeast of Colville and falls within or adjacent to GMU 111 boundaries, providing 40,000+ acres of managed public hunting with free permit access.