GMU 145 - Mayview, Washington

359 square miles of Snake River Breaks and Palouse agricultural uplands in southeastern Washington (Garfield/Asotin/Columbia county corridor). Elevation ranges 900–2,600 ft. The western portion is flat-to-gently-rolling Palouse dryland wheat and grain fields with native bunch grass remnants on steeper draws. Moving east toward the Snake River, terrain drops dramatically — up to 1,600 vertical feet in under 800 yards — into deep basalt canyon walls and riparian breaks. The eastern canyon rim holds scattered ponderosa pine and bunchgrass. The unit is arid to semi-arid throughout; seasonal creeks cut the scabland edge. No national forest land within the unit; terrain is quintessential Palouse-to-canyon-break transition.

Approximately 3% public land — one of the most private-land-dominated units in Washington. No state wildlife areas or WDFW wildlife areas are located within the unit boundary. Primary public access is via the Snake River corridor: boat access north of Wawawai Landing (Whitman County) provides entry to riparian breaks. WDFW Private Lands Access Program (PLAP) may list enrolled properties; hunters should check privatelands.wdfw.wa.gov ahead of season. Whitman County and Army Corps of Engineers manage limited parcels along the river. No Colville NF or Umatilla NF presence in this unit.

Upper unit: Palouse Prairie remnants (Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass), largely converted to dryland wheat, barley, and canola. Draws and coulees: scattered serviceberry, hawthorn, wild rose, chokecherry — critical thermal and escape cover for deer. Canyon breaks: basalt talus, bunchgrass, big sagebrush, antelope bitterbrush, scattered ponderosa pine on north aspects. Riparian (Snake River): willow, cottonwood corridors used by turkey and whitetails. Overall very dry; water sources (stock tanks, seasonal creeks) concentrate wildlife.

White-tailed deer use the agricultural fields at night and shelter in draws, coulees, and canyon-rim timber during daylight. Mule deer concentrate in the steeper Snake River breaks year-round, with populations that have been tracking near peak and could decline with continued drought. Elk use is incidental and actively suppressed — the unit is managed to limit herd size due to crop damage complaints; the breeding season may pull bulls briefly from adjacent Peola (GMU 178). Turkey (spring) use creek-bottom riparian corridors. Black bear occasional in canyon breaks.

One of the highest deer hunter success rates in Washington state (~50% general season 2024). Private land access is the primary limiting factor — nearly all productive farmland and break country is privately owned. WDFW manages elk population downward here through antlerless permits and spike-only general season. Antlerless whitetail general tags have been curtailed for multiple seasons to rebuild numbers. 3-point minimum antler requirement for all deer (archery, general, muzzleloader). Wawawai Landing boat launch is the main public entry to river-bottom country. Draw odds for quality bull elk hunts (Hunt 2011 Peola: 1 permit, 67 apps; Hunt 2012: 1 permit, 58 apps) are extremely low — expect 1–2% odds. Antlerless elk permits (Hunt 2209: 10 permits, 129 apps) offer better odds (~8%). Deer special permits: Hunt 1203 buck (15 permits, ~494–513 apps, ~3% draw) and Hunt 1300 antlerless (15 permits, ~413–516 apps, ~3% draw).