GMU 247 - Entiat, Washington

The unit spans roughly 225 square miles from the Columbia River confluence (710 ft elevation) north through the lower Entiat River canyon to the forested Chelan Mountains, topping out near 6,400 ft. The southern third is classic Columbia Basin shrub-steppe — open bunchgrass, sage, and bitterbrush on steep basalt breaks. Mid-elevations (2,000–4,500 ft) transition through open ponderosa pine parkland and brushy draws loaded with buckbrush, antelope bitterbrush, and serviceberry — prime mule deer forage and thermal cover. Upper portions reach denser mixed conifer (Douglas-fir, Engelmann spruce) along tributary drainages. The Entiat River corridor provides riparian cottonwood and willow habitat. Slope is consistently steep; approximately 80% of the unit has grades of 33 degrees or less, but huntable terrain is physically demanding.

Roughly 75% of the unit is public land. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Entiat Ranger District, HQ in Entiat) dominates the mid and upper elevations. The 8,906-acre Entiat Wildlife Area Unit (shared with GMU 250) lies approximately 9 miles south of Chelan, accessed via Knowles Road and Osburn Canyon Road North off Highway 97A. Oklahoma Gulch Road is closed by Chelan County November 15–March 15; Knowles access road closes January 30–May 15. Chelan Wildlife Area (30,874 acres spanning Chelan and Okanogan counties) overlaps portions of the southern unit. BLM and Washington DNR parcels fill small blocks in the shrub-steppe zone. The remaining ~25% is private — mostly orchards, ranchland, and residential properties along the Entiat River valley floor and Highway 97A corridor. A Discover Pass is required at the WDFW wildlife area unless the hunter holds a Vehicle Access Pass.

Shrub-steppe (sagebrush, bunchgrass) dominates the lower Columbia River breaks below 2,500 ft. Buckbrush (Ceanothus), antelope bitterbrush, and serviceberry thickets are dense in mid-elevation draws and provide prime mule deer forage and security cover. Open ponderosa pine parkland occupies south-facing slopes at 2,500–4,500 ft, transitioning to Douglas-fir, grand fir, and Engelmann spruce on north aspects and at higher elevations. Riparian corridors support black cottonwood, alder, and willow. Much of the upper unit was affected by wildfires over the past two decades, creating a mosaic of old-burn brushfields and recovering conifer regeneration — excellent early successional mule deer habitat.

The Chelan County mule deer herd is predominantly migratory. Does and fawns begin dropping from summer range in the Glacier Peak Wilderness and Chelan Mountains in early fall, followed by younger bucks, with mature dominant bucks typically last to descend — often not moving to huntable terrain until the rut kicks in (late October through December). The lower Entiat drainage and Columbia River breaks are critical high-use winter range for this herd. Hunting success is highly weather-dependent: early-season deer remain above accessible terrain, and a significant snowfall event is often required to push mature bucks into the open lower country. In 2024 surveys, buck-to-doe ratio was 29:100 (above the 25:100 management goal), though hunters reported fewer total deer sightings due to poor migration timing. Elk are present in very low numbers — considered incidental; hunting success for elk is extremely low. White-tailed deer are sparse and largely restricted to riparian corridors along the Entiat River.

GMU 247 consistently produces the highest deer harvest total among all District 7 units (Chelan and Douglas counties). Success is weather-driven — monitor fall snowfall forecasts for the Chelan Mountains and Entiat drainages. The rut typically runs late October through late December; hunting improves significantly in November as bucks become more active. No elk special permits are offered for GMU 247; elk hunting is incidental on the general deer tag. Quality deer special permit hunts (Hunt 1033: 15 permits, modern firearm Nov 1–20, any buck; Hunt 1078: 30 permits, archery Nov 21–30, any buck) provide late-season rut hunting opportunities. Washington uses a pure random draw with no preference point system. Historical context: 2011 data showed 1,400 hunters / 128 deer / 9% success — consistent with the 2024 figure, indicating a stable but modest success rate. Primitive camping allowed on National Forest; fire bans and road closures are common mid-season — verify before trips. Nearest services: Chelan and Entiat.