GMU 251 - Mission, Washington

Elevation ranges from 600 ft along the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers to 7,000 ft in the Chiwaukum Mountains and Tronsen Ridge. The western and northern portions are dominated by dense conifer forest (Douglas fir, grand fir, ponderosa pine) with heavy canopy on north-facing slopes and brushy buckbrush on south faces. Moving east and southeast, timber becomes patchy on north slopes only while south-facing slopes transition to open rangeland, rolling shrub-steppe, sagebrush, and native bunchgrasses — prime mule deer and elk winter range. The Colockum Wildlife Area (88,296 acres) anchors the southeast corner near the Columbia River and hosts a classic shrub-steppe to ponderosa pine transition. Key hunting areas include Jump Off Ridge, Camas Meadows, and Tronsen Meadows.

Northern access to the Colockum section via Tarpiscan Road and Colockum Road off the Malaga/Alcoa Highway (US-97). Southern access via Old Vantage Highway and Colockum Pass Road. All Colockum roads are primitive — high-clearance 4WD recommended. Leavenworth and Icicle Creek Road provide western access into Wenatchee National Forest. Naneum Ridge Road and Ingersol Road bisect the central portion and define the boundary between Elk Areas 2051 and 2032. A significant share of BLM parcels are landlocked within private land, requiring advance landowner contact or careful map review to avoid trespass.

Lower elevations (600–2,500 ft): sagebrush, native bunchgrass (bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue), antelope bitterbrush, and invasive cheatgrass. Mid elevations (2,500–4,500 ft): ponderosa pine parklands, buckbrush, and Gambel oak patches on south slopes; Douglas fir on north slopes. Upper elevations (4,500–7,000 ft): grand fir, subalpine fir, and subalpine meadows. Multiple wildfire scars across the unit have created brushy regeneration habitat that concentrates both deer and elk during summer and early fall.

Mule deer are largely migratory: a small resident population holds year-round, but the bulk move into the unit from higher Cascade and Okanogan elevations after heavy early snowfall — timing varies year to year. Elk from the Colockum herd winter on the shrub-steppe and lower benches, with rut activity occurring in Camas and Tronsen Meadows during September. A late cow elk season near Peshastin has been used periodically to reduce orchard depredation conflicts on adjacent private land.

General elk hunting in GMU 251 is spike-bull only (true spike — no branching more than 4 inches from base on either antler), a deliberate WDFW management strategy for the Colockum herd. In a typical year, roughly 40–55 elk are harvested during the general firearm season, with most coming from the Colockum Wildlife Area portion of the unit. Deer hunting uses archery and muzzleloader only — there is no modern firearm general deer season in GMU 251; hunters targeting mule deer must use archery or muzzleloader and meet the 3-point minimum. The unit spans parts of Chelan, Kittitas, Douglas, and King counties. Portions of the greater region overlap Yakama Nation ceded territory — hunters should verify tribal regulations with WDFW and the Yakama Nation for specific parcels. Washington is a bonus-point draw state; limited-entry quality deer permits exist for GMU 251 offering optimal rut-timing dates. Black bear and mountain lion are present year-round.