GMU 368 - Cowiche, Washington

Rolling foothills and broken canyon country on the eastern slopes of the Cascades transitioning to open shrubsteppe and rangeland east toward Yakima. Elevation spans roughly 1,800–6,000 ft. The western tip holds heavily dissected conifer forest along multiple drainages (South Fork Cowiche Creek, Middle Fork Ahtanum, North Fork Ahtanum). Moving east the terrain opens into oak woodland, shrubsteppe, and agricultural edge. Slopes are steep — roughly 80% of the Cowiche Wildlife Area unit has slope equal to or less than 22 degrees. The Yakama Nation Reservation runs the entire southern border; the Naches and Tieton rivers bound the northwest.

Approximately 38% public land. Major public blocks: (1) Ahtanum State Forest — 75,000+ acres of DNR-managed timber land in the western third, accessed via A-2000 (Middle Fork Road, one-lane gravel), A-3000 (North Fork Ahtanum Road), and the Green Dot Road system; supports camping, OHV, and dispersed hunting. (2) Cowiche Wildlife Area Unit (WDFW) — 12,609 acres, 11 miles west of Yakima, accessed via Cowiche Mill Road; walk-in and horseback only, no motorized vehicles. Discover Pass required. Seasonal closure south of Cowiche Mill Road from winter feeding start through May 1. (3) Oak Creek Wildlife Area — 40,922 acres spanning GMUs 360/364/368, visitor center at 16601 US-12, Naches; major winter elk feeding program. (4) Small BLM parcels near urban fringe east of the forest block. Remainder is private agricultural and ranch land with limited trespass access.

Eastern portion: shrubsteppe dominated by bitterbrush, sagebrush, and bunchgrass with riparian corridors along Cowiche Creek and its tributaries supporting spawning steelhead. Mid-elevations: Garry oak woodland and mixed shrub. Western conifer belt: ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir with broken ridge-and-draw topography. The Cowiche Wildlife Area is noted for its pristine shrubsteppe plant community.

Mule deer are resident year-round but highly mobile under hunting pressure — animals can shift miles overnight when disturbed. Elk use Ahtanum State Forest and Oak Creek drainages seasonally, moving to lower elevation winter range (Oak Creek/Cowiche feeding sites at Sunset, Stinson, and West Valley) by November. Rut for mule deer begins as early as late October and runs through late December. Bighorn sheep present in Oak Creek unit portion of GMU.

High hunting pressure throughout Ahtanum State Forest's extensive trail network makes it difficult to find solitude opening weekend — pressure drops sharply after opening days, which can improve hunting. The Cowiche Wildlife Area unit's walk-in-only rule filters out casual pressure. No modern firearm general deer season appears to be offered in GMU 368 under current regs — hunters are limited to archery and muzzleloader deer tags (all OTC). Elk general season (modern firearm, spike bull) is OTC. The Yakama Nation southern border is strictly off-limits to non-tribal hunters. Ahtanum State Forest Eagle's Nest Vista closed as of June 2026 for hazard tree work.