Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
LINCOLN COUNTY – The crisp fall air is beginning to arrive, and with it comes hunting season. The hunt is well under way for many animals, while others are just about to start.
Lincoln County hunting areas fall under Game Management Units (GMU) 133, which is north of Highway 2, and 136, south of Highway 2. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife released hunting prospects specific to District 2, which GMU’s 133 and 136 fall into.
Hunting District 2 has seven GMU’s and covers Lincoln, Spokane and Whitman counties:
1. 124 (Mt. Spokane)
2. 127 (Mica Peak)
3. 130 (Cheney)
4. 133 (Roosevelt)
5. 136 (Harrington)
6. 139 (Steptoe)
7. 142 (Almota)
Most of District 2 is privately owned, but the WDFW and Bureau of Land Management own 60,000 acres in central Lincoln County. A specific map can be found on the BLM website.
Hunters are required to display a WDFW Vehicle Access Pass on these lands. The pass is free with a hunting or fishing license.
Below are hunting prospects specific to GMU’s 133 and 136, with some supplemental information about other GMU’s if necessary.
Elk
Success with elk has been higher in GMU 136 on private in recent years, and the more open terrain is better suited for muzzleloader and modern firearms. Hunter success in GMU 133 is typically low, and archery success in GMU 136 is also generally low. However, reports of 30-60 elk damaging crops have increased in GMU in the last five years along the river breaks.
The WDFW reported that the best success is typically on private land in GMU’s 127 and 130.
Early muzzleloader season starts Oct. 3.
Deer
White-tailed deer populations are down in District 2, so hunters will likely find more success with mule deer, especially in GMU 136. The terrain is better suited for muzzleloaders and firearms. White-tail success is more common in GMU’s 124 and 127.
Overall deer harvest declined in 2019 in GMU 133 after a slight rise in 2018.
Archery season for deer has passed, and early muzzleloader ends Oct. 4. General whitetail season begins Oct. 17 for any buck.
Bighorn Sheep
The main herd of bighorn sheep is called the Lincoln Cliffs Herd. It resides in GMU 133 in the cliffs outside Lincoln or Whitestone Rock, seven miles downriver on Lake Roosevelt and around Sterling Valley.
Only one ewe hunt will be offered in 2020, in the Whitestone unit. Hunting bighorn sheep requires a special permit. Harvest success has consistently been 100% for rams. The hunting area is almost entirely private property, so hunters will likely need permission to access the area they are seeking to hunt.
Cougar
There is no harvest guideline for GMU’s 133 and 136. Harvest has been steadily increasing the last six years, and is consistently higher in GMU 133. Harvest is typically very low in GMU 136.
Sightings are also up in GMU 133. Most hunts are accidental, with hunters stumbling upon the big cat while hunting deer or elk.
Black bear
GMU 133 has averaged six bears per year over the last 10 years, the WDFW reported. Bear hunting success is almost nonexistent in GMU 136.
While not known for bear hunting, the WDFW reported that District 2’s bear populations, particularly in forested areas of Lincoln and Spokane counties, are doing well.
Bear season runs until Nov. 15.
Pheasant
Most pheasant hunting occurs in Whitman County, as harvest tends to be three times higher than Lincoln and Spokane counties. Pheasant populations have been declining for the past three years.
Pheasant hunting land is mostly on private property.
Gray partridge
Harvest is expected to be consistently high, as has been the case in the last 10 years. GMU’s 136 and 133 tend to be successful, especially in and around agricultural fields.
Hunters are urged by the WDFW to use caution when hunting gray partridge in Lincoln County, as they look similar to sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse, both of which are on the State Listed species.
Forest grouse
The WDFW described the forest grouse population in District 2 as “low but stable.” The forested portions of GMU 133 see success. Most huntable grouse are ruffed grouse, but some dusky grouse are in GMU 133 as well.
Harvest numbers are low compared to an all-time average, but have stabilized in the last eight years, the WDFW reported.
Turkey
Turkey populations are doing extremely well across District 2. GMU 133 has better harvest success than GMU 136, but both are far behind GMU 124, which is by far the most successful hunting unit for the big bird.
GMU 136 has lower turkey populations than other units, but there are still hunting opportunities to be had. As with many other hunts, most turkey hunting land is privately owned.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
Reader Comments(0)