Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
LINCOLN COUNTY—Fall hunting season is in full swing for many species, while many begin in the coming weeks. Lincoln County hunting prospects are down for some animals, specifically white-tailed deer, but look solid for turkey and mule deer.
The county has land in Game Management Units (GMU)130, 133 and 136, with 133 and 136 being almost entirely Lincoln County.
GMU 133, the “Roosevelt” unit, has an eastern boundary of Highway 231 up to the Spokane River. To the north, it travels from the Spokane River on the Lincoln County side to the confluence of Lake Roosevelt and west to Grand Coulee.
The unit covers all land north of Reardan and Davenport with a southern boundary that follows Highway 2 to Wilbur. The boundary then angles northwest along Highway 174 to Grand Coulee, leaving 133 to cover all land east of that line.
GMU 136, the “Harrington” unit, has an eastern boundary along Highway 231 south of Reardan, through Edwall and ends at Sprague. It travels south along the Lincoln/Adams County line, and west through Krupp and Almira. The unit also scoops up the land west of Wilbur to Almira where 133 branches up Highway 174. All land south of Highway 2 between Davenport and Wilbur is GMU 136.
GMU 130, the “Cheney” unit, covers the remaining land in Lincoln County east of Highway 231 into Spokane County.
Below is a summary of various hunting options this fall, with some commentary.
White-tailed deer
White-tails are dropping like flies due to bluetongue and EHD, so hunting prospects are slim. Those who might get lucky with a white-tail are more likely to find the deer in GMU 133 toward Lake Roosevelt, but hunters haven’t been very successful.
“I don’t know about very many successes,” Davenport Sporting Goods owner Kevin Hupp said. “A lot of the deer are dead…we’ll see how many pity parties will be thrown around the store Saturday morning.”
White-tail season for modern firearm runs from Oct. 16-26 with a three-point minimum. A youth white-tail hunt runs Oct. 23-26, with a three-point minimum or antlerless restriction.
“The numbers are down dramatically,” Fish and Wildlife officer Curt Wood said. “They might be as low as I’ve ever seen them.”
Mule deer
Mule deer prospects appear much more favorable, according to Wood.
“The sage brush country should be pretty good for the mule deer,” he said. “The south and south- central part of the county would be best, with maybe an occasional white-tail down there.”
Mule deer hunting carries the same dates and restrictions as white-tailed deer.
Wild turkey
Wild turkey season has already begun, and numbers are expected to be high, which is typical to Lincoln County.
“People have been coming into the store for extra turkey tags, like usual,” Hupp said.
Turkey season started Sept. 1 and runs through Dec. 31 with a two beardless and two either-sex limit.
Other hunts
Several other hunting seasons have either become or are upcoming. Here are the dates and guidelines for Lincoln County hunts.
Modern firearm elk: Oct. 30-Nov. 7, any elk. Dec. 9-31 in GMU 130, master hunters only, antlerless only.
Black bear: Aug. 1-Nov. 15. Two bear bag limit.
Cougar: Sept. 1-Dec. 1 for early season, Jan. 1-Apr. 30 or when harvest guideline is reached for late season. One cat limit.
Forest grouse: Sept. 15-Jan. 15. Four grouse per day limit, 12 grouse possession limit.
Pheasant: Oct. 23-Jan. 17. 3 cock bag limit, 14 cock possession limit.
California quail and Northern Bobwhite: Oct. 2-Jan. 17. 10 mixed bag limit, 30 mixed bag possession limit.
Gray partridge: Oct. 2-Jan. 17. Six chukar and six gray bag limit, 12 chukar and 12 gray possession limit.
Chukar: Oct. 2-Jan. 31. Same limits as gray partridge.
Crow: Sept. 1-Dec. 31. No limit.
Duck: Oct. 16-24 and Oct. 27-30, except scaup which is closed Oct. 16-Nov. 5. Seven daily bag limit, 21 possession limit.
Coot: Same dates as duck. 25 daily bag limit, 75 possession limit.
Snipe: Same dates as duck. Eight daily bag limit, 24 possession limit.
Mourning dove: Sept. 1-Oct. 30. 15 daily bag limit, 45 possession limit.
Bobcat: Sept. 1-March 15. No limit. Pelts must be sealed. No dog hunting.
Fox: Sept. 1-March 15. No limit.
Racoon: Sept. 1-March 15. No limit. No dog hunting in Oct. or Nov.
Coyote: Year-round. No limit. No dog hunting.
Cottontail and Snowshoe Hare: Sept. 1-March 15. Five mixed bag daily limit, 15 mixed bag possession limit.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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