GMU 105 Kelly Hill
Whitetail country between the Kettle and Columbia rivers — Colville NF up north, industrial timber down south
WDFW Region 1 — Northeastern Washington (District 1) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
294
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
1,290–5,600
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 105 (Kelly Hill) fills the block of northern Stevens County bounded by the Kettle River on the west, Lake Roosevelt (the Columbia) on the south and east, and the Canadian border near Laurier on the north. It is classic northeast Washington whitetail habitat, posting a roughly 31 percent three-year deer success rate — among the district's best. The northern portion is Colville National Forest; the southern and eastern portions are private industrial timber (Manulife, formerly Hancock) and other private land. Road access is good throughout.
Terrain
Rolling forested hill country between two major river valleys, rising from Lake Roosevelt's normal pool near 1,290 ft to timbered ridges and knobs in the 4,000-5,600 ft range toward the national forest in the north.
Cover: Dense ponderosa pine and mixed Douglas-fir / larch conifer with brushy draws, active and regenerating timber cuts, and agricultural pockets along the river bottoms — the ponderosa-and-mixed-conifer mosaic that holds northeast Washington's heavy whitetail densities.
Landmarks: Kettle River (west boundary) · Lake Roosevelt / Columbia River (south and east boundary) · Kelly Hill · Boyds · Laurier border crossing
Access
WDFW rates road access as good throughout the unit. The northern portion is Colville National Forest with open public access; the southern portion is largely industrial timber company ground (mainly Manulife, formerly Hancock Forest Management) plus other private land, and the eastern portion also carries private timber ownership. Industrial timberland access follows company rules — expect walk-in and non-motorized restrictions, seasonal gates, and permit/registration programs on some blocks. WDFW recommends a Colville National Forest map.
Managers: USFS Colville National Forest, Manulife (Hancock Forest Management), Private timber, Private, WDNR
Access points: US-395 corridor along the east side (Kettle Falls, Boyds) · Kettle River Road (west side) · Boulder-Deer Creek and Colville NF roads in the north · Northport-Boundary access from the northeast
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
abundant qualityWhitetail are the headline here. Kelly Hill runs a roughly 31.4% three-year average deer success rate — one of District 1's top units — driven by dense whitetail in the ponderosa and mixed conifer. All District 1 GMUs offer good whitetail opportunity, and 105 is a standout.
- →Hunt the edge between timber cuts and standing conifer, and the brushy draws between them
- →Field edges and river-bottom ag pockets pull deer at first and last light
- →The November rut is the prime window — rattle and still-hunt the thick cover
- →Focus firepower on the Colville NF north end for open access; scout timber-company blocks for walk-in programs before the season
Mule Deer
limited opportunityMule deer occur in smaller numbers at higher elevations in the northern national forest portion, but this is a whitetail-dominated unit; treat muleys as a bonus rather than the target.
- →Push higher into the Colville NF ridges for the occasional mule deer
- →Glass open timbered slopes and cut edges up north
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are common in the forested north end and timber-company cuts, feeding heavily in berry country and regenerating clearcuts through the fall.
- →Glass green-up in old cuts and huckleberry patches
- →Hunt logging-road edges early and late
- →Bait and ungulate-derived scent are banned in the 100-series GMUs under CWD rules
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited lowElk are marginal in Kelly Hill; the district's better elk hunting lies east in the Pend Oreille sub-herd units. Expect scattered animals only.
- →Treat as incidental while deer hunting
- →Check timbered basins away from roads
Cougar
common opportunityCougars follow the heavy whitetail herds throughout the unit.
- →Fresh snow aids tracking late season
- →Hunt near deer concentrations and travel corridors
Pro tips
- →This is a top-tier general-season whitetail unit — plan around the November rut for mature bucks
- →Split your strategy by ownership: open Colville NF up north versus permission/walk-in timber blocks (Manulife/Hancock) down south
- →Scout the cut-to-standing-timber edges; that transition is where whitetail feed and bed
- →Contact the timber companies before the season to learn current gate status and any walk-in/registration access on the south and east ownerships
- →CWD rules apply to the 100-series: no bait, no ungulate-derived scent, and possible mandatory testing for successful hunters
Watch out for
- !Large industrial timber holdings in the south and east — access is by company rule; don't assume the whole unit is open despite good roads
- !Locked or seasonal gates on timber-company ground can strand a planned hunt
- !Private ag and rural residential along the river bottoms — respect boundaries and get permission
- !CWD surveillance zone: bait ban, scent ban, and possible mandatory sample submission
Logistics
Kettle Falls, on US-395 at the southeast corner, is the primary supply town for fuel, groceries and lodging; Colville is a short drive south. Dispersed camping is available on the Colville National Forest in the north; the south end is largely private and requires knowing where you can legally camp. Cell coverage is limited off the highway.
Nearest towns: Kettle Falls, Boyds, Northport, Orient, Colville
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW 2024 District 1 Hunting Prospects · WDFW Game Management Units · WDFW GMU 105 boundary description · NW Sportsman — CWD rules for Spokane-area 100-series GMUs
FAQ
- How big is GMU 105 in Washington?
- GMU 105 (Kelly Hill) covers about 294 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,290 to 5,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 105?
- Approximately 45% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Colville National Forest, Manulife (Hancock Forest Management), Private timber, Private, WDNR. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 105?
- Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Rocky Mountain Elk, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 105 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.