GMU 239 Chiliwist
Carlton Complex burn country between the Methow and the Okanogan — a big, public unit still rebuilding a thin mule deer herd, best as a late-season winter-range hunt.
WDFW Region 2 — Okanogan / North Central (District 6) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
362
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
800–6,800
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 239 (Chiliwist) is a large (~362 sq mi) District 6 unit spanning the ridges and drainages between the Methow River valley and the Okanogan River south of Loup Loup Pass, in Okanogan County. It burned heavily in the 2014 Carlton Complex — the largest wildfire in state history at the time — and WDFW has since managed the local herds (GMUs 224/239/242) for a stable-to-slightly-decreasing population in response to the landscape's reduced carrying capacity. Deer numbers here run low even on private land, so temper expectations. The upside is access: this is predominantly public and mule deer country, with the Chiliwist Unit of the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, the Texas Creek Unit of the Methow Wildlife Area, adjacent WDNR land, and Okanogan National Forest all in play. The south-facing slopes of the Chiliwist provide excellent mule deer winter range, so the unit fishes best late when migratory deer drop in. Whitetails are a minor bonus in the wetter west and the South Summit; elk are nearly absent.
Terrain
Rugged east-slope Cascade foothills rising from the Methow and Okanogan river valleys (~800-1,000 ft) through steep, sun-baked south faces and creek drainages into Okanogan National Forest timber and open ridges toward Leecher Mountain and the South Summit country near Loup Loup Pass. South-facing slopes of the Chiliwist form key mule deer winter range.
Cover: Shrubsteppe and bitterbrush on the low south faces and river benches grading into ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and mixed conifer up high. The 2014 Carlton Complex reworked much of the unit; the winter range has recovered significantly and burn scars now produce good summer forage, though total carrying capacity is still reduced.
Landmarks: Chiliwist Unit — Sinlahekin Wildlife Area (south-facing winter range) · Texas Creek Unit — Methow Wildlife Area · Loup Loup Pass / Loup Loup Summit · Leecher Mountain / South Summit · Finley, Benson & Texas creeks · Methow River (west) and Okanogan River (east) valleys · 2014 Carlton Complex burn scar
Access
This is a mostly public unit with large accessible blocks — WDFW's recommended starting points are the Texas Creek Unit of the Methow Wildlife Area and the Chiliwist Unit of the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, along with adjacent WDNR land; the upper portions of Finley, Benson and Texas creeks on the Okanogan National Forest are also worth a look. Whitetail hunters are pointed to the South Summit area between Loup Loup Pass and Leecher Mountain and the wetter western part of the Chiliwist unit. Discover Pass required on WDFW and WDNR lands. Lower-valley farm and ranch ground is private; second-deer Deer Area permits (2012-2016 series) are valid on private land only and require you to arrange landowner access yourself.
Managers: WDFW (Sinlahekin/Chiliwist & Methow/Texas Creek Wildlife Areas), USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, WDNR, BLM, Private agriculture / ranch
Access points: Loup Loup Pass corridor (SR-20) / South Summit roads · Texas Creek drainage (Methow Wildlife Area) · Chiliwist Creek / Chiliwist Unit access from the Methow-Okanogan divide · Finley and Benson creek roads on the Okanogan NF · US-97 / Malott on the Okanogan River side
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityChiliwist is predominantly mule deer country but the herd is thin — WDFW describes deer numbers as extremely low even on private land following the Carlton Complex fire, and manages for a stable-to-slightly-decreasing population. The hunt is a late-season winter-range play: migratory mule deer move onto the excellent south-facing slopes of the Chiliwist Wildlife Area as snow accumulates in the high country. Expect to work for a buck.
- →Hunt late and target the south-facing Chiliwist winter-range slopes once snow pushes deer down
- →Glass burn regrowth and open faces at first and last light, then still-hunt shaded draws mid-day
- →Check the Texas Creek Unit of the Methow WA and adjacent DNR ground WDFW recommends
- →Cover a lot of country — densities are low, so mobility and glassing beat sitting one spot
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetails are a secondary opportunity, found on Okanogan National Forest land in the South Summit area between Loup Loup Pass and Leecher Mountain and in the wetter western portion of the Chiliwist unit and adjacent DNR lands. They favor brushier, denser cover at lower and middle elevations near riparian drainages.
- →Work brushy riparian drainages and edge habitat where thick cover meets openings
- →Sit game trails and forest edges from a blind or stand at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt the South Summit conifer between Loup Loup Pass and Leecher Mountain
- →Try the wetter western Chiliwist and adjacent DNR land
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are reasonably abundant and well-distributed through District 6, with western Okanogan County densities around 22 bears per 100 sq km. Eastern Washington allows a two-bear limit and district harvest has risen since that change.
- →Glass old burns, berry patches and regenerating cuts in late summer and early fall
- →Hunt forest-road and meadow edges where bears feed on grasses and forbs
- →Focus on the higher conifer and creek bottoms of the Okanogan NF portion
Cougar
common opportunityThe district cougar population is healthy and dispersed, following the deer. Cats spread through the unit into late October and drop to lower elevations as deer shift to winter range; harvest is managed by GMU-scale guideline.
- →Track in fresh snow near the Chiliwist deer winter range
- →Hunt low benches once deer concentrate there in late season
- →Glass at first light — most cougar movement is nocturnal
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited lowElk are effectively absent west of the Okanogan River, where WDFW manages to minimize agricultural damage. Hunters took only six elk across all nine western Okanogan County GMUs combined in 2023. Do not plan around elk here.
- →Treat any elk as a rare incidental while deer hunting
- →The district's only real elk are far to the east in GMU 204
Pro tips
- →Set expectations — this is post-Carlton-Complex country with low deer density; success takes effort and miles
- →Play the migration: the south-facing Chiliwist slopes are excellent winter range and hunt best after the first real high-country snow
- →Lean on the public blocks WDFW names — Texas Creek (Methow WA), Chiliwist (Sinlahekin WA) and adjacent DNR land
- →For whitetails, work the South Summit conifer between Loup Loup Pass and Leecher Mountain
- →Carry a Discover Pass and a current Okanogan-Wenatchee NF map; check fire/road closures before you go
Watch out for
- !Deer densities are genuinely low even on private land — this unit rewards effort, not a casual weekend
- !Second-deer Deer Area permits (2012-2016 series) are valid on PRIVATE LAND ONLY and you must secure landowner access yourself
- !Recurring wildfire and access/road closures — check InciWeb, Watch Duty and the national forest before traveling
- !Late-season snow closes higher roads; carry chains
- !Steep, dry south faces and burn-scar deadfall make for hard, hazardous footing
Logistics
Twisp on the Methow side (SR-20) and Okanogan/Malott on the US-97 side bracket the unit for fuel, groceries and lodging; Loup Loup Pass on SR-20 links them across the middle of the GMU. Camping is available on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and WDNR ground and at Loup Loup. Cell service is spotty off the highway corridors.
Nearest towns: Twisp, Malott, Okanogan, Carlton, Winthrop
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW 2024 District 6 Hunting Prospects (Okanogan County) · WDFW 2022 District 6 Hunting Prospects (Carlton Complex management note) · WDFW Game Management Units
FAQ
- How big is GMU 239 in Washington?
- GMU 239 (Chiliwist) covers about 362 square miles, ranging from roughly 800 to 6,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 239?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: WDFW (Sinlahekin/Chiliwist & Methow/Texas Creek Wildlife Areas), USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, WDNR, BLM, Private agriculture / ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 239?
- Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Cougar, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 239 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.