GMU 342 Umtanum
Yakima Canyon breaks — shrub-steppe mule deer, Yakima-herd elk, and the state's premier bighorn ground
WDFW Region 3 — South Central (District 8, Yakima/Kittitas) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
302
sq mi
Public land
65%
approx.
Elevation
1,300–5,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 342 straddles Umtanum Ridge and the Yakima River Canyon on the east slope of the Cascades, a mosaic of shrub-steppe, canyon breaks, and ponderosa-pine benches. It is one of District 8's top mule deer units by hunter numbers and holds Yakima elk-herd animals that shift onto winter range here. The unit also anchors the Selah/Umtanum bighorn sheep population — District 8 is home to more than 70 percent of Washington's bighorns — though sheep are strictly once-in-a-lifetime permit hunts and the local ram herd has been depressed by Movi (Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae).
Terrain
Deep Yakima River Canyon walls climb to Umtanum Ridge and the Manastash/Baldy breaks. Steep, dry, broken country with basalt rims, draws, and grassy benches.
Cover: Bunchgrass and sagebrush shrub-steppe on the lower canyon and south slopes, bitterbrush and antelope brush on benches, transitioning to open ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir stringers on north aspects and higher ridges.
Landmarks: Yakima River Canyon (Hwy 821) · Umtanum Ridge · Umtanum Creek · Selah Butte · Manastash Ridge (north boundary)
Access
Large blocks of public land dominate via the L.T. Murray and Wenas wildlife areas, DNR, and BLM parcels, but motorized travel is governed by the WDFW/DNR cooperative Green Dot road system: only roads marked with a round green reflector on a white marker are open to vehicles, and everything else is walk-in. Print or download Green Dot maps before you go (available at the Yakima regional office, wildlife-area HQs, and DNR Ellensburg). Private ranch inholdings along the canyon floor and lower creeks require permission.
Managers: WDFW L.T. Murray Wildlife Area, WDFW Wenas Wildlife Area, WA DNR, BLM, Private ranch/ag
Access points: Yakima River Canyon Rd / Hwy 821 pullouts and BLM sites · Umtanum Creek Recreation Area · Wenas Wildlife Area (Wenas Rd / Sheep Company Rd) · L.T. Murray access from Manastash and Umtanum Rd · Durr Rd / Umtanum Rd off Ellensburg
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityOne of District 8's highest deer-hunter GMUs; a general-season migratory mule deer unit where bucks are spread thin across big shrub-steppe country. Late-season migration and rut concentrate deer on winter range.
- →Glass canyon breaks and bitterbrush benches at first and last light from the rims
- →Hunt north-slope pine stringers where bucks bed off the open faces
- →Cover ground and use optics — density is low, so mileage and glassing beat still-hunting
- →Late general and any late migratory hunts pay off after the first snows push deer down to the canyon
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityPart of the Yakima elk herd (>10,000 animals over ~900,000 acres). Elk use 342 heavily as fall/winter range; bull opportunity is largely special-permit driven and competition for tags is stiff.
- →Focus timbered north-slope pockets and heads of draws where elk hold off the open shrub-steppe
- →Watch the transition zones as snow pushes herds down onto winter range
- →E-scout Green Dot roads to plan legal vehicle access, then hunt away from the roads on foot
- →Cross-reference antlerless/permit areas — general bull opportunity is limited here
Bighorn Sheep
common trophyCore of the Selah/Umtanum population, part of the largest bighorn concentration in Washington. Hunting is once-in-a-lifetime permit only and rams have been suppressed by Movi pneumonia — but the herd is highly visible along the canyon.
- →Bighorns are routinely viewed along Hwy 821 in the Yakima River Canyon
- →A drawn ram tag means glassing the canyon rims during the mid-Oct to Nov rut
- →Treat this as a bucket-list draw, not a general-season opportunity
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear are present at low density in the timbered upper draws and pine benches, more incidental than a primary target in this dry unit.
- →Hunt the wetter north-slope timber and creek heads
- →Glass green draws and old burns for feeding bears in early fall
Cougar
common opportunityHealthy cougar numbers follow the deer and elk concentrations through the canyon breaks.
- →Cut tracks in snow along canyon rims and game trails
- →Hunt near winter deer concentrations
Pro tips
- →Download the Green Dot map before opening day — the wildlife-area road network is closed except for green-reflector routes, and rangers enforce it
- →This is glassing country: earn distance from Green Dot roads on foot and let optics do the work across the breaks
- →Time serious effort for late migratory windows after snow, not the hot early general season
- →Scout burned areas from the Black Canyon Fire for fresh browse pulling deer and elk
- →Bighorns along Hwy 821 are a viewing spectacle, not a general hunt — plan sheep around a lifetime draw only
Watch out for
- !Green Dot enforcement — driving a non-green road on the wildlife areas is a ticket
- !Private ranch and ag inholdings along the canyon floor and lower creeks; verify boundaries with the WDFW Hunt Planner map
- !Wildfire closures and burn scars (Black Canyon Fire) can shut roads and change where animals are
- !Very dry, steep terrain with limited water — plan for it
- !Heavy shared use with ATV/ORV riders, anglers, and hikers in the Yakima Canyon corridor
Logistics
I-90 (Ellensburg) and I-82/Hwy 821 (Yakima Canyon) frame the unit; Yakima and Ellensburg supply fuel, lodging, and services. Dispersed camping on wildlife-area and BLM ground; carry water — this is dry country. Cell coverage is decent near the highways and drops in the canyons.
Nearest towns: Yakima, Selah, Ellensburg, Naches
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: 2024 District 8 Hunting Prospects (Yakima & Kittitas Counties), WDFW · WDFW Game Management Units · WDFW Wenas Wildlife Area Unit
FAQ
- How big is GMU 342 in Washington?
- GMU 342 (Umtanum) covers about 302 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,300 to 5,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 342?
- Approximately 65% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: WDFW L.T. Murray Wildlife Area, WDFW Wenas Wildlife Area, WA DNR, BLM, Private ranch/ag. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 342?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 342 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.