GMU 352 Nile
The Nile Valley — Yakima-herd elk winter range where national forest, DNR timber, and private ag collide
WDFW Region 3 — South Central (District 8, Yakima/Kittitas) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
109
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
1,700–6,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 352 wraps the Nile Valley and the lower Naches/Rattlesnake Creek country west of Naches, a compact unit that is prime winter range for the Yakima elk herd. It is a patchwork of Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on the high west side, WDNR and private timber, WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area on its southern flank, and privately owned valley bottom and ag land where elk cause chronic damage. WDFW runs a winter feeding site in the Nile (under a Forest Service MOU) to hold elk off private property, and the famous Oak Creek elk-feeding station sits just south — this is one of District 8's signature elk landscapes.
Terrain
The Naches River and Nile Valley floor rise steeply west and south into forested ridges and rocky breaks — Cleman Mountain, Bethel Ridge country, and the heads of Rattlesnake and Oak creeks.
Cover: Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir on the mid-slopes and north aspects, bitterbrush and bunchgrass on south-facing breaks and winter range, mixed conifer higher up, and irrigated ag/orchard on the valley bottom.
Landmarks: Nile Valley (Hwy 410) · Naches River · Rattlesnake Creek · Cleman Mountain · Oak Creek Wildlife Area (south) · Nile winter feeding site
Access
A genuine mixed-ownership unit: public national forest and DNR up high, the Oak Creek Wildlife Area on the south side (with Green Dot road management), and heavily private, posted valley bottom in the Nile where elk-damage tensions run high. On the wildlife-area ground, motorized travel follows the WDFW/DNR Green Dot system (green-reflector roads only). Respect posted private orchard and ranch land — get permission or stay on public/DNR parcels, and use the WDFW Hunt Planner map to sort the boundaries.
Managers: USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee NF (Naches RD), WDFW Oak Creek Wildlife Area, WA DNR, Private timber, Private ranch/ag (Nile Valley)
Access points: Hwy 410 through the Nile Valley · Oak Creek Wildlife Area access off Hwy 12 (Oak Creek visitor center, 6 mi W of Naches) · Rattlesnake Creek Rd / FS roads into the west-side timber · Bethel Ridge Rd (FR 1500) area · DNR and FS spur roads off the Naches corridor
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityCore Yakima-herd winter range — major elk concentrations occur in 352, which is exactly why WDFW operates the Nile feeding site and neighboring Oak Creek station to keep elk off private ag. General bull opportunity is limited and permit competition is heavy, but elk density is high.
- →Hunt the public forest and DNR ground uphill/west before elk pile onto private winter range and feed sites
- →Focus timbered north slopes and creek heads early, then transition zones as snow builds
- →Cross-reference antlerless/damage permit areas — much of the elk management here is permit- and damage-driven
- →Glass the breaks above the valley at first and last light and keep off the posted bottom
Mule Deer
common opportunityGeneral-season migratory mule deer use the breaks and bitterbrush winter range; bucks concentrate on lower slopes as snow pushes them out of the high timber.
- →Glass south-facing bitterbrush breaks and pine benches on the public west side
- →Hunt the timber-to-shrub transition on north aspects
- →Late migratory windows after snow move deer onto lower winter range
- →Stay on FS/DNR/wildlife-area ground and avoid the posted valley
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear inhabit the wetter west-side timber and creek drainages; a solid incidental-to-targeted opportunity in early fall.
- →Glass green draws, old cuts, and berry patches in the higher timber
- →Hunt Rattlesnake Creek and Oak Creek headwater bottoms
Cougar
common opportunityCougars follow the dense wintering deer and elk, making 352 reliable cat country.
- →Cut tracks after snow along the breaks and FS roads
- →Hunt near winter elk and deer concentrations
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyThe Cleman Mountain bighorn population ranges the north edge of this country and is readily viewed along Hwy 410; hunting is once-in-a-lifetime permit only and Movi has affected the herd.
- →Bighorns are viewable along Hwy 410 north of the Hwy 12 junction on Cleman Mountain
- →Treat sheep strictly as a lifetime draw, not a general hunt
Pro tips
- →Hunt the public west-side forest and DNR ground before elk shift onto the private, posted valley floor and feed sites
- →Sort ownership carefully with the WDFW Hunt Planner map — this unit is a true public/private checkerboard and the Nile is elk-damage sensitive
- →On Oak Creek Wildlife Area ground, obey the Green Dot road rules or expect a ticket
- →Time effort for snow-driven migration onto winter range, but hunt above the feed sites, not the closed ground around them
- →Cleman Mountain bighorns along Hwy 410 are a viewing draw only — sheep here are a lifetime permit
Watch out for
- !Extensive posted private orchard/ranch land on the Nile Valley floor — elk-damage friction makes trespass a real problem; get permission
- !Green Dot enforcement on Oak Creek Wildlife Area roads
- !Feeding-site and winter-range closures that concentrate elk on off-limits ground
- !Wildfire scars and closures in the surrounding drainages
- !Steep dry breaks with limited water on the winter range
Logistics
State Route 410 runs the length of the Nile Valley; Hwy 12 accesses Oak Creek to the south. Naches and Yakima provide fuel, lodging, and supplies. Camp on FS/DNR ground on the west side — valley bottom is private. Roads are generally good but the high west-side spurs can gate or snow shut. Cell service is fair along the highways, poor in the drainages.
Nearest towns: Naches, Nile, Yakima, Cliffdell
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 Oak Creek Wildlife Area Unit · WDFW Game Management Units
FAQ
- How big is GMU 352 in Washington?
- GMU 352 (Nile) covers about 109 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,700 to 6,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 352?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee NF (Naches RD), WDFW Oak Creek Wildlife Area, WA DNR, Private timber, Private ranch/ag (Nile Valley). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 352?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Cougar, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 352 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.