GMU 360 Bethel
Bethel Ridge and the Oak Creek feedground — winter range for the Yakima elk herd, scarred by the Retreat/Rimrock Fire
WDFW Region 3 — South Central (District 8, Yakima County) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
102
sq mi
Public land
75%
approx.
Elevation
2,000–6,700
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 360 (Bethel) is a compact unit north of the Tieton River and Rimrock Lake, built around Bethel Ridge and taking in much of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area — the famous winter feeding ground for the Yakima elk herd off US-12. Because it holds critical elk winter range and a WDFW feedground, it concentrates animals seasonally but is managed conservatively, and hunting happens up on the ridges and timber before elk pile onto the feedsite. The 2024 Retreat/Rimrock Fire burned more than 30,000 acres across GMU 360 and neighboring 364, reshaping forage, cover and access — a major variable hunters must scout. Deer are thin here (mule/blacktail mix under mule deer rules), while elk provide the best opportunity, with modern-firearm success in the district's better tier.
Terrain
A ridge-and-canyon unit rising off the Tieton and Naches river valleys near 2,000 ft to the long spine of Bethel Ridge, which tops out around 6,500-6,800 ft near Cash Prairie. Oak Creek and its tributaries cut steep, timbered draws down toward US-12.
Cover: Lower slopes are ponderosa pine, Oregon white oak and bitterbrush shrub-steppe on the sun-facing breaks; mid and upper elevations carry Douglas-fir and grand fir with subalpine fir near the ridgeline. Large portions now carry 2024 Retreat/Rimrock Fire burn — blackened timber giving way to early browse-producing regrowth.
Landmarks: Bethel Ridge · Oak Creek Wildlife Area · Oak Creek elk feeding station (US-12) · Tieton River · Rimrock Lake · Cash Prairie · Bethel Ridge Road (FR 1500)
Access
Public access is good but structured. The Oak Creek Wildlife Area, DNR and cooperating private lands here run on the Yakima/Kittitas 'Green Dot' system — only roads marked with a green reflector are open to motor vehicles, and seasonal closures protect wintering elk on and around the feedground. The main arteries are US-12 along the Tieton, Oak Creek Road (FR 1400) off US-12, and Bethel Ridge Road (FR 1500) climbing the spine to the national forest. Expect gates and winter-range closures, and expect fire-related road and area closures lingering from the 2024 Retreat/Rimrock burn. Green Dot maps are available at the Oak Creek Wildlife Area headquarters and the WDFW Yakima regional office.
Managers: WDFW Oak Creek Wildlife Area, USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Naches Ranger District), WDNR, Private
Access points: US-12 / Tieton River corridor · Oak Creek Road (FR 1400) off US-12 · Bethel Ridge Road (FR 1500) · Oak Creek Wildlife Area headquarters (US-12)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityBethel is winter range for the Yakima elk herd and encompasses the Oak Creek feedground, so it seasonally concentrates a lot of animals — but hunting happens before they settle onto the feedsite, up on Bethel Ridge and in the timbered draws. 2023 modern-firearm success was about 7.8% (multi-weapon ~10.6%), among the better rates in District 8. WDFW reported the season here as fairly good and consistent throughout.
- →Hunt Bethel Ridge and the timbered Oak Creek drainages early, before elk drop to winter range and the feedground
- →Focus on security cover in dense fir far from open Green Dot roads
- →Watch how the 2024 burn redistributed elk — new grass in the burn edges can pull animals to fresh openings
- →As snow deepens, elk shift toward protected winter range; time late hunts to that movement but respect feedground and winter-range closures
Mule Deer
limited opportunityDeer are sparse relative to elk — District 8's mule deer / mule-blacktail hybrid mix, hunted under mule deer rules. 2023 success was low (about 2% modern firearm, 6.8% muzzleloader). The 2024 fire hit deer habitat hard in the short term.
- →Hunt the oak-and-bitterbrush breaks and ponderosa edges on the lower slopes
- →Glass burn edges and regenerating openings where browse returns
- →Still-hunt timbered draws between the ridge and the river bottoms
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are common in the forested portions; 2023 saw 6 bears taken over ~1,200 hunter-days. WDFW ran hair-snare density monitoring in GMUs 352/356/360 in 2023 to refine the local population estimate.
- →Glass regenerating cuts, oak stands and berry patches in late summer
- →Hunt burn and cut edges where bears feed on early greens and forbs
- →Move up with ripening huckleberries in September
Cougar
common opportunityCougars follow the concentrated deer and elk, especially onto winter range in late fall. Most are taken incidentally by deer and elk hunters holding a cougar tag; the winter-range elk concentrations here make it prime cat country late.
- →Hunt fresh snow and cut tracks along the ridge and canyon roads
- →Call with a fawn bleat after snowfall near wintering-elk cover
- →Concentrate on lower elevations by mid-to-late November as prey moves down
Pro tips
- →Get the current Oak Creek Wildlife Area Green Dot map and closure list before you hunt — seasonal winter-range and feedground closures here are strict and change animal access.
- →Scout the 2024 burn firsthand; fire reshuffles elk, and the green-up edges can be magnets while the black timber sits empty.
- →Hunt the ridge and draws before elk commit to winter range — once they're near the feedground the huntable window is closing.
- →Bethel Ridge Road is your ladder to the national forest high ground; from there work away from open roads into security cover.
- →This is a small unit with concentrated animals and real pressure — a weekday or late-season hunt beats the opener crowd.
Watch out for
- !Oak Creek feedground and winter-range closures restrict access seasonally — obey posted and Green Dot closures
- !2024 Retreat/Rimrock Fire (>30,000 acres across 360 & 364) left burned forage, hazard trees and lingering road/area closures
- !Green Dot system: only green-reflector roads are legal for motor vehicles; unmarked spurs are closed
- !Private inholdings and orchard/ag ground on the lower edges — know boundaries
- !Steep, sun-baked oak/bitterbrush breaks and hazard snags in the burn
Logistics
Naches and Tieton are the closest towns for fuel and groceries; Yakima is the full-service hub about 30-40 minutes east. Camping is available on the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF and around Rimrock Lake, with the Oak Creek Wildlife Area headquarters on US-12 a key stop for Green Dot maps and current closure info. Cell service is patchy off the US-12 corridor. Check fire-recovery closures before you go.
Nearest towns: Naches, Tieton, Rimrock, Yakima
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW 2024 District 8 Hunting Prospects (Yakima & Kittitas counties) · WDFW Game Management Units (GMUs) · USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
FAQ
- How big is GMU 360 in Washington?
- GMU 360 (Bethel) covers about 102 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,000 to 6,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 360?
- Approximately 75% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: WDFW Oak Creek Wildlife Area, USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Naches Ranger District), WDNR, Private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 360?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, 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 360 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.