The Ellemeham Unit is located on Ellemeham Mountain in Okanogan County. The area on Ellemeham Mountain is known for good mule deer hunting, as the habitat provides excellent winter range, and deer will migrate from higher elevations to the west and in the Pasayten Wilderness Area. Recreation activities enjoyed here include hiking, biking, and horseback riding, but the unit gets very steep quickly to the north. This unit is predominately sagebrush-steppe with some aspen.
The Ellemeham Unit is located 11 miles west of Oroville in Okanogan County. The unit can be accessed from Ellemeham Mountain Road.
The Ellemeham Unit lies adjacent to and south of the Similkameen River on Ellemeham Mountain in the Okanogan.
This unit is part of the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area.
Game Management Units: 215, 209
Getting there
Maps and directions to WDFW-managed access points for this unit. Opens Google Maps in a new tab.
Recreation and public access
A Discover Pass is required on WDFW lands -- including water access areas, wildlife areas, and campgrounds -- unless you already have a Vehicle Access Pass issued with the purchase of an eligible hunting or fishing license. Recreate responsibly on public lands: please know the Public Conduct Rules.
Public facility information:
- Two undeveloped grass parking areas along Ellemeham Mountain Road
- No restroom
- Reader boards.
Recreation and access advisories
- Dispersed camping is allowed. Campfire restrictions will be announced in the fall if hot dry conditions persist into the fall.
- Motorized access is prohibited.
- Parking areas are not large enough for trailer turn around. Trailers should be parked adjacent to the county road.
- Terrain on this unit is very steep in locations.
- Lands surrounding the unit are predominantly private. Please have good maps on hand and respect private property.
Hunting
This unit is known for good mule deer hunting. The habitat is excellent winter range, and deer will migrate into this area from higher elevations to the west and in the Pasayten Wilderness Area. This unit also offers limited opportunity for upland game birds.
Hunting advisories
- Access can be difficult so successful hunters should expect a long pack out.
Wildlife viewing
This unit is mostly sagebrush-steppe with some aspen and Ponderosa pine, small ponds, and intermittent streams, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including mule deer and shrubsteppe-obligate species.
Search for potential birding opportunities on or near a wildlife area unit by using eBird Northwest, a citizen science database portal that provides freely-shared bird lists at 'hotspots' and interactive maps plus other birding information updated daily.
Other recreational opportunities
This unit offers opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and nature photography.
The Similkameen River trailhead location on this unit is your access to a trail that will take you over the ridge and all the way to the Similkameen River.
Conservation
The unit is predominately sagebrush-steppe with some aspen. Shrubsteppe-dependent species include sage thrasher, loggerhead shrike, and sage sparrow. Some scattered Ponderosa pine, associated with small ponds and intermittent streams, may be found in the southwestern portion of the area. The north slope of this unit has excellent quality bunch grass/forb community with bluebunch wheatgrass.
Conservation goals
- Implement the Forest Management Plan, which identifies current forest habitats, conditions, and future management needs
Land stewardship
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1969 and 2010.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| Doris Duke Foundation | Private Donation |
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | Endangered Species Act Section 6 Program |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | State Bond Account |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program |
Management planning
2017 Scotch Creek and Sinlahekin Wildlife Areas Management Plan
In 2017, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife updated the management plan for the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area, which encompasses 23, 980 acres in Okanogan County, and the nearby Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in north central Washington. The plan, called the Scotch Creek & Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Management Plan, addresses the status of wildlife species and their habitat, ongoing restoration efforts and public recreation opportunities at both Scotch Creek and Sinlahekin wildlife areas. Every eight to 10 years, WDFW revises management plans for each of its 33 wildlife areas to document current conditions, address new agency initiatives, and identify new management priorities and actions. In between those major revisions, WDFW updates plans every two years to outline short-term objectives and accomplishments.
Planning Advisory Committee
Okanogan Valley Wildlife Area Advisory Committee