Oak Creek Wildlife Area: hunting, units and access
The Oak Creek Wildlife Area is 63,957 acres of land managed by WDFW in Region 3, in 4 units, inside GMUs 360, 368, 342, 346, 364 and 340, measured from WDFW's boundary. The busiest elk unit it touches is GMU 368, where WDFW reports 195 elk taken in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: WDFW's page for the Oak Creek Wildlife Area, read 2026-10-18, and WDFW's facility data. Harvest: WDFW reports to 2025.
National forestBLMDNR state trust landWDFW landBureau of ReclamationOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)Oak Creek Wildlife AreaGMU lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 63,957 acres (WDFW boundary, measured by FilledTag) |
|---|---|
| WDFW region | Region 3, South Central Washington |
| GMUs | GMU 360, GMU 368, GMU 342, GMU 346, GMU 364, GMU 340 |
| Units | 4 |
| Roads and trails | 231 miles, 201 of them Green Dot roads |
| Parking areas | 9 |
| Nearest towns | Naches (next to it), Tieton (2 mi) and Yakima (9 mi) |
What is the Oak Creek Wildlife Area like?
The Oak Creek Wildlife Area is located in Yakima County and Kittitas County and covers 67,100 acres. The topography is dominated by steep, rocky slopes, and a series of ridges and canyons. Open ridges and southern slopes at the lower elevations support sagebrush, bitterbrush and rabbitbrush. Bluebunch wheatgrass is the most prevalent native grass. In the early spring the area is full of color with wildflowers scattered across the rangeland. At higher elevations, the vegetation transitions to conifer forests. Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce and western white pine can all be found as elevations increase in the Rock Creek Unit.
In WDFW's words, from WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area page.
What units make up the Oak Creek Wildlife Area?
WDFW manages the area as 4 units. The largest is Oak Creek at 40,929 acres.
| Unit | Acres | GMUs | Parking areas | Campgrounds | Hunting blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Creek | 40,929 | 342, 360, 364, 368 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Cowiche | 12,611 | 368 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rock Creek | 10,394 | 340, 342, 346 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bauguess | 22 | 368 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unit outlines and facilities: WDFW wildlife area and unit boundaries. Acres measured by FilledTag.
WDFW's notes for each unit
Oak Creek: The area is a popular big game hunting area for deer, elk, bear, and big horn sheep (permit only) during fall seasons. WDFW
Cowiche: The Cowiche Unit is popular for hunting deer, elk and upland game birds. WDFW
Rock Creek: The area is popular for hunting big game, including deer, elk, and bear during fall seasons. Forest grouse and turkey also occur on the unit. WDFW
How many elk and deer are taken in the GMUs around the Oak Creek Wildlife Area?
WDFW reports harvest by GMU, not by wildlife area. These are the whole GMUs the area lies in:
| GMU | Wildlife area acres in it | Elk taken, 2025 | Deer taken, 2025 | Bears taken, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 360 Bethel | 19,601 | 56 | 15 | 5 |
| GMU 368 Cowiche | 17,406 | 195 | 73 | 17 |
| GMU 342 Umtanum | 15,644 | 131 | 98 | 0 |
| GMU 346 Little Naches | 8,667 | 143 | 34 | 15 |
| GMU 364 Rimrock | 2,508 | 75 | 8 | 2 |
| GMU 340 Manastash | 131 | 124 | 79 | 5 |
Harvest: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (GMU, 2025). Wildlife area acres in each GMU measured by FilledTag from WDFW's boundaries.
How do you get to the Oak Creek Wildlife Area?
Highways within 5 miles: US 12 and SR 410. Nearest towns: Naches (next to it), Tieton (2 miles), Yakima (9 miles) and Selah (9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Do you need a pass to park at the Oak Creek Wildlife Area?
Yes. Parking on WDFW land needs the Vehicle Access Pass that comes with most annual hunting and fishing licenses, or a Discover Pass, displayed where it can be seen from outside the vehicle (WDFW pamphlet, page 72).
Which GMUs is the Oak Creek Wildlife Area in?
GMU 360 Bethel (19,601 acres), GMU 368 Cowiche (17,406 acres), GMU 342 Umtanum (15,644 acres), GMU 346 Little Naches (8,667 acres), GMU 364 Rimrock (2,508 acres) and GMU 340 Manastash (131 acres), by WDFW's boundaries. Seasons follow each GMU's rules.
Can you camp on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area?
WDFW's facility data lists no developed campground on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. Camping on WDFW land follows WDFW's public conduct rules and any closures posted for the area; check WDFW's page before planning a camp.
Can you drive on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area?
On marked roads. WDFW's data counts 201 miles of Green Dot roads here, the roads open to motor vehicles under WDFW's Green Dot system, out of 231 miles of roads and trails.
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, rules and access notes: WDFW, Oak Creek Wildlife Area.
- Boundary, units and facilities: WDFW wildlife area and unit boundaries. Surrounding public land: WA DNR Major Public Lands (non-DNR) and WA DNR Managed Land Parcels, read 2026-10.
- GMU harvest: WDFW Game Harvest Reports. Parking passes: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, page 72.
FilledTag is not part of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Numbers are copied from WDFW and the State of Washington, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag. WDFW's regulations are the final word on every rule.
Washington hunting Region 3 GMU 360 elk GMU 368 elk GMU 342 elk GMU 346 elk GMU 364 elk GMU 340 elk