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GMU 117 49 Degrees North Hunting, Washington

GMU 117 (49 Degrees North): 42% public land, habitat grade C+, deer ★★★☆☆, 952 mi².

DeerPublic Land
A+
Best public habitat: 75 / 100 Top public open-access cell in the unit
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Tap anywhere on the map to move the pin, then hit Analyze to open that exact spot in HuntVantage for a live 0–100 score with per-species ratings.

HuntVantage habitat grade

C+
Grade C+ — mean HuntScore 52/100 averaged across public open-access land · 3716 habitat cells · 952 mi²
A+ 1%A 2%B+ 4%B 20%C+ 71%C 1%D 0%F 0%

Grade distribution of the habitat cells inside the unit — higher-scoring cells are the pockets worth scouting first. HuntVantage weighs cover, water, food, hunting pressure, and habitat diversity from public land-cover and land-ownership data.

Per-species ratings

Overall grade measures general habitat; these species ratings re-weight the same factors for each animal’s needs — the number that matters for a species-specific hunt.

Deer
★★★☆☆
55/100 habitat
Elk
★★★★☆
72/100 habitat
Waterfowl
★★☆☆☆
31/100 habitat
Turkey
★★★☆☆
51/100 habitat
Black Bear
★★★★☆
73/100 habitat
Wild Boar
★★★☆☆
52/100 habitat

Public land & access

42% of GMU 117 is public land; 34% is public and open-access.

Colville National Forest plus a large block of the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge (US Fish & Wildlife) and DNR land — the refuge allows hunting but under its own rules, so check refuge regulations in addition to WDFW's.

US Forest Service 1136 cellsUS Fish & Wildlife 251 cellsWA DNR 167 cellsWDFW 17 cellsCounty 3 cells
unknown access: 2139open access: 1263restricted access: 314

Ownership from PAD-US; a cell is one ~0.46 km habitat hexagon. Verify boundaries and access on the ground — inholdings and seasonal closures aren’t shown here.

Hunting prospects

General season

GMU 117 (49 Degrees North) rises into the timbered highlands around the ski area east of Chewelah, Stevens County — national forest and refuge land carrying whitetail through the timber and openings. Hunt the edges of old cuts and meadows and the benches above the creek bottoms. Confirm general seasons with WDFW and the separate hunting rules for the Little Pend Oreille NWR.

Scout the best spots in this unit

The highest-scoring public open-access habitat cells in GMU 117. Open any one in HuntVantage to see its live score and per-species breakdown.

A+
Score 75/10048.3994, -117.3072
A+
Score 75/10048.4842, -117.3609
A+
Score 74/10048.4941, -117.7081
A+
Score 74/10048.6661, -117.4727
A+
Score 73/10048.1944, -117.6584

Nearby units & guides

Sources: wdfw.wa.gov · wdfw.wa.gov · geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov. HuntVantage habitat grades are independent of WDFW.

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Frequently asked questions

How much of GMU 117 (49 Degrees North) is public land?
About 42% of GMU 117 is public land, and 34% is public and open-access, managed mainly by the US Forest Service.
What can you hunt in GMU 117?
By habitat, the unit rates best for deer (3/5). Its overall habitat grade is C+ (mean HuntScore 52/100 across public open-access land).
Is GMU 117 good for deer hunting?
HuntVantage rates deer habitat in GMU 117 at 3/5 (55/100). That's a habitat model — scout the higher-scoring cells and verify seasons with WDFW.
What season is GMU 117?
General season. Always confirm current seasons, weapon choices, and permit requirements in the WDFW regulations before hunting.