Washington Unit 335 Mule Deer Hunting Guide

Unit 335 is a sizable chunk of eastern Washington mule deer country, spanning 338,960 acres with elevations ranging from 1,576 to 7,607 feet. For hunters researching this unit, the headline numbers are approachable: 77% public land ownership and a general season structure that puts antlered mule deer within reach of any hunter who buys the right license — no draw required for the core opportunity. That combination of public access and general-season availability makes Unit 335 one of the more straightforward mule deer units in the state to get into, even if the harvest numbers below suggest hunters need to temper expectations once they're out there.

This is not a unit defined by a single marquee draw hunt. Instead, Unit 335 runs on a dual-track system: a general season that covers antlered and either-sex opportunity for the bulk of hunters, layered with a handful of limited-quota permits (SP-1040, SP-1084, SP-1093) that supplement the general framework. Understanding which path leads to which opportunity is the first thing any hunter targeting this unit needs to get straight.

Hunt Structure: General Season Plus Limited-Quota Permits

Unit 335 is fundamentally a general season unit for mule deer. General season hunts here include antlered and either-sex opportunity, meaning a hunter does not need to win a lottery to pursue an antlered buck — a general license covers it. This is a meaningful distinction from true draw-only units where antlered access is locked behind a limited number of permits.

On top of the general framework, the unit also offers a small set of limited-quota permits — SP-1040, SP-1084, and SP-1093 — that provide additional or alternative opportunity through the draw. The structured tag data doesn't specify sex restrictions for these three permit types, so hunters should verify exactly what each permit authorizes before assuming it stacks additional antlered opportunity on top of the general season. These are supplemental, low-volume tags, not the backbone of hunting in 335.

Quota trends on the limited permits are worth noting for hunters tracking tag availability over time:

• SP-1040 held relatively steady, moving from 28 tags in 2024 to 29 in 2025, then back down to 28 for 2026 — a minor 3% cut from the 2025 peak.
• SP-1084 saw a more notable reduction, dropping from 15 tags in 2024 to 13 in 2025, a 13% cut.
• SP-1093 is the smallest permit of the three but it increased from 4 tags in 2024 to 5 in 2025, a 25% jump off a tiny base.

None of these are high-volume permits. They represent small, supplemental opportunity rather than the primary path into the unit — most hunters pursuing Unit 335 mule deer will do so through the general season.

Harvest Success Rates

Harvest data for Unit 335 covers five recent seasons and shows a unit with consistent, moderate pressure and success rates typical of general-season mule deer hunting in eastern Washington:

| Year | Hunters | Harvested | Success Rate | |------|---------|-----------|---------------| | 2025 | 1,021 | 142 | 14% | | 2024 | 1,415 | 206 | 15% | | 2023 | 1,341 | 199 | 15% | | 2022 | 1,411 | 114 | 8% | | 2021 | 1,557 | 174 | 11% |

A few patterns stand out. Success rates have mostly held in the 11-15% range, with 2022 standing out as a down year at 8%. The 2024 and 2023 seasons were the strongest of the five, both landing at 15% with harvest totals above 199 animals. Hunter numbers have also trended downward — from 1,557 in 2021 to 1,021 in 2025 — even as success rates in the most recent year held at a respectable 14%. That's a notable detail: fewer hunters afield in 2025 didn't come with a corresponding collapse in success, which suggests the unit's deer population and hunting conditions remained stable even as overall pressure eased.

For a general-season unit with no antler-point restrictions reducing the hunter pool, success rates in the low-to-mid teens are consistent with the broader difficulty of mule deer hunting in Washington. These are not inflated numbers propped up by limited quotas — they reflect genuine hunting pressure across a wide-open unit.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for Unit 335 is limited. The counties overlapping this unit have a limited history of trophy-class record-book entries, and hunters should not expect this to be a unit known for producing exceptional bucks. That doesn't mean mature bucks don't exist here — but the trophy record is thin enough that hunters chasing a genuine record-book-caliber buck should treat Unit 335 as an opportunity unit rather than a destination trophy unit. Forum chatter referenced in scouting discussions for this general region echoes that theme: hunters researching this part of the state frequently note that overall mule deer densities are lower compared to some other areas, and that some "bench-leg" deer in these mixed zones get classified as blacktail rather than mule deer, which can muddy perception of true mule deer abundance and quality.

Hunters should set realistic expectations: Unit 335 is a place to fill a tag on a representative eastern Washington mule deer, not a unit built around chasing giants.

Access & Terrain

Unit 335 offers meaningful public access, with 77% of its 338,960 acres open to public hunting. That's a strong number — the clear majority of this unit is accessible without needing private land permission, which is a real advantage for DIY hunters planning a self-guided trip. There is 0% wilderness designation in this unit, meaning there are no wilderness-specific access restrictions or guide requirements to navigate; hunters can use vehicles and standard access methods right up to where road systems end, subject to normal public land rules.

The elevation range is substantial — from 1,576 feet up to 7,607 feet — which tells hunters this unit spans a wide vertical gradient, from lower valley floors and foothill terrain up into higher country. That kind of elevation spread typically means a mix of habitat types across the unit, from lower sagebrush and timber-edge terrain to higher alpine basins, giving mule deer room to shift elevation seasonally. Hunters scouting this unit should use that elevation range as a starting point for narrowing down where deer are likely to be concentrated during their specific hunt window, and lean on HuntPilot's mapping tools — public land overlays and terrain layers — to identify likely glassing points and access routes within the unit's public ground.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 335 Worth Applying For?

Unit 335 is a legitimate option for hunters who value access and opportunity over trophy potential. The combination of a general season (no draw required for antlered mule deer), 77% public land, and a track record of harvest success hovering between 8% and 15% over the past five years makes this a realistic, attainable unit for hunters who want to hunt mule deer in Washington without committing years of points to a draw.

Where this unit falls short is trophy potential — the limited record-book history in the surrounding counties means hunters shouldn't walk in expecting a wall-hanger. This is a meat-and-experience unit, not a trophy destination. The supplemental limited-quota permits (SP-1040, SP-1084, SP-1093) are worth applying for if a hunter wants to diversify their odds, but given their small size — all under 30 tags — they shouldn't be the centerpiece of a hunting plan for this unit.

The declining hunter numbers paired with stable-to-improving success in 2024 and 2025 is a mildly encouraging sign. It suggests the deer population isn't being outpaced by pressure, and that a well-prepared hunter willing to scout the unit's broad elevation range has a realistic shot at success. For hunters prioritizing access and a fair shot at filling a tag over chasing a record-book buck, Unit 335 earns a reasonable recommendation. For hunters specifically hunting for trophy quality, this should not be a first-choice unit based on the available data.

How to Apply

Unit 335 mule deer hunting runs through two parallel paths, and hunters need to understand both before deciding how to pursue the unit.

General season: Because Unit 335 offers general season opportunity for antlered and either-sex mule deer, residents and nonresidents alike can pursue a buck here simply by purchasing the appropriate general hunting license and tag — no special draw application is required for this core opportunity. This is the most accessible way into the unit and the path most hunters use.

Limited-quota permits: The supplemental permits (SP-1040, SP-1084, SP-1093) require a separate draw application through Washington's permit system. These are small-quota tags, and applying for them is a secondary strategy for hunters wanting additional or different opportunity beyond the general season framework.

Washington's application system, deadlines, and any fees change from year to year and should not be guessed at. For current application windows, fees, and the structure of how residents and nonresidents apply for Unit 335's limited permits, hunters should consult HuntPilot's Washington state page and the official state wildlife agency's current regulations before planning a season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Unit 335 a draw-only unit for mule deer? No. Unit 335 has a general season that includes antlered and either-sex mule deer opportunity, meaning hunters do not need to draw a special permit to pursue an antlered buck here. The unit does also offer a few small limited-quota permits (SP-1040, SP-1084, SP-1093) through the draw, but these supplement — rather than replace — the general season opportunity.

What is harvest success like in Unit 335? Over the past five seasons (2021-2025), unit-wide success rates have ranged from 8% to 15%, with the most recent 2025 season coming in at 14% on 1,021 hunters and 142 harvested. The strongest recent years were 2023 and 2024, both at 15% success, while 2022 was the weakest at 8%. These are consistent with general-season mule deer hunting difficulty in eastern Washington.

How big are the mule deer in Unit 335? Trophy data available for the counties overlapping this unit shows a limited history of record-book entries, indicating this is not a unit known for producing trophy-class bucks. Hunters should approach Unit 335 as an opportunity and access unit rather than a trophy destination.

What is the terrain like in Unit 335? The unit spans a wide elevation range from 1,576 feet to 7,607 feet across 338,960 acres, suggesting varied habitat from lower-elevation terrain up into higher country. There is no wilderness designation in this unit (0%), so there are no wilderness-specific access restrictions to navigate. Hunters should use HuntPilot's mapping tools to study the public land layout and elevation bands before planning where to scout.

Is Unit 335 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing access and a reasonable shot at filling a tag, yes — the general season structure combined with 77% public land ownership makes this an attainable unit without a lengthy draw wait. For hunters specifically seeking trophy-class mule deer, the limited trophy record in the surrounding area suggests looking elsewhere for that specific goal.