I am also new to the area. I hunted modern mule deer last year and found success in central Wa in open sagebrush terrain glass and stalk, 4 pt. Muley. Now for schedule reasons I am looking at GMU 121 for late season whitetail. Prospects from WDFW has led me to believe lower elevation open terrain amongst farm land could produce some action glass and stalk on public land, I plan on spending a long weekend in that area scouting and checking things out. You know about the prospects page on WDFW? definitely helped me out