Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Kc_Kracker on November 17, 2025, 10:00:40 PM

Title: What gmu's in sw Washington hold elk?
Post by: Kc_Kracker on November 17, 2025, 10:00:40 PM: The only place in western Washington I've seen elk is in people's yards. And once in Snoqualmie. So what gmu do have elk on public hunting land? I've never seen one while deer hunting . Is late muzzy worth it or are they all back up high licking their wounds?
Title: Re: What gmu's in sw Washington hold elk?
Post by: Kingofthemountain83 on November 18, 2025, 11:32:36 AM: I've seen elk in 510, 654, and 667 last year... Haven't seen one this year... Jumped some in the dark this year in 654 and seen recent tracks 510 and 667... Not sure if any of these are open for late season...
Title: Re: What gmu's in sw Washington hold elk?
Post by: pianoman9701 on November 18, 2025, 12:27:00 PM: Going west from Longview on SR4 - Willapa Hills, Gray's Harbor, Riderwood, Bear creek, all hold elk and there's a lot of private land, some by purchasing permit only. Lewis River and Siouxon are so choked with debris, most elk have moved out of the NF. Weyerhauser permits are better chances than the NF in those GMUs.
Title: Re: What gmu's in sw Washington hold elk?
Post by: Kc_Kracker on November 18, 2025, 11:10:17 PM: Quote from: pianoman9701 on November 18, 2025, 12:27:00 PM
Going west from Longview on SR4 - Willapa Hills, Gray's Harbor, Riderwood, Bear creek, all hold elk and there's a lot of private land, some by purchasing permit only. Lewis River and Siouxon are so choked with debris, most elk have moved out of the NF. Weyerhauser permits are better chances than the NF in those GMUs.
NF?
Title: Re: What gmu's in sw Washington hold elk?
Post by: jhouckwsu on November 19, 2025, 05:38:12 AM: Quote from: Kc_Kracker on November 18, 2025, 11:10:17 PM
Quote from: pianoman9701 on November 18, 2025, 12:27:00 PM
Going west from Longview on SR4 - Willapa Hills, Gray's Harbor, Riderwood, Bear creek, all hold elk and there's a lot of private land, some by purchasing permit only. Lewis River and Siouxon are so choked with debris, most elk have moved out of the NF. Weyerhauser permits are better chances than the NF in those GMUs.
NF?

National Forest
Title: Re: What gmu's in sw Washington hold elk?
Post by: Damnimissed on November 19, 2025, 07:33:17 AM: There’s elk on public in every SW WA unit.
Title: Re: What gmu's in sw Washington hold elk?
Post by: Sundance on November 19, 2025, 09:26:43 AM: I've found elk from the columbia river to the straits, either on public land or free access timber lands. The density and quality depends on the unit, but they are there. I've yet to find an area that consistently produces, usually they are a 2-3 year cycle before the spot gets burned, logged, or over run.
Title: Re: What gmu's in sw Washington hold elk?
Post by: bigtex on November 19, 2025, 05:23:17 PM: It'd be safe to say there's elk in almost every GMU in western WA, other then the island units. Heck, I've seen elk within the Kent city limits!

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Title: Re: What gmu's in sw Washington hold elk?
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 19, 2025, 06:34:20 PM: Quote from: bigtex on Yesterday at 05:23:17 PM
It'd be safe to say there's elk in almost every GMU in western WA, other then the island units. Heck, I've seen elk within the Kent city limits!

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Title: Re: What gmu's in sw Washington hold elk?
Post by: dreadi on November 20, 2025, 02:24:08 PM: WDFW Hunting Prospects are a nice read.

On a slightly different note, I was granted property access and have hunted since August. I have multi season deer and elk, cameras around the property. Property owner tells me "they come out right there". Turns out of course he's right. I have them on camera coming out right there. Unfortunately the times they have been out, I was not there or they were not in season or it's after hours. It's one cow and a spike that I've seen on camera. During modern elk a local stopped by my truck parked next to the road and among other things tells me, "they screwed this herd up. There used to be 80 head but now there's just a couple". I had not told him about only seeing two elk for a couple months.

As nice as private access is, if I don't start seeing action in person or on cam during legal hours, I'm going to also look elsewhere.

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Title: Re: What gmu's in sw Washington hold elk?
Post by: dilleytech on November 20, 2025, 04:25:12 PM: Every westside unit Has elk on public land. I would think every unit in the state really.