Pasayten GMU 203 deer hunting: harvest, seasons and public land
WDFW's harvest report shows 11 deer taken in GMU 203 Pasayten in 2025. General-season hunters numbered 271 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 1,094 hunter days. GMU 203 is 100% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (518,397 acres), measured from WA DNR's public land maps.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WDFW reports for 1997 to 2025. Seasons and permits: WDFW's 2026 pamphlet with its April 2026 corrections. Land: WA DNR, 2026-10.
National forestNational recreation areaGMU 203Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 518,633 acres (810 square miles) |
| Counties | Okanogan and Whatcom |
| Public land open to hunting | 100% (518,624 acres) |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 11 (10 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 271 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 17-27, any buck |
| Towns in and near it | Winthrop and Oroville |
Also for GMU 203: black bear hunting.
How many deer are taken in GMU 203?
WDFW reports 11 deer taken in GMU 203 in 2025, against 10 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 100, in 2002. WDFW's figures average 11 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 39 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Deer taken, all hunts | General season | Special permit | Antlered | Antlerless | General-season hunters | Hunter days | Deer per 100 general hunters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 271 | 1,094 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 308 | 1,553 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 325 | 1,322 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 346 | 1,489 | 4 | |
| 2021 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 302 | 1,407 | 4 | |
| 2020 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 416 | 1,921 | 6 | |
| 2019 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 371 | 1,643 | 12 | |
| 2018 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 348 | 1,582 | 8 | |
| 2017 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 246 | 954 | 9 | |
| 2016 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 0 | 347 | 1,438 | 24 | |
| 2015 | 91 | 91 | 91 | 0 | 369 | 1,460 | 25 | |
| 2014 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 0 | 338 | 1,318 | 24 | |
| 2013 | 56 | 54 | 2 | 54 | 2 | 321 | 1,324 | 17 |
| 2012 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 0 | 327 | 1,311 | 20 | |
| 2011 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 0 | 332 | 1,299 | 23 | |
| 2010 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 0 | 294 | 1,222 | 21 | |
| 2009 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 331 | 1,435 | 13 | |
| 2008 | 44 | 43 | 1 | 43 | 1 | |||
| 2007 | 47 | 47 | not split out | 47 | 0 | 290 | 1,385 | 16 |
| 2006 | 22 | 22 | not split out | 22 | 0 | 196 | 856 | 11 |
| 2005 | 60 | 60 | not split out | 60 | 0 | 401 | 1,825 | 15 |
| 2004 | 69 | 69 | not split out | 69 | 0 | 420 | 1,721 | 16 |
| 2003 | 61 | 61 | not split out | 61 | 0 | 357 | 1,589 | 17 |
| 2002 | 100 | 100 | not split out | 100 | 0 | 497 | 2,236 | 20 |
| 2001 | 56 | 56 | not split out | 56 | 0 | 395 | 1,741 | 14 |
| 2000 | 75 | 75 | not split out | 75 | 0 | 684 | 2,368 | 11 |
| 1999 | 49 | 49 | not split out | 49 | 0 | 897 | 4,315 | 5 |
| 1998 | 17 | 17 | not split out | 17 | 0 | 823 | 2,971 | 2 |
| 1997 | 23 | 23 | not split out | 17 | 6 | 425 | 1,919 | 5 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, GMU 203, 1997 to 2025), read through WDFW's Hunt Planner harvest table. "All hunts" is WDFW's general plus special permit total where it publishes one (from 2008), otherwise the general season. Where WDFW gives no all-weapon hunter count, the hunters and days shown are its per-weapon counts added together. Deer per 100 general hunters is worked out from WDFW's own two figures. The averages above are of WDFW's yearly figures.
How did each weapon do in GMU 203 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most deer hunters in GMU 203 in 2025: 244, who took 9 (3.6% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Deer taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | 244 | 961 | 9 | 3.6% | 107 |
| Multiple-season tag | 27 | 133 | 2 | 7.4% | 67 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer general season, 2025).
What size bucks come out of GMU 203?
WDFW counts antlered deer by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 3-point: 6 of 11 antlered deer.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, antler points).
When is deer season in GMU 203 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 203, by weapon: muzzleloader: Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (any buck, white-tailed deer) and Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (3 pt. min., mule deer); modern firearm: Oct. 17-27 (any buck, white-tailed deer) and Oct. 17-27 (3 pt. min., mule deer).
| Weapon | Season | Deer | 2026 dates | Legal deer | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 203 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | White-tailed Deer | Oct. 17-27 | Any buck | All hunters | |
| Modern firearm | General season | Mule Deer | Oct. 17-27 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | White-tailed Deer | Sept. 26-Oct. 4 | Any buck | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Mule Deer | Sept. 26-Oct. 4 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters |
Source: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 23 and 25, with WDFW's April 2026 corrections. WDFW can change a season during the year: check WDFW's regulations page before you go.
How much public land is in GMU 203?
100% of GMU 203 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 518,624 of its 518,633 acres. The largest share is national forest, 518,397 acres or 100% of the unit.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 203 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 518,397 | 100% |
| National recreation area | 227 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside WDFW's GMU boundary (WDFW game management units, in effect April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027) from WA DNR Major Public Lands (non-DNR) and WA DNR Managed Land Parcels, read 2026-10. Tribal land is not counted as public. National wildlife refuges, military land and "other public" land (state parks, county, city and other agencies) are not counted as open to hunting: each sets its own rules.
How do you get to GMU 203?
No numbered highway crosses the unit. Nearby: Winthrop (18 miles) and Oroville (20 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 203?
GMU 203 touches 3 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 deer numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 215 | Sinlahekin | 72.4% | 219 | 1,238 |
| GMU 218 | Chewuch | 94.8% | 226 | 1,220 |
| GMU 426 | Diablo | 93.5% | 30 | 77 |
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in GMU 203 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general deer seasons open to all hunters in GMU 203 are muzzleloader: Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (any buck, white-tailed deer) and Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (3 pt. min., mule deer); modern firearm: Oct. 17-27 (any buck, white-tailed deer) and Oct. 17-27 (3 pt. min., mule deer).
How many deer are taken in GMU 203?
WDFW reports 11 deer taken in GMU 203 in 2025: 11 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 100, in 2002.
How much public land is in GMU 203?
100% of GMU 203, 518,624 of its 518,633 acres, is national forest, BLM, DNR trust, WDFW, Reclamation or national recreation area land; the largest share is national forest. Measured by FilledTag from WA DNR's public land maps.
What town is closest to GMU 203?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Winthrop (18 miles) and Oroville (20 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 203
Beginning at the western junction of the Pasayten Wilderness Area-Ross Lake National Recreational Area border and the US-Canadian border; E along the US-Canadian border to the eastern junction of the Pasayten Wilderness Area boundary and the US-Canadian border; S on the Pasayten Wilderness border to US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 375; W on USFS Trail 375 to USFS Trail 341; SW on USFS Trail 341 to its junction with USFS Trail 533 and USFS Trail 343; W on USFS Trail 343 to USFS 342; SW on USFS Trail 342 to Pasayten Wilderness boundary; W on the Pasayten Wilderness boundary to USFS Trail 478 (Robinson Creek Trail); N on USFS Trail 478 to USFS Trail 575; S on USFS Trail 575 to USFS Trail 498; NW overland from the junction of USFS Trails 575 and 498 to the junction of USFS Trails 576 and 472; W on USFS Trail 576 to USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail); N on USFS Trail 2000 to the Pasayten Wilderness Area border at Jim Pass; W on the Pasayten Wilderness Area border to Ross Lake National Recreational Area border; N on the Pasayten Wilderness Area-Ross Lake National Recreational Area border to the US-Canadian border and the point of the beginning.
From WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, Game Management Unit Descriptions.
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, hunters, days and success: WDFW Game Harvest Reports.
- Seasons, special permits, applicants and points: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations.
- Public land: WA DNR Major Public Lands (non-DNR) and WA DNR Managed Land Parcels, read 2026-10. GMU boundary: WDFW game management units, in effect April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
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 Washington deer by GMU Region 2 GMU 215 GMU 218 GMU 426