Chiwawa GMU 245 deer hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 76 deer taken in GMU 245 Chiwawa in 2025, 15 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 611 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 3,006 hunter days. GMU 245 is 88.6% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (324,215 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 forestBLMDNR state trust landWDFW landOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 245Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 371,479 acres (580 square miles) |
| Counties | Chelan |
| Public land open to hunting | 88.6% (329,223 acres) |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 76 (79 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 611 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 17-27, any buck |
| Deer special permit hunts, 2026 | 7 hunts, 33 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Leavenworth, Entiat and Cashmere |
Also for GMU 245: black bear hunting.
How many deer are taken in GMU 245?
WDFW reports 76 deer taken in GMU 245 in 2025, against 79 in 2024. The most in one year since 2000 was 249, in 2004. WDFW's figures average 107 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 147 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 | 76 | 61 | 15 | 74 | 2 | 611 | 3,006 | 10 |
| 2024 | 79 | 57 | 22 | 75 | 4 | 709 | 3,468 | 8 |
| 2023 | 103 | 80 | 23 | 83 | 20 | 843 | 3,943 | 9 |
| 2022 | 93 | 75 | 18 | 69 | 24 | 790 | 3,807 | 9 |
| 2021 | 183 | 158 | 25 | 152 | 31 | 977 | 4,757 | 16 |
| 2020 | 184 | 163 | 21 | 142 | 42 | 1,066 | 4,979 | 15 |
| 2019 | 162 | 136 | 26 | 125 | 37 | 922 | 4,206 | 15 |
| 2018 | 91 | 76 | 15 | 62 | 29 | 792 | 3,326 | 10 |
| 2017 | 117 | 102 | 15 | 83 | 34 | 980 | 4,281 | 10 |
| 2016 | 182 | 147 | 35 | 130 | 52 | 889 | 4,279 | 17 |
| 2015 | 206 | 171 | 35 | 173 | 33 | 974 | 4,680 | 18 |
| 2014 | 180 | 146 | 34 | 141 | 39 | 1,007 | 4,550 | 14 |
| 2013 | 163 | 130 | 33 | 126 | 37 | 990 | 4,600 | 13 |
| 2012 | 160 | 119 | 41 | 122 | 38 | 955 | 4,432 | 12 |
| 2011 | 159 | 118 | 41 | 121 | 38 | 1,040 | 4,642 | 11 |
| 2010 | 183 | 139 | 44 | 116 | 67 | 1,064 | 4,799 | 13 |
| 2009 | 199 | 159 | 40 | 167 | 32 | 1,098 | 4,484 | 14 |
| 2008 | 164 | 85 | 79 | 94 | 70 | |||
| 2007 | 168 | 168 | not split out | 154 | 14 | 1,203 | 5,194 | 14 |
| 2006 | 107 | 107 | not split out | 86 | 21 | 1,029 | 4,468 | 10 |
| 2005 | 178 | 178 | not split out | 161 | 17 | 1,085 | 4,700 | 16 |
| 2004 | 249 | 249 | not split out | 249 | 0 | 1,124 | 4,954 | 22 |
| 2003 | 144 | 144 | not split out | 144 | 0 | 823 | 3,573 | 17 |
| 2002 | 85 | 85 | not split out | 83 | 2 | 736 | 3,255 | 12 |
| 2001 | 80 | 80 | not split out | 80 | 0 | 640 | 2,516 | 13 |
| 2000 | 86 | 86 | not split out | 86 | 0 | 1,521 | 4,861 | 6 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, GMU 245, 2000 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 245 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most deer hunters in GMU 245 in 2025: 515, who took 48 (9.4% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Deer taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 29 | 182 | 4 | 13.8% | 46 |
| Modern firearm | 515 | 2,514 | 48 | 9.4% | 52 |
| Muzzleloader | 9 | 31 | 2 | 22.2% | 16 |
| Multiple-season tag | 58 | 279 | 7 | 12% | 40 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer general season, 2025).
What size bucks come out of GMU 245?
WDFW counts antlered deer by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 4-point: 33 of 74 antlered deer.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 33 | 14 | 2 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 32 | 22 | 4 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 33 | 18 | 20 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 27 | 14 | 24 |
| 2021 | 0 | 2 | 59 | 56 | 35 | 31 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, antler points).
When is deer season in GMU 245 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 245, by weapon: archery: Sept. 1-25 (any deer, white-tailed deer) and Sept. 1-25 (3 pt. min., mule deer); 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 245 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Archery | Early archery season | White-tailed Deer | Sept. 1-25 | Any deer | All hunters | |
| Archery | Early archery season | Mule Deer | Sept. 1-25 | 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, 24 and 25, with WDFW's April 2026 corrections. WDFW can change a season during the year: check WDFW's regulations page before you go.
Which special permit deer hunts include GMU 245?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 7 deer special permit hunts that take in GMU 245, with 33 permits in all. The applicant counts and average points are the ones WDFW prints for the 2025 drawing; the 2025 results are from WDFW's harvest report for each hunt number.
| Hunt | Name and category | Tag | 2026 dates | Legal deer | Unit or area | 2026 permits | 2025 applicants / average points (WDFW) | 2025 result: hunters, deer taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1031 | Chiwawa Quality Deer | Modern | Nov. 1-20 | Any Buck | GMU 245 | 17 | 1,205 / 15 | 11 hunters, 11 taken |
| 1076 | Chiwawa Quality Deer | Archery | Dec. 1-8 | Any Buck | GMU 245 | 5 | 207 / 8 | |
| 1088 | Chiwawa Quality Deer | Muzzleloader | Nov. 25-30 | Any Buck | GMU 245 | 1 | 190 / 9 | |
| 1520 | Chiwawa Youth only | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Any deer | GMU 245 | 2 | 168 / 4 | 0 hunters, 0 taken |
| 1616 | Chiwawa Hunters 65 or older | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Any deer | GMU 245 | 3 | 176 / 9 | |
| 1716 | Chiwawa Hunters with disabilities | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Any deer | GMU 245 | 2 | 56 / 5 | |
| 1746 | Chiwawa Hunters with disabilities | Muzzleloader | Sept. 26-Oct. 4 | Antlerless | GMU 245 | 3 | 5 / 2 |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 27, 28, 36, 37 and 39; WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer individual hunts, 2025). A hunt's 2025 result is shown only where the 2025 hunt had the same number and name.
How much public land is in GMU 245?
88.6% of GMU 245 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 329,223 of its 371,479 acres. The largest share is national forest, 324,215 acres or 87.3% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 4,523 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 245 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 324,215 | 87.3% |
| DNR state trust land | 4,523 | 1.2% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 547 | 0.1% |
| WDFW land | 401 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 84 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 245, by WDFW's own boundaries: Chelan Wildlife Area (401 acres here).
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 245?
Highways through the unit: US 2 (about 20 miles inside it) and SR 207 (about 4 miles inside it). Nearby: Leavenworth (on the line), Entiat (8 miles), Cashmere (10 miles) and Skykomish (12 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 245?
GMU 245 touches 8 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 deer numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 244 | Clark | 99.5% | 7 | 104 |
| GMU 246 | Slide Ridge | 99.4% | 39 | 214 |
| GMU 247 | Entiat | 75% | 135 | 960 |
| GMU 250 | Swakane | 64.8% | 121 | 593 |
| GMU 251 | Mission | 58.6% | 159 | 811 |
| GMU 448 | Stillaguamish | 81.4% | 161 | 967 |
| GMU 450 | Cascade | 99.9% | 2 | 56 |
| GMU 460 | Snoqualmie | 61.3% | 161 | 751 |
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in GMU 245 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general deer seasons open to all hunters in GMU 245 are archery: Sept. 1-25 (any deer, white-tailed deer) and Sept. 1-25 (3 pt. min., mule deer); 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 245?
WDFW reports 76 deer taken in GMU 245 in 2025: 74 antlered and 2 antlerless. The most in one year since 2000 was 249, in 2004.
Which special permit deer hunts include GMU 245?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 7 deer permit hunts for GMU 245: 1031 Chiwawa (17 permits), 1076 Chiwawa (5 permits), 1088 Chiwawa (1 permit), 1520 Chiwawa (2 permits), 1616 Chiwawa (3 permits) and 1716 Chiwawa (2 permits), and more in the table above. Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 245?
88.6% of GMU 245, 329,223 of its 371,479 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 245?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Leavenworth (on the line), Entiat (8 miles) and Cashmere (10 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 245
Beginning on US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) and the Glacier Peak Wilderness boundary at Kodak Peak; SE and NE on the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area boundary to the Entiat River; SE down the Entiat River to USFS Rd 5700 (Mad River Rd) at the town of Ardenvoir; NW on USFS Rd 5700 to the USFS Rd 5800; SW on USFS Rd 5800 to USFS Rd 7520 (Eagle Creek Rd) at French Corral; SW on USFS Rd 7520 to State Route (SR) 209 (Chumstick Hwy), north of Leavenworth; S on SR 209 (Chumstick Hwy) to US Hwy (US) 2; W and N on US 2 to USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) at Stevens Pass; N on USFS Trail 2000 to Glacier Peak Wilderness boundary at Kodak Peak and the point of 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 244 GMU 246 GMU 247 GMU 250 GMU 251 GMU 448 GMU 460