Entiat GMU 247 deer hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 135 deer taken in GMU 247 Entiat in 2025, 31 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 960 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 4,583 hunter days. GMU 247 is 75% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (85,100 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 landNational wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 247Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 142,387 acres (222 square miles) |
| Counties | Chelan |
| Public land open to hunting | 75% (106,858 acres) |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 135 (148 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 960 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 17-27, any buck |
| Deer special permit hunts, 2026 | 6 hunts, 55 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Entiat, Chelan Falls, Chelan, Waterville and Cashmere |
Also for GMU 247: black bear hunting.
How many deer are taken in GMU 247?
WDFW reports 135 deer taken in GMU 247 in 2025, against 148 in 2024. The most in one year since 2000 was 473, in 2015. WDFW's figures average 194 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 312 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 | 135 | 104 | 31 | 130 | 5 | 960 | 4,583 | 11 |
| 2024 | 148 | 110 | 38 | 137 | 11 | 1,116 | 4,976 | 10 |
| 2023 | 207 | 181 | 26 | 166 | 41 | 1,399 | 6,617 | 13 |
| 2022 | 203 | 176 | 27 | 131 | 72 | 1,519 | 7,125 | 12 |
| 2021 | 276 | 247 | 29 | 223 | 53 | 1,719 | 7,773 | 14 |
| 2020 | 341 | 316 | 25 | 267 | 74 | 1,963 | 8,350 | 16 |
| 2019 | 325 | 300 | 25 | 250 | 75 | 1,527 | 6,173 | 20 |
| 2018 | 254 | 211 | 43 | 171 | 83 | 1,554 | 6,984 | 14 |
| 2017 | 274 | 237 | 37 | 205 | 69 | 1,835 | 8,126 | 13 |
| 2016 | 365 | 296 | 69 | 264 | 101 | 1,699 | 7,518 | 17 |
| 2015 | 473 | 407 | 66 | 394 | 79 | 1,561 | 6,487 | 26 |
| 2014 | 309 | 241 | 68 | 241 | 68 | 1,454 | 6,042 | 17 |
| 2013 | 270 | 205 | 65 | 213 | 57 | 1,515 | 5,961 | 14 |
| 2012 | 257 | 201 | 56 | 200 | 57 | 1,218 | 4,537 | 17 |
| 2011 | 215 | 154 | 61 | 187 | 28 | 1,527 | 6,260 | 10 |
| 2010 | 258 | 203 | 55 | 220 | 38 | 1,406 | 5,652 | 14 |
| 2009 | 270 | 198 | 72 | 227 | 43 | 1,475 | 6,028 | 13 |
| 2008 | 283 | 144 | 139 | 206 | 77 | |||
| 2007 | 207 | 207 | not split out | 188 | 19 | 1,861 | 7,973 | 11 |
| 2006 | 120 | 120 | not split out | 105 | 15 | 1,299 | 5,539 | 9 |
| 2005 | 167 | 167 | not split out | 167 | 0 | 1,531 | 6,769 | 11 |
| 2004 | 265 | 265 | not split out | 265 | 0 | 1,672 | 7,541 | 16 |
| 2003 | 304 | 304 | not split out | 304 | 0 | 1,566 | 7,225 | 19 |
| 2002 | 178 | 178 | not split out | 178 | 0 | 1,118 | 5,036 | 16 |
| 2001 | 69 | 69 | not split out | 69 | 0 | 692 | 2,791 | 10 |
| 2000 | 93 | 93 | not split out | 93 | 0 | 818 | 2,360 | 11 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, GMU 247, 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 247 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most deer hunters in GMU 247 in 2025: 811, who took 81 (10% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Deer taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 64 | 281 | 11 | 17.2% | 26 |
| Modern firearm | 811 | 3,734 | 81 | 10% | 46 |
| Muzzleloader | 4 | 15 | 0 | 0% | |
| Multiple-season tag | 81 | 553 | 12 | 14.8% | 46 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer general season, 2025).
What size bucks come out of GMU 247?
WDFW counts antlered deer by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 3-point: 55 of 130 antlered deer.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 4 | 55 | 46 | 23 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 | 3 | 66 | 39 | 27 | 11 |
| 2023 | 0 | 5 | 80 | 55 | 26 | 41 |
| 2022 | 2 | 1 | 64 | 48 | 16 | 72 |
| 2021 | 1 | 2 | 113 | 76 | 31 | 53 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, antler points).
When is deer season in GMU 247 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 247, 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); 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 247 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 247?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 6 deer special permit hunts that take in GMU 247, with 55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1033 | Entiat Quality Deer | Modern | Nov. 1-20 | Any Buck | GMU 247 | 15 | 3,889 / 17 | 13 hunters, 13 taken |
| 1078 | Entiat Quality Deer | Archery | Nov. 21-30 | Any Buck | GMU 247 | 30 | 733 / 13 | |
| 1521 | Entiat Youth only | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Any deer | GMU 247 | 2 | 385 / 4 | 2 hunters, 2 taken |
| 1617 | Entiat Hunters 65 or older | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Any deer | GMU 247 | 3 | 410 / 11 | |
| 1717 | Entiat Hunters with disabilities | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Any deer | GMU 247 | 2 | 109 / 8 | |
| 1747 | Entiat Hunters with disabilities | Muzzleloader | Sept. 26-Oct. 4 | Antlerless | GMU 247 | 3 | 15 / 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 247?
75% of GMU 247 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 106,858 of its 142,387 acres. The largest share is national forest, 85,100 acres or 59.8% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 4,475 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 247 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 85,100 | 59.8% |
| WDFW land | 11,414 | 8% |
| BLM | 5,869 | 4.1% |
| DNR state trust land | 4,475 | 3.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 401 | 0.3% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 3 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 247, by WDFW's own boundaries: Chelan Wildlife Area (18,163 acres here; units Entiat and Chelan Butte).
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 247?
Highways through the unit: SR 971 (about 15 miles inside it). Towns inside: Entiat and Chelan Falls. Nearby: Chelan (on the line), Waterville (6 miles), Cashmere (13 miles) and Pateros (15 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 247?
GMU 247 touches 5 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 deer numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 243 | Manson | 72.1% | 167 | 711 |
| GMU 245 | Chiwawa | 88.6% | 76 | 611 |
| GMU 246 | Slide Ridge | 99.4% | 39 | 214 |
| GMU 250 | Swakane | 64.8% | 121 | 593 |
| GMU 262 | Withrow | 5.7% | 78 | 237 |
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in GMU 247 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general deer seasons open to all hunters in GMU 247 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); 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 247?
WDFW reports 135 deer taken in GMU 247 in 2025: 130 antlered and 5 antlerless. The most in one year since 2000 was 473, in 2015.
Which special permit deer hunts include GMU 247?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 6 deer permit hunts for GMU 247: 1033 Entiat (15 permits), 1078 Entiat (30 permits), 1521 Entiat (2 permits), 1617 Entiat (3 permits), 1717 Entiat (2 permits) and 1747 Entiat (3 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 247?
75% of GMU 247, 106,858 of its 142,387 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 247?
Entiat and Chelan Falls are inside the unit. Just outside: Chelan (on the line), Waterville (6 miles) and Cashmere (13 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 247
Beginning at Twenty-five Mile Creek on the south shore of Lake Chelan; SE along the south shore of Lake Chelan to the Chelan River; SE down the Chelan River to the Columbia River (Chelan-Douglas county line); SW along the Columbia River (Chelan- Douglas county line) to the mouth of the Entiat River; NW up the Entiat River to Lake Creek; NE up Lake Creek to US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 1443; E on USFS Trail 1443 to USFS Trail 1445 (Fourmile Ridge Trail); E on USFS Trail 1445 to USFS Trail 1448; SE on USFS Trail 1448 to the USFS Rd 8410 (Slide Ridge Rd) at Stormy Mountain; N on USFS Rd 8410 to Twenty-five Mile Creek; N down Twenty-five Mile Creek to the south shore of Lake Chelan 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 243 GMU 245 GMU 246 GMU 250 GMU 262