Horse Heaven GMU 373 deer hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 146 deer taken in GMU 373 Horse Heaven in 2025, 19 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 501 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 1,941 hunter days. GMU 373 is 8.3% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (51,784 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.
BLMDNR state trust landWDFW landNational wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Military land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 373Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 3, South Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 746,686 acres (1,167 square miles) |
| Counties | Benton and Yakima |
| Public land open to hunting | 8.3% (61,691 acres) |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 146 (123 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 501 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 17-27, any deer |
| Deer special permit hunts, 2026 | 13 hunts, 110 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Kennewick, West Richland, Prosser, Benton City, Richland and Grandview |
How many deer are taken in GMU 373?
WDFW reports 146 deer taken in GMU 373 in 2025, against 123 in 2024. The most in one year since 2006 was 159, in 2023. WDFW's figures average 139 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 129 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 | 146 | 127 | 19 | 125 | 21 | 501 | 1,941 | 25 |
| 2024 | 123 | 105 | 18 | 101 | 22 | 494 | 1,828 | 21 |
| 2023 | 159 | 130 | 29 | 125 | 34 | 395 | 1,628 | 33 |
| 2022 | 147 | 131 | 16 | 119 | 28 | 428 | 1,651 | 31 |
| 2021 | 118 | 103 | 15 | 98 | 20 | 426 | 1,822 | 24 |
| 2020 | 155 | 132 | 23 | 121 | 34 | 451 | 1,678 | 29 |
| 2019 | 154 | 135 | 19 | 129 | 25 | 459 | 1,901 | 29 |
| 2018 | 133 | 123 | 10 | 121 | 12 | 377 | 1,571 | 33 |
| 2017 | 94 | 74 | 20 | 72 | 22 | 391 | 1,490 | 19 |
| 2016 | 110 | 90 | 20 | 86 | 24 | 385 | 1,553 | 23 |
| 2015 | 123 | 109 | 14 | 93 | 30 | 369 | 1,406 | 30 |
| 2014 | 98 | 85 | 13 | 82 | 16 | 372 | 1,433 | 23 |
| 2013 | 112 | 95 | 17 | 92 | 20 | 345 | 1,303 | 28 |
| 2012 | 124 | 108 | 16 | 87 | 37 | 346 | 1,342 | 31 |
| 2011 | 117 | 93 | 24 | 91 | 26 | 338 | 1,148 | 28 |
| 2010 | 108 | 95 | 13 | 89 | 19 | 352 | 1,272 | 27 |
| 2009 | 143 | 123 | 20 | 114 | 29 | 318 | 1,250 | 39 |
| 2008 | 105 | 93 | 12 | 93 | 12 | |||
| 2007 | 73 | 73 | not split out | 72 | 1 | 244 | 941 | 30 |
| 2006 | 44 | 44 | not split out | 41 | 3 | 191 | 656 | 23 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, GMU 373, 2006 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 373 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most deer hunters in GMU 373 in 2025: 357, who took 92 (25.8% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Deer taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 72 | 314 | 16 | 22.2% | 20 |
| Modern firearm | 357 | 1,264 | 92 | 25.8% | 14 |
| Muzzleloader | 20 | 80 | 6 | 30% | 13 |
| Multiple-season tag | 52 | 283 | 13 | 25% | 22 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer general season, 2025).
What size bucks come out of GMU 373?
WDFW counts antlered deer by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 4-point: 53 of 125 antlered deer.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 53 | 43 | 21 |
| 2024 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 36 | 34 | 22 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 48 | 42 | 34 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 43 | 42 | 28 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 42 | 29 | 20 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, antler points).
When is deer season in GMU 373 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 373, by weapon: archery: Sept. 1-25 (any deer, white-tailed deer), Sept. 1-25 (3 pt. min. or antlerless, mule deer), Nov. 20-Dec. 8 (late season, any deer, white-tailed deer) and Nov. 20-Dec. 8 (late season, 3 pt. min. or antlerless, mule deer); muzzleloader: Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (any deer, white-tailed deer) and Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (3 pt. min., mule deer); modern firearm: Oct. 17-27 (any deer, 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 373 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | White-tailed Deer | Oct. 17-27 | Any deer | All hunters | Footnoted in WDFW's table (page 23) |
| Modern firearm | General season | Mule Deer | Oct. 17-27 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | Footnoted in WDFW's table (page 23) |
| Archery | Early archery season | White-tailed Deer | Sept. 1-25 | Any deer | All hunters | Footnoted in WDFW's table (page 24) |
| Archery | Early archery season | Mule Deer | Sept. 1-25 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | All hunters | Footnoted in WDFW's table (page 24) |
| Archery | Late archery season | White-tailed Deer | Nov. 20-Dec. 8 | Any deer | All hunters | Footnoted in WDFW's table (page 24) |
| Archery | Late archery season | Mule Deer | Nov. 20-Dec. 8 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | All hunters | Footnoted in WDFW's table (page 24) |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | White-tailed Deer | Sept. 26-Oct. 4 | Any deer | All hunters | Footnoted in WDFW's table (page 25) |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Mule Deer | Sept. 26-Oct. 4 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | Footnoted in WDFW's table (page 25) |
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 373?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 13 deer special permit hunts that take in GMU 373, with 110 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1226 | Whitcomb Buck Deer | Archery | Sept. 27-Oct. 9 | Any Buck | Deer Area 3071 | 10 | 132 / 7 | |
| 1227 | Paterson Buck Deer | Archery | Sept. 27-Oct. 9 | Any Buck | Deer Area 3072 | 10 | 146 / 8 | |
| 1240 | Whitcomb Buck Deer | Muzzleloader | Nov. 14-22 | Any Buck | Deer Area 3071 | 5 | 229 / 6 | |
| 1241 | Paterson Buck Deer | Muzzleloader | Nov. 14-22 | Any Buck | Deer Area 3072 | 5 | 288 / 11 | |
| 1330 | Whitcomb Antlerless Deer | Archery | Oct. 15-29 | Antlerless | Deer Area 3071 | 10 | 72 / 4 | 2 hunters, 0 taken |
| 1331 | Paterson Antlerless Deer | Archery | Oct. 15-29 | Antlerless | Deer Area 3072 | 10 | 75 / 4 | 3 hunters, 0 taken |
| 1332 | Whitcomb Antlerless Deer | Muzzleloader | Nov. 28-Dec. 4 | Antlerless | Deer Area 3071 | 10 | 128 / 4 | 3 hunters, 0 taken |
| 1333 | Paterson Antlerless Deer | Muzzleloader | Nov. 28-Dec. 4 | Antlerless | Deer Area 3072 | 10 | 154 / 5 | 6 hunters, 3 taken |
| 1529 | Horse Heaven Hills Youth only | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Antlerless | GMU 373 | 10 | 44 / 1 | 4 hunters, 3 taken |
| 1574 | Whitcomb Youth only | Muzzleloader | Nov. 1-13 | Antlerless | Deer Area 3071 | 5 | 12 / 1 | 2 hunters, 2 taken |
| 1575 | Paterson Youth only | Muzzleloader | Nov. 1-13 | Antlerless | Deer Area 3072 | 5 | 15 / 2 | 2 hunters, 0 taken |
| 1623 | Horse Heaven Hills Hunters 65 or older | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Antlerless | GMU 373 | 10 | 53 / 3 | |
| 1723 | Horse Heaven Hills Hunters with disabilities | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Antlerless | GMU 373 | 10 | 15 / 1 |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 30, 31, 36, 37, 38 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 373?
8.3% of GMU 373 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 61,691 of its 746,686 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 51,784 acres or 6.9% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 51,784 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 373 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 51,784 | 6.9% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 16,104 | 2.2% |
| BLM | 9,091 | 1.2% |
| Military land (restricted) | 2,874 | 0.4% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 1,768 | 0.2% |
| WDFW land | 816 | 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 373, by WDFW's own boundaries: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area (1,166 acres here; units Byron and Vance-Ferry Road).
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 373?
Highways through the unit: I-82 (about 101 miles inside it), US 395 (about 51 miles inside it), US 12 (about 47 miles inside it), SR 14 (about 34 miles inside it) and SR 221 (about 26 miles inside it). Towns inside: Kennewick, West Richland, Prosser, Mabton and Finley. Nearby: Benton City (on the line), Richland (on the line), Grandview (2 miles) and Pasco (3 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 373?
GMU 373 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 149 | Prescott | 2.5% | 488 | 1,484 |
| GMU 372 | Rattlesnake Hills | 7.1% | 31 | 235 |
| GMU 379 | Ringold | 7.3% | 69 | 378 |
| GMU 381 | Kahlotus | 10% | 413 | 991 |
| GMU 382 | East Klickitat | 7.8% | 267 | 1,033 |
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in GMU 373 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general deer seasons open to all hunters in GMU 373 are archery: Sept. 1-25 (any deer, white-tailed deer), Sept. 1-25 (3 pt. min. or antlerless, mule deer), Nov. 20-Dec. 8 (late season, any deer, white-tailed deer) and Nov. 20-Dec. 8 (late season, 3 pt. min. or antlerless, mule deer); muzzleloader: Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (any deer, white-tailed deer) and Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (3 pt. min., mule deer); modern firearm: Oct. 17-27 (any deer, white-tailed deer) and Oct. 17-27 (3 pt. min., mule deer).
How many deer are taken in GMU 373?
WDFW reports 146 deer taken in GMU 373 in 2025: 125 antlered and 21 antlerless. The most in one year since 2006 was 159, in 2023.
Which special permit deer hunts include GMU 373?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 13 deer permit hunts for GMU 373: 1226 Whitcomb (10 permits), 1227 Paterson (10 permits), 1240 Whitcomb (5 permits), 1241 Paterson (5 permits), 1330 Whitcomb (10 permits) and 1331 Paterson (10 permits), and more in the table above. Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 373?
8.3% of GMU 373, 61,691 of its 746,686 acres, is national forest, BLM, DNR trust, WDFW, Reclamation or national recreation area land; the largest share is DNR state trust land. Measured by FilledTag from WA DNR's public land maps.
What town is closest to GMU 373?
Kennewick, West Richland and Prosser are inside the unit. Just outside: Benton City (on the line), Richland (on the line) and Grandview (2 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 373
Beginning at the mouth of the Yakima River and Columbia River; SE down the Columbia River (Franklin-Benton and Benton-Walla Walla county lines) to the Washington-Oregon state line; W on the Columbia River (Washington-Oregon state line) from the southern junction of the Benton- Walla Walla county lines to Alder Creek (including all islands in the Columbia River north of the Oregon state line and between Alder Creek and the junction of the Benton-Walla Walla county line); N on Alder Creek to State Route (SR) 14; E on SR 14 to Alderdale Rd; N on the Alderdale Rd to Ridge Rd; W and S on Ridge Rd to Donaho Rd; W on Donaho Rd to Mabton-Bickleton Rd (Glade Rd); N on Mabton-Bickleton Rd to the power transmission lines; SW on the power transmission lines to the power line access road in Section 3, T6N, R20E; N on power line access road to Yakama reservation Road 272 at the Yakama Indian reservation boundary; NE on the Yakama Indian reservation boundary to the Mabton-Sunnyside Rd; N on the Mabton-Sunnyside Rd to the Yakima River; E along the Yakima River 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 3 GMU 149 GMU 372 GMU 379 GMU 381 GMU 382