Cypress GMU 417 deer hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 3 deer taken in GMU 417 Cypress in 2025, 1 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 49 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 187 hunter days. GMU 417 is 93.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (5,004 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.
DNR state trust landGMU 417Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 4, North Puget Sound |
|---|---|
| Size | 5,335 acres (8 square miles) |
| Counties | Skagit |
| Public land open to hunting | 93.8% (5,004 acres) |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 3 (4 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 49 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 17-Nov. 1, any deer |
| Deer special permit hunts, 2026 | 3 hunts, 70 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Anacortes, Friday Harbor and La Conner |
How many deer are taken in GMU 417?
WDFW reports 3 deer taken in GMU 417 in 2025, against 4 in 2024. The most in one year since 2013 was 22, in 2018. WDFW's figures average 9 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 14 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 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 49 | 187 | 4 |
| 2024 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 125 | 10 | |
| 2023 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 42 | 136 | 33 |
| 2022 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 54 | 139 | 13 |
| 2021 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 39 | 109 | 28 |
| 2020 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 65 | 221 | 15 |
| 2019 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 64 | 251 | 9 |
| 2018 | 22 | 18 | 4 | 18 | 4 | 88 | 452 | 20 |
| 2017 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 58 | 189 | 14 |
| 2016 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 84 | 478 | 20 |
| 2015 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 81 | 250 | 11 |
| 2014 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 55 | 172 | 18 |
| 2013 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 55 | 167 | 4 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, GMU 417, 2013 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 417 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most deer hunters in GMU 417 in 2025: 32, who took 2 (6.2% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Deer taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0% | |
| Modern firearm | 32 | 156 | 2 | 6.2% | 78 |
| Muzzleloader | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0% | |
| Multiple-season tag | 11 | 23 | 0 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer general season, 2025).
What size bucks come out of GMU 417?
WDFW counts antlered deer by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 1-point: 2 of 2 antlered deer.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, antler points).
When is deer season in GMU 417 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 417, by weapon: archery: Sept. 1-25 (any deer, black-tailed deer) and Nov. 25-Dec. 31 (late season, any deer, black-tailed deer); muzzleloader: Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (any deer, black-tailed deer) and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, any deer, black-tailed deer); modern firearm: Oct. 17-Nov. 1 (any deer, black-tailed deer) and Nov. 19-22 (late season, any deer, black-tailed deer).
| Weapon | Season | Deer | 2026 dates | Legal deer | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 417 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Black-tailed Deer | Oct. 17-Nov. 1 | Any deer | All hunters | |
| Modern firearm | Late general season | Black-tailed Deer | Nov. 19-22 | Any deer | All hunters | |
| Archery | Early archery season | Black-tailed Deer | Sept. 1-25 | Any deer | All hunters | |
| Archery | Late archery season | Black-tailed Deer | Nov. 25-Dec. 31 | Any deer | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Black-tailed Deer | Sept. 26-Oct. 4 | Any deer | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Late muzzleloader season | Black-tailed Deer | Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | Any deer | 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 417?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 3 deer special permit hunts that take in GMU 417, with 70 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1436 | Cypress Second Deer | Modern | Oct. 17-Nov. 1 and Nov. 19-22 | Antlerless | GMU 417 | 30 | 49 / 2 | |
| 1449 | Cypress Second Deer | Archery | Sept. 1-25 and Nov. 25-Dec. 31 | Antlerless | GMU 417 | 20 | 17 / 1 | |
| 1463 | Cypress Second Deer | Muzzleloader | Sept. 26-Oct. 4 and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | Antlerless | GMU 417 | 20 | 14 / 1 |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 32 and 34; 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 417?
93.8% of GMU 417 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 5,004 of its 5,335 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 5,004 acres or 93.8% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 5,004 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 417 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 5,004 | 93.8% |
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 417?
No numbered highway crosses the unit. Nearby: Anacortes (5 miles), Friday Harbor (13 miles), La Conner (14 miles) and Bellingham (15 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 417?
GMU 417 touches 1 other GMU. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 deer numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 410 | Islands | 1.5% | 60 | 195 |
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in GMU 417 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general deer seasons open to all hunters in GMU 417 are archery: Sept. 1-25 (any deer, black-tailed deer) and Nov. 25-Dec. 31 (late season, any deer, black-tailed deer); muzzleloader: Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (any deer, black-tailed deer) and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, any deer, black-tailed deer); modern firearm: Oct. 17-Nov. 1 (any deer, black-tailed deer) and Nov. 19-22 (late season, any deer, black-tailed deer).
How many deer are taken in GMU 417?
WDFW reports 3 deer taken in GMU 417 in 2025: 2 antlered and 1 antlerless. The most in one year since 2013 was 22, in 2018.
Which special permit deer hunts include GMU 417?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 3 deer permit hunts for GMU 417: 1436 Cypress (30 permits), 1449 Cypress (20 permits) and 1463 Cypress (20 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 417?
93.8% of GMU 417, 5,004 of its 5,335 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 417?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Anacortes (5 miles), Friday Harbor (13 miles) and La Conner (14 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 417
Includes all of Cypress Island
From WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, Game Management Unit Descriptions.
Get a Washington hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Washington are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Washington included.
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.