Randle GMU 503 deer hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 88 deer taken in GMU 503 Randle in 2025, 2 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 433 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 2,509 hunter days. GMU 503 is 11.1% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (3,687 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 landOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 503Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 36,308 acres (57 square miles) |
| Counties | Lewis |
| Public land open to hunting | 11.1% (4,015 acres) |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 88 (83 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 433 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 17-Nov. 1, any buck |
| Deer special permit hunts, 2026 | 1 hunt, 5 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Morton and Mossyrock |
Also for GMU 503: elk hunting.
How many deer are taken in GMU 503?
WDFW reports 88 deer taken in GMU 503 in 2025, against 83 in 2024. The most in one year since 2003 was 113, in 2005. WDFW's figures average 62 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 45 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 | 88 | 86 | 2 | 86 | 2 | 433 | 2,509 | 20 |
| 2024 | 83 | 80 | 3 | 80 | 3 | 367 | 1,912 | 22 |
| 2023 | 65 | 64 | 1 | 64 | 1 | 327 | 1,731 | 20 |
| 2022 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 323 | 1,519 | 13 | |
| 2021 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 401 | 2,061 | 7 | |
| 2020 | 65 | 64 | 1 | 64 | 1 | 390 | 1,775 | 16 |
| 2019 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 0 | 364 | 1,590 | 20 | |
| 2018 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 302 | 1,470 | 9 | |
| 2017 | 34 | 33 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 346 | 1,423 | 10 |
| 2016 | 30 | 29 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 308 | 1,836 | 9 |
| 2015 | 41 | 40 | 1 | 40 | 1 | 366 | 1,720 | 11 |
| 2014 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 379 | 1,696 | 9 | |
| 2013 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 441 | 2,072 | 10 | |
| 2012 | 57 | 56 | 1 | 56 | 1 | 409 | 1,701 | 14 |
| 2011 | 49 | 44 | 5 | 44 | 5 | 406 | 1,960 | 11 |
| 2010 | 61 | 60 | 1 | 60 | 1 | 477 | 2,288 | 13 |
| 2009 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 0 | 613 | 3,008 | 11 | |
| 2008 | 64 | 64 | 65 | 0 | ||||
| 2007 | 87 | 87 | not split out | 87 | 0 | 695 | 3,575 | 13 |
| 2006 | 69 | 69 | not split out | 69 | 0 | 523 | 2,706 | 13 |
| 2005 | 113 | 113 | not split out | 113 | 0 | 571 | 2,743 | 20 |
| 2004 | 107 | 107 | not split out | 106 | 1 | 562 | 2,733 | 19 |
| 2003 | 54 | 54 | not split out | 54 | 0 | 425 | 2,109 | 13 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, GMU 503, 2003 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 503 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most deer hunters in GMU 503 in 2025: 365, who took 78 (21.4% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Deer taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 33 | 193 | 0 | 0% | |
| Modern firearm | 365 | 2,093 | 78 | 21.4% | 27 |
| Muzzleloader | 9 | 47 | 2 | 22.2% | 24 |
| Multiple-season tag | 26 | 176 | 6 | 23% | 29 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer general season, 2025).
What size bucks come out of GMU 503?
WDFW counts antlered deer by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 2-point: 44 of 86 antlered deer.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | 44 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024 | 38 | 19 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 3 |
| 2023 | 25 | 22 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, antler points).
When is deer season in GMU 503 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 503, by weapon: archery: Sept. 1-25 (any buck, black-tailed deer); muzzleloader: Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (any buck, black-tailed deer); modern firearm: Oct. 17-Nov. 1 (any buck, black-tailed deer) and Nov. 19-22 (late season, any buck, black-tailed deer).
| Weapon | Season | Deer | 2026 dates | Legal deer | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 503 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Black-tailed Deer | Oct. 17-Nov. 1 | Any buck | All hunters | |
| Modern firearm | Late general season | Black-tailed Deer | Nov. 19-22 | Any buck | All hunters | |
| Archery | Early archery season | Black-tailed Deer | Sept. 1-25 | Any buck | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Black-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 503?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 1 deer special permit hunt that takes in GMU 503, with 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1537 | Randle Youth only | Modern | Oct. 17-Nov. 1 | Antlerless | GMU 503 | 5 | 14 / 1 | 2 hunters, 2 taken |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, page 36; 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 503?
11.1% of GMU 503 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 4,015 of its 36,308 acres. The largest share is national forest, 3,687 acres or 10.2% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 278 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 503 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 3,687 | 10.2% |
| DNR state trust land | 278 | 0.8% |
| BLM | 50 | 0.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 28 | 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 503, by WDFW's own boundaries: Cowlitz Wildlife Area (1,627 acres here; units Kosmos, Riffe Buffer, Spears and Kiona Creek).
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 503?
Highways through the unit: US 12 (about 11 miles inside it). Nearby: Morton (5 miles) and Mossyrock (14 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 503?
GMU 503 touches 4 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 deer numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 505 | Mossyrock | 3.4% | 394 | 1,269 |
| GMU 510 | Stormking | 32.6% | 89 | 399 |
| GMU 516 | Packwood | 92.9% | 126 | 648 |
| GMU 520 | Winston | 13.8% | 545 | 1,691 |
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in GMU 503 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general deer seasons open to all hunters in GMU 503 are archery: Sept. 1-25 (any buck, black-tailed deer); muzzleloader: Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (any buck, black-tailed deer); modern firearm: Oct. 17-Nov. 1 (any buck, black-tailed deer) and Nov. 19-22 (late season, any buck, black-tailed deer).
How many deer are taken in GMU 503?
WDFW reports 88 deer taken in GMU 503 in 2025: 86 antlered and 2 antlerless. The most in one year since 2003 was 113, in 2005.
Which special permit deer hunts include GMU 503?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 1 deer permit hunt for GMU 503: 1537 Randle (5 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 503?
11.1% of GMU 503, 4,015 of its 36,308 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 503?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Morton (5 miles) and Mossyrock (14 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 503
Beginning at the intersection of US Hwy (US) 12 and the Rayonier 100 Mainline (Kosmos Rd, Old Champion Haul Rd); E on US 12 to State Route (SR) 131; S on SR 131 to Cispus Rd; E on Cispus Rd to Spears Rd; W on Spears Rd to SR 131; S on SR 131 to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 25; to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 25; S on the USFS Rd 25 to the Cispus River; W on the Cispus River to Rayonier 271 line; S on the Rayonier 271 line to the Rayonier 300 line; W on the Rayonier 300 line to the Rayonier 100 line (Kosmos Haul Rd); N on the Rayonier 100 line to US 12 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 5 GMU 505 GMU 510 GMU 516 GMU 520