Lewis River GMU 560 deer hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 153 deer taken in GMU 560 Lewis River in 2025, 1 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 1,088 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 5,835 hunter days. GMU 560 is 90.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (420,614 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 landGMU 560Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 475,619 acres (743 square miles) |
| Counties | Cowlitz, Skamania, Klickitat, Yakima and Lewis |
| Public land open to hunting | 90.2% (428,932 acres) |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 153 (143 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 1,088 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 17-Nov. 1, any buck |
| Deer special permit hunts, 2026 | 2 hunts, 6 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Trout Lake, Cougar, Yacolt, White Salmon and Bingen |
Also for GMU 560: elk hunting, black bear hunting.
How many deer are taken in GMU 560?
WDFW reports 153 deer taken in GMU 560 in 2025, against 143 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 170, in 2001. WDFW's figures average 117 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 87 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 | 153 | 152 | 1 | 152 | 1 | 1,088 | 5,835 | 14 |
| 2024 | 143 | 141 | 2 | 142 | 1 | 1,097 | 6,019 | 13 |
| 2023 | 94 | 93 | 1 | 93 | 1 | 1,080 | 5,965 | 9 |
| 2022 | 101 | 100 | 1 | 100 | 1 | 1,212 | 6,262 | 8 |
| 2021 | 96 | 93 | 3 | 93 | 3 | 1,324 | 7,314 | 7 |
| 2020 | 107 | 105 | 2 | 105 | 2 | 1,521 | 7,784 | 7 |
| 2019 | 106 | 105 | 1 | 105 | 1 | 1,323 | 7,407 | 8 |
| 2018 | 47 | 46 | 1 | 46 | 1 | 1,374 | 7,838 | 3 |
| 2017 | 57 | 56 | 1 | 56 | 1 | 1,240 | 6,758 | 5 |
| 2016 | 120 | 115 | 5 | 116 | 4 | 1,399 | 8,016 | 8 |
| 2015 | 131 | 129 | 2 | 129 | 2 | 1,503 | 8,163 | 9 |
| 2014 | 100 | 99 | 1 | 99 | 1 | 1,414 | 7,739 | 7 |
| 2013 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 0 | 1,301 | 7,476 | 5 | |
| 2012 | 88 | 83 | 5 | 83 | 5 | 1,187 | 6,962 | 7 |
| 2011 | 84 | 83 | 1 | 67 | 17 | 1,326 | 7,239 | 6 |
| 2010 | 97 | 97 | 85 | 12 | 1,481 | 8,143 | 7 | |
| 2009 | 83 | 81 | 2 | 73 | 10 | 1,547 | 8,710 | 5 |
| 2008 | 70 | 68 | 2 | 60 | 10 | |||
| 2007 | 124 | 124 | not split out | 108 | 16 | 1,845 | 10,589 | 7 |
| 2006 | 140 | 140 | not split out | 123 | 17 | 1,848 | 10,360 | 8 |
| 2005 | 118 | 118 | not split out | 94 | 24 | 1,166 | 6,083 | 10 |
| 2004 | 144 | 144 | not split out | 114 | 30 | 1,275 | 7,204 | 11 |
| 2003 | 125 | 125 | not split out | 105 | 20 | 1,266 | 7,218 | 10 |
| 2002 | 125 | 125 | not split out | 106 | 19 | 1,571 | 9,427 | 8 |
| 2001 | 170 | 170 | not split out | 154 | 16 | 1,698 | 9,672 | 10 |
| 2000 | 163 | 163 | not split out | 124 | 39 | 2,059 | 8,721 | 8 |
| 1999 | 125 | 125 | not split out | 81 | 44 | 2,713 | 14,288 | 5 |
| 1998 | 162 | 162 | not split out | 127 | 35 | 2,888 | 11,964 | 6 |
| 1997 | 142 | 142 | not split out | 120 | 22 | 2,567 | 9,024 | 6 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, GMU 560, 1997 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 560 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most deer hunters in GMU 560 in 2025: 800, who took 127 (15.8% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Deer taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 162 | 1,095 | 6 | 3.8% | 183 |
| Modern firearm | 800 | 4,030 | 127 | 15.8% | 32 |
| Muzzleloader | 62 | 364 | 7 | 11.2% | 52 |
| Multiple-season tag | 64 | 346 | 12 | 18.8% | 29 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer general season, 2025).
What size bucks come out of GMU 560?
WDFW counts antlered deer by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 2-point: 58 of 152 antlered deer.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | 58 | 36 | 15 | 6 | 1 |
| 2024 | 35 | 49 | 38 | 15 | 5 | 1 |
| 2023 | 28 | 38 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| 2022 | 24 | 25 | 37 | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| 2021 | 20 | 28 | 30 | 11 | 4 | 3 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, antler points).
When is deer season in GMU 560 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 560, by weapon: archery: Sept. 1-20 (any buck, black-tailed deer) and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, 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 560 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. 1-20 | Any buck | All hunters | |
| Archery | Late archery season | Black-tailed Deer | Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | 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 560?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 2 deer special permit hunts that take in GMU 560, with 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1061 | Lewis River Quality Deer | Modern | Nov. 2-18 | Any Buck | GMU 560 | 1 | 108 / 11 | |
| 1547 | Lewis River Youth only | Modern | Oct. 17-Nov. 1 | Antlerless | GMU 560 | 5 | 46 / 2 | 1 hunter, 1 taken |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 28 and 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 560?
90.2% of GMU 560 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 428,932 of its 475,619 acres. The largest share is national forest, 420,614 acres or 88.4% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 8,249 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 560 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 420,614 | 88.4% |
| DNR state trust land | 8,249 | 1.7% |
| BLM | 69 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 560, by WDFW's own boundaries: Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area (1,448 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 560?
No numbered highway crosses the unit. Towns inside: Trout Lake and Cougar. Nearby: Yacolt (13 miles), White Salmon (17 miles) and Bingen (18 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 560?
GMU 560 touches 7 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 deer numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 516 | Packwood | 92.9% | 126 | 648 |
| GMU 522 | Loo-wit | 95.5% | 0 | |
| GMU 554 | Yale | 22.4% | 84 | 289 |
| GMU 556 | Toutle | 31.1% | 302 | 1,217 |
| GMU 572 | Siouxon | 91.4% | 127 | 817 |
| GMU 574 | Wind River | 73.3% | 131 | 507 |
| GMU 578 | West Klickitat | 27.6% | 195 | 1,155 |
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in GMU 560 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general deer seasons open to all hunters in GMU 560 are archery: Sept. 1-20 (any buck, black-tailed deer) and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, 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 560?
WDFW reports 153 deer taken in GMU 560 in 2025: 152 antlered and 1 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 170, in 2001.
Which special permit deer hunts include GMU 560?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 2 deer permit hunts for GMU 560: 1061 Lewis River (1 permit) and 1547 Lewis River (5 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 560?
90.2% of GMU 560, 428,932 of its 475,619 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 560?
Trout Lake and Cougar are inside the unit. Just outside: Yacolt (13 miles), White Salmon (17 miles) and Bingen (18 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 560
Beginning on State Route (SR) 141 and Mount Adams Recreational Area Rd at the town of Trout Lake; N on the Mount Adams Recreational Area Rd to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 82 (Mount Adams Recreational Area Rd); N on USFS Road 82 to Yakama Indian Reservation boundary (Section 16, T7N, R11E); N along the Yakama Indian reservation boundary (Cascade Mountain Range Crest) to USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) in Section 3, T11N, R11E; S on USFS Trail 2000 to USFS Trail 98 at Sheep Lake; W on USFS Trail 98 to USFS Rd 2160 at Walupt Lake; W on USFS Rd 2160 to USFS Rd 21; S and W on USFS Rd 21 to USFS Rd 23; S on USFS Rd 23 to USFS Trail 263; S and W on USFS Trail 263 to USFS Trail 261; S on USFS Trail 261 to USFS Trail 1; W on USFS Trail 1 to USFS Rd 99; S and W on USFS Rd 99 to USFS Trail 225 (Smith Creek Trail); S on USFS Trail 225 to Ape Canyon Creek; N and W up Ape Canyon Creek to Mt. St. Helens crater's eastern edge; W along Mt. St. Helens crater's southern edge to headwaters of S Fork Toutle River; W along S Weyco 1000 line; N on Weyco 1000 line to Muller Rd; N on Muller Rd to 3rd St South in the town of Pe Ell; N on 3rd St South to SR 6 at the town of Pe Ell; N on SR 6 to Stevens Rd, south of the town of Doty, 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 516 GMU 554 GMU 556 GMU 572 GMU 574 GMU 578