Pysht GMU 603 deer hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 130 deer taken in GMU 603 Pysht in 2025, 1 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 383 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 2,506 hunter days. GMU 603 is 55.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (42,472 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 park or historic site (no hunting)Military land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 603Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 149,891 acres (234 square miles) |
| Counties | Clallam |
| Public land open to hunting | 55.2% (82,706 acres) |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 130 (172 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 383 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 17-Nov. 1, any buck |
| Deer special permit hunts, 2026 | 1 hunt, 5 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Port Angeles and Forks |
Also for GMU 603: elk hunting, black bear hunting.
How many deer are taken in GMU 603?
WDFW reports 130 deer taken in GMU 603 in 2025, against 172 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 332, in 1997. WDFW's figures average 111 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 105 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 | 130 | 129 | 1 | 130 | 0 | 383 | 2,506 | 34 |
| 2024 | 172 | 171 | 1 | 172 | 0 | 465 | 2,535 | 37 |
| 2023 | 95 | 92 | 3 | 95 | 0 | 473 | 2,642 | 19 |
| 2022 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 0 | 398 | 1,917 | 19 | |
| 2021 | 86 | 85 | 1 | 86 | 0 | 443 | 2,372 | 19 |
| 2020 | 112 | 111 | 1 | 112 | 0 | 364 | 1,940 | 30 |
| 2019 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 0 | 369 | 2,441 | 26 | |
| 2018 | 83 | 79 | 4 | 83 | 0 | 359 | 2,035 | 22 |
| 2017 | 108 | 105 | 3 | 108 | 0 | 421 | 2,465 | 25 |
| 2016 | 125 | 125 | 125 | 0 | 467 | 2,612 | 27 | |
| 2015 | 100 | 99 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 463 | 2,549 | 21 |
| 2014 | 106 | 104 | 2 | 104 | 2 | 466 | 2,768 | 22 |
| 2013 | 98 | 92 | 6 | 92 | 6 | 486 | 2,604 | 19 |
| 2012 | 138 | 136 | 2 | 135 | 3 | 524 | 3,013 | 26 |
| 2011 | 121 | 120 | 1 | 120 | 1 | 523 | 2,867 | 23 |
| 2010 | 120 | 117 | 3 | 117 | 3 | 529 | 3,073 | 22 |
| 2009 | 167 | 167 | 143 | 24 | 651 | 3,675 | 26 | |
| 2008 | 154 | 147 | 7 | 140 | 14 | |||
| 2007 | 153 | 153 | not split out | 135 | 18 | 576 | 3,212 | 27 |
| 2006 | 106 | 106 | not split out | 96 | 10 | 513 | 2,987 | 21 |
| 2005 | 115 | 115 | not split out | 100 | 15 | 609 | 3,340 | 19 |
| 2004 | 127 | 127 | not split out | 112 | 15 | 683 | 3,666 | 19 |
| 2003 | 131 | 131 | not split out | 109 | 22 | 708 | 3,831 | 19 |
| 2002 | 115 | 115 | not split out | 98 | 17 | 806 | 4,456 | 14 |
| 2001 | 188 | 188 | not split out | 134 | 54 | 988 | 4,958 | 19 |
| 2000 | 217 | 217 | not split out | 149 | 68 | 1,545 | 6,198 | 14 |
| 1999 | 287 | 287 | not split out | 175 | 112 | 2,130 | 11,497 | 13 |
| 1998 | 326 | 326 | not split out | 194 | 132 | 2,145 | 8,931 | 15 |
| 1997 | 332 | 332 | not split out | 233 | 99 | 1,430 | 7,055 | 23 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, GMU 603, 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 603 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most deer hunters in GMU 603 in 2025: 326, who took 118 (36.2% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Deer taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 22 | 148 | 2 | 9% | 74 |
| Modern firearm | 326 | 2,125 | 118 | 36.2% | 18 |
| Muzzleloader | 9 | 57 | 1 | 11.2% | 57 |
| Multiple-season tag | 26 | 176 | 8 | 30.8% | 22 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer general season, 2025).
What size bucks come out of GMU 603?
WDFW counts antlered deer by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 2-point: 64 of 130 antlered deer.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | 64 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 65 | 66 | 35 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 27 | 41 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 26 | 34 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 25 | 40 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, antler points).
When is deer season in GMU 603 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 603, by weapon: archery: Sept. 1-25 (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 603 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 603?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 1 deer special permit hunt that takes in GMU 603, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1553 | Pysht Youth only | Modern | Nov. 2-18 | Any Buck | GMU 603 | 5 | 30 / 2 | 2 hunters, 1 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 603?
55.2% of GMU 603 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 82,706 of its 149,891 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 42,472 acres or 28.3% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 42,472 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 603 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 42,472 | 28.3% |
| National forest | 40,099 | 26.8% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 207 | 0.1% |
| WDFW land | 97 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 38 | under 0.1% |
| Military land (restricted) | 14 | under 0.1% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 11 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 603, by WDFW's own boundaries: North Olympic Wildlife Area (263 acres here; units Elwha and Twin Rivers).
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 603?
Highways through the unit: SR 112 (about 60 miles inside it), US 101 (about 12 miles inside it) and SR 113 (about 8 miles inside it). Nearby: Port Angeles (5 miles) and Forks (10 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 603?
GMU 603 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 602 | Dickey | 33.3% | 114 | 342 |
| GMU 607 | Sol Duc | 76% | 52 | 260 |
| GMU 621 | Olympic | 73.2% | 448 | 1,494 |
| GMU 624 | Coyle | 9.3% | 293 | 841 |
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in GMU 603 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general deer seasons open to all hunters in GMU 603 are archery: Sept. 1-25 (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 603?
WDFW reports 130 deer taken in GMU 603 in 2025: 130 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 332, in 1997.
Which special permit deer hunts include GMU 603?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 1 deer permit hunt for GMU 603: 1553 Pysht (5 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 603?
55.2% of GMU 603, 82,706 of its 149,891 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 603?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Port Angeles (5 miles) and Forks (10 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 603
Beginning at the mouth of the Clallam River on Strait of Juan de Fuca; E along the shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the mouth of the Elwha River; S along the Elwha River to the Olympic National Park boundary; W along the Olympic National Park boundary to one mile west of Lake Crescent; S on the Olympic National Park boundary to US Hwy (US) 101; W on US 101 to the State Route (SR) 113 (Burnt Mountain Rd); N on SR 113 to SR 112; N on SR 112 to the Clallam River; N along the Clallam River to its mouth 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.
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