White River GMU 653 deer hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 112 deer taken in GMU 653 White River in 2025, 1 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 443 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 2,301 hunter days. GMU 653 is 52.7% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (130,215 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 forestDNR state trust landNational park or historic site (no hunting)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 653Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 248,222 acres (388 square miles) |
| Counties | King and Pierce |
| Public land open to hunting | 52.7% (130,922 acres) |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 112 (78 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 443 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 17-Nov. 1, any buck |
| Deer special permit hunts, 2026 | 1 hunt, 10 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Buckley, Wilkeson, Carbonado, South Prairie, Enumclaw and Orting |
Also for GMU 653: elk hunting, black bear hunting.
How many deer are taken in GMU 653?
WDFW reports 112 deer taken in GMU 653 in 2025, against 78 in 2024. The most in one year since 2000 was 215, in 2001. WDFW's figures average 81 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 61 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 | 112 | 111 | 1 | 112 | 0 | 443 | 2,301 | 25 |
| 2024 | 78 | 76 | 2 | 78 | 0 | 411 | 2,101 | 18 |
| 2023 | 62 | 61 | 1 | 62 | 0 | 425 | 2,282 | 14 |
| 2022 | 61 | 60 | 1 | 61 | 0 | 436 | 2,042 | 14 |
| 2021 | 92 | 91 | 1 | 92 | 0 | 588 | 2,655 | 15 |
| 2020 | 50 | 48 | 2 | 50 | 0 | 462 | 2,025 | 10 |
| 2019 | 83 | 82 | 1 | 83 | 0 | 519 | 2,637 | 16 |
| 2018 | 56 | 56 | 56 | 0 | 475 | 2,371 | 12 | |
| 2017 | 52 | 50 | 2 | 51 | 1 | 472 | 2,526 | 11 |
| 2016 | 65 | 62 | 3 | 65 | 0 | 587 | 3,049 | 11 |
| 2015 | 90 | 88 | 2 | 90 | 0 | 570 | 2,821 | 15 |
| 2014 | 81 | 81 | 80 | 1 | 655 | 3,200 | 12 | |
| 2013 | 80 | 80 | 75 | 5 | 620 | 3,396 | 13 | |
| 2012 | 89 | 89 | 85 | 4 | 639 | 3,101 | 14 | |
| 2011 | 106 | 106 | 100 | 6 | 762 | 3,508 | 14 | |
| 2010 | 112 | 112 | 98 | 14 | 764 | 3,681 | 15 | |
| 2009 | 94 | 94 | 90 | 4 | 793 | 4,038 | 12 | |
| 2008 | 103 | 102 | 1 | 99 | 4 | |||
| 2007 | 156 | 156 | not split out | 151 | 5 | 770 | 3,847 | 20 |
| 2006 | 113 | 113 | not split out | 110 | 3 | 639 | 3,057 | 18 |
| 2005 | 124 | 124 | not split out | 114 | 10 | 884 | 4,278 | 14 |
| 2004 | 157 | 157 | not split out | 148 | 9 | 1,024 | 4,734 | 15 |
| 2003 | 154 | 154 | not split out | 151 | 3 | 915 | 4,738 | 17 |
| 2002 | 170 | 170 | not split out | 165 | 5 | 1,059 | 5,566 | 16 |
| 2001 | 215 | 215 | not split out | 184 | 31 | 1,216 | 6,029 | 18 |
| 2000 | 88 | 88 | not split out | 73 | 15 | 1,313 | 4,679 | 7 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, GMU 653, 2000 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 653 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most deer hunters in GMU 653 in 2025: 394, who took 109 (27.6% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Deer taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 19 | 110 | 0 | 0% | |
| Modern firearm | 394 | 2,018 | 109 | 27.6% | 19 |
| Multiple-season tag | 30 | 173 | 2 | 6.6% | 87 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer general season, 2025).
What size bucks come out of GMU 653?
WDFW counts antlered deer by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 2-point: 42 of 112 antlered deer.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | 42 | 27 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | 8 | 37 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 0 |
| 2023 | 13 | 25 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 17 | 20 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 15 | 37 | 22 | 13 | 5 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, antler points).
When is deer season in GMU 653 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 653, by weapon: archery: Sept. 1-25 (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 653 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Source: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 23 and 24, 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 653?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 1 deer special permit hunt that takes in GMU 653, with 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1069 | White River Quality Deer | Modern | Nov. 2-18 | Any Buck | GMU 653 | 10 | 137 / 11 |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, page 28; 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 653?
52.7% of GMU 653 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 130,922 of its 248,222 acres. The largest share is national forest, 130,215 acres or 52.5% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 707 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 653 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 130,215 | 52.5% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 5,044 | 2% |
| DNR state trust land | 707 | 0.3% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 221 | 0.1% |
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 653?
Highways through the unit: SR 410 (about 29 miles inside it) and SR 165 (about 12 miles inside it). Towns inside: Buckley, Wilkeson, Carbonado and Greenwater. Nearby: South Prairie (2 miles), Enumclaw (2 miles), Orting (6 miles) and Bonney Lake (6 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 653?
GMU 653 touches 6 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 deer numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 346 | Little Naches | 93.7% | 34 | 664 |
| GMU 454 | Issaquah | 4.6% | 164 | 570 |
| GMU 466 | Stampede | 58.4% | 14 | 115 |
| GMU 485 | Green River | 53.8% | 9 | |
| GMU 652 | Puyallup | 1.1% | 189 | 754 |
| GMU 654 | Mashel | 19.3% | 165 | 1,104 |
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in GMU 653 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general deer seasons open to all hunters in GMU 653 are archery: Sept. 1-25 (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 653?
WDFW reports 112 deer taken in GMU 653 in 2025: 112 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 2000 was 215, in 2001.
Which special permit deer hunts include GMU 653?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 1 deer permit hunt for GMU 653: 1069 White River (10 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 653?
52.7% of GMU 653, 130,922 of its 248,222 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 653?
Buckley, Wilkeson and Carbonado are inside the unit. Just outside: South Prairie (2 miles), Enumclaw (2 miles) and Orting (6 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 653
Beginning at the lookout station at US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 7110 (Grass Mountain mainline) and the posted GMU 485 boundary encompassing the controlled access portion of the Green River Watershed; E on the posted GMU 485 boundary encompassing the controlled access portion of the Green River Watershed to USFS Rd 7032; E along USFS Rd 7032 to USFS Rd 7030; SE along USFS Rd 7030 to USFS Rd 7036; SE along USFS Rd 7036 to USFS Rd 7038; SE on USFS Rd 7038 to USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) at its closest point to USFS Rd 7038 near Windy Gap north of Pyramid Peak; S on the USFS Trail 2000 to Pierce-Yakima county Line (Cascades Crest) in T17N, R10E, Sec 35; S on the county line to the Mt. Rainier National Park boundary in T17 R, R10E, Sec 35; S on the park boundary to Chinook Pass; N and W on the Mt. Rainier National Park boundary to the Carbon River; NW down the Carbon River to the power transmission line at T19N, R06E, Sec 21; NE along the power transmission line to SR 165; NE on SR 165 to SR 410; NE on SR 410 to the White River; SE along the White River to the power transmission lines on the north side of the White River near Mud Mountain Dam Rd; NE on the power transmission lines to State Route (SR) 410; E on SR 410 to USFS Rd 7110; N on USFS Rd 7110 to the posted GMU 485 boundary encompassing the controlled access portion of the Green River Watershed 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 6 GMU 346 GMU 454 GMU 466 GMU 485 GMU 652 GMU 654