Almota GMU 142 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and public land
WDFW's harvest report shows 26 elk taken in GMU 142 Almota in 2025. General-season hunters numbered 147 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 597 hunter days. GMU 142 is 3.6% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (17,085 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.
BLMDNR state trust landMilitary land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 142Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 1, Eastern Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 493,394 acres (771 square miles) |
| Counties | Whitman |
| Public land open to hunting | 3.6% (17,977 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 26 (28 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 147 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 31-Nov. 8, any elk |
| Towns in and near it | Uniontown, Colton, Pullman, LaCrosse and Clarkston |
Also for GMU 142: deer hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 142?
WDFW reports 26 elk taken in GMU 142 in 2025, against 28 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 44, in 2021. WDFW's figures average 31 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 25 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Elk taken, all hunts | General season | Special permit | Antlered | Antlerless | General-season hunters | Hunter days | Elk per 100 general hunters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | 26 | 18 | 8 | 147 | 597 | 18 | |
| 2024 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 154 | 650 | 18 |
| 2023 | 37 | 37 | 20 | 17 | 144 | 485 | 26 | |
| 2022 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 119 | 430 | 18 | |
| 2021 | 44 | 43 | 1 | 24 | 20 | 132 | 409 | 33 |
| 2020 | 23 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 191 | 699 | 12 | |
| 2019 | 29 | 29 | 20 | 9 | 191 | 632 | 15 | |
| 2018 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 183 | 701 | 10 | |
| 2017 | 35 | 35 | 23 | 12 | 196 | 675 | 18 | |
| 2016 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 133 | 488 | 14 |
| 2015 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 14 | 195 | 698 | 10 | |
| 2014 | 31 | 31 | 14 | 17 | 160 | 488 | 19 | |
| 2013 | 39 | 39 | 17 | 22 | 213 | 763 | 18 | |
| 2012 | 36 | 36 | 17 | 19 | 177 | 509 | 20 | |
| 2011 | 31 | 31 | 16 | 15 | 170 | 558 | 18 | |
| 2010 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 111 | 381 | 8 | |
| 2009 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 111 | 388 | 13 | |
| 2008 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 4 | ||||
| 2007 | 6 | 6 | not split out | 3 | 3 | 128 | 434 | 5 |
| 2006 | 21 | 21 | not split out | 11 | 10 | 135 | 444 | 16 |
| 2005 | 10 | 10 | not split out | 4 | 6 | 97 | 320 | 10 |
| 2004 | 6 | 6 | not split out | 6 | 0 | 102 | 385 | 6 |
| 2003 | 1 | 1 | not split out | 0 | 1 | 86 | 291 | 1 |
| 2002 | 7 | 7 | not split out | 2 | 5 | 103 | 349 | 7 |
| 2001 | 4 | 4 | not split out | 3 | 1 | 103 | 327 | 4 |
| 2000 | 35 | 35 | not split out | 5 | 30 | 189 | 482 | 19 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | not split out | 0 | 0 | 66 | 267 | 0 |
| 1998 | 2 | 2 | not split out | 2 | 0 | 42 | 63 | 5 |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | not split out | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 142, 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. Elk 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 142 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 142 in 2025: 99, who took 15 (15.2% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 20 | 124 | 0 | 0% | |
| Modern firearm | 99 | 396 | 15 | 15.2% | 26 |
| Muzzleloader | 26 | 70 | 11 | 42.4% | 6 |
| Multiple-season tag | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 142?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 1-point (spike): 6 of 18 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| 2024 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 7 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 17 |
| 2022 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 20 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 142 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 142, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (any elk); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (any elk) and Nov. 25-Dec. 8 (late season, any elk); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 8 (any elk). WDFW also lists 3 restricted general seasons here (master hunters only).
| Weapon | Season | 2026 dates | Legal elk | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 142 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Oct. 31-Nov. 8 | Any elk | All hunters | |
| Modern firearm | General season | Dec. 9-31 | Antlerless only | Master Hunters only | |
| Archery | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | Any elk | All hunters | |
| Archery | Late archery season | Dec. 9-31 | Antlerless only | Master Hunters only | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Oct. 3-9 | Any elk | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Late muzzleloader season | Nov. 25-Dec. 8 | Any elk | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Late muzzleloader season | Dec. 9-31 | Antlerless only | Master Hunters only |
Source: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 44, 45 and 46, with WDFW's April 2026 corrections. WDFW can change a season during the year: check WDFW's regulations page before you go.
How much public land is in GMU 142?
3.6% of GMU 142 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 17,977 of its 493,394 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 17,085 acres or 3.5% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 17,085 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 142 |
|---|---|---|
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 21,896 | 4.4% |
| DNR state trust land | 17,085 | 3.5% |
| BLM | 892 | 0.2% |
| Military land (restricted) | 190 | under 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 142?
Highways through the unit: US 195 (about 30 miles inside it), SR 194 (about 29 miles inside it), SR 127 (about 26 miles inside it), SR 193 (about 9 miles inside it) and SR 26 (about 7 miles inside it). Towns inside: Uniontown and Colton. Nearby: Pullman (on the line), LaCrosse (on the line), Clarkston (on the line) and Albion (2 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 142?
GMU 142 touches 6 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 elk numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Elk taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 139 | Steptoe | 2.9% | 59 | 327 |
| GMU 145 | Mayview | 3.4% | 0 | 4 |
| GMU 149 | Prescott | 2.5% | 17 | 104 |
| GMU 178 | Peola | 4.8% | 12 | 74 |
| GMU 284 | Ritzville | 6% | 15 | 58 |
| GMU 381 | Kahlotus | 10% | 27 | 86 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 142 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 142 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (any elk); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (any elk) and Nov. 25-Dec. 8 (late season, any elk); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 8 (any elk).
How many elk are taken in GMU 142?
WDFW reports 26 elk taken in GMU 142 in 2025: 18 antlered and 8 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 44, in 2021.
How much public land is in GMU 142?
3.6% of GMU 142, 17,977 of its 493,394 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 142?
Uniontown and Colton are inside the unit. Just outside: Pullman (on the line), LaCrosse (on the line) and Clarkston (on the line).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 142
Beginning at US Hwy (US) 195 and State Route (SR) 26 at the town of Colfax; SE on US 195 to SR 270; E on SR 270, through the town of Pullman to the Washington-Idaho state line near Moscow, Idaho; S along the Washington-Idaho state line to the Snake River (Asotin-Whitman county line), north of the town of Clarkston; W along the Snake River (Asotin-Whitman, Garfield-Whitman, and Columbia- Whitman county line) to the mouth of the Palouse River (Franklin-Whitman county line); N and E up the Palouse River (Franklin-Whitman and Whitman- Adams county lines) to SR 26, west of the town of Gordon; E on SR 26 (Washtucna-Lacrosse Hwy) to US 195 at the town of Colfax 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 elk by GMU Region 1 GMU 139 GMU 149 GMU 178 GMU 284 GMU 381