Okanogan East GMU 204 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 35 elk taken in GMU 204 Okanogan East in 2025. General-season hunters numbered 503 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 2,442 hunter days. GMU 204 is 47.7% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (239,137 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 wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Bureau of ReclamationOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 204Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 638,769 acres (998 square miles) |
| Counties | Okanogan and Ferry |
| Public land open to hunting | 47.7% (304,441 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 35 (53 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 503 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 31-Nov. 8, any bull |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 5 hunts, 35 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Tonasket, Oroville, Republic and Riverside |
Also for GMU 204: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 204?
WDFW reports 35 elk taken in GMU 204 in 2025, against 53 in 2024. The most in one year since 2001 was 53, in 2024. WDFW's figures average 37 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 14 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 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 503 | 2,442 | 7 | |
| 2024 | 53 | 52 | 1 | 49 | 4 | 398 | 1,846 | 13 |
| 2023 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 2 | 399 | 1,752 | 7 | |
| 2022 | 26 | 24 | 2 | 24 | 2 | 375 | 1,624 | 6 |
| 2021 | 44 | 44 | 41 | 3 | 336 | 1,553 | 13 | |
| 2020 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 314 | 1,338 | 6 | |
| 2019 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 255 | 994 | 7 | |
| 2018 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 261 | 1,083 | 3 |
| 2017 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 205 | 814 | 4 | |
| 2016 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 242 | 1,097 | 5 |
| 2015 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 227 | 832 | 4 | |
| 2014 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 219 | 1,026 | 3 |
| 2013 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 183 | 708 | 4 | |
| 2012 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 143 | 625 | 6 | |
| 2011 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 231 | 985 | 3 | |
| 2010 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 175 | 776 | 6 | |
| 2009 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 145 | 544 | 6 | |
| 2008 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 2007 | 10 | 10 | not split out | 3 | 7 | 109 | 450 | 9 |
| 2006 | 6 | 6 | not split out | 1 | 5 | 90 | 369 | 7 |
| 2005 | 12 | 12 | not split out | 5 | 7 | 57 | 166 | 21 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | not split out | 0 | 0 | 51 | 224 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 1 | not split out | 0 | 1 | 40 | 171 | 3 |
| 2002 | 2 | 2 | not split out | 1 | 1 | 61 | 258 | 3 |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | not split out | 0 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 204, 2001 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 204 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 204 in 2025: 263, who took 23 (8.8% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 140 | 738 | 5 | 3.6% | 148 |
| Modern firearm | 263 | 1,192 | 23 | 8.8% | 52 |
| Muzzleloader | 82 | 362 | 7 | 8.6% | 52 |
| Multiple-season tag | 18 | 150 | 0 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 204?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 1-point (spike): 11 of 35 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| 2024 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 4 |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| 2021 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 3 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 204 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 204, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (any elk) and Nov. 25-Dec. 8 (late season, any bull); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (any bull); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 8 (any bull).
| Weapon | Season | 2026 dates | Legal elk | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 204 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Oct. 31-Nov. 8 | Any bull | All hunters | |
| Archery | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | Any elk | All hunters | |
| Archery | Late archery season | Nov. 25-Dec. 8 | Any bull | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Oct. 3-9 | Any bull | All hunters |
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.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 204?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 5 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 204, with 35 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 elk | Unit or area | 2026 permits | 2025 applicants / average points (WDFW) | 2025 result: hunters, elk taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2200 | North Half Antlerless Elk | EF | Oct. 31-Nov. 8 | Antlerless | GMUs 101, 105, 204 | 10 | 273 / 8 | 5 hunters, 1 taken |
| 2262 | North Half Antlerless Elk | EM | Oct. 3-9 | Antlerless | GMUs 101, 105, 204 | 10 | 77 / 8 | |
| 2407 | East Okanogan Youth only | EF | Oct. 25-Nov. 2 | Antlerless | GMU 204 | 5 | New hunt | |
| 2505 | East Okanogan Hunters 65 or older | EF | Oct. 25-Nov. 2 | Antlerless | GMU 204 | 5 | New hunt | |
| 2607 | Okanogan Hunters with disabilities | EF | Oct. 25-Nov. 2 | Antlerless | GMU 204 | 5 | New hunt |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 51, 53, 55, 56 and 57; WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk 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 204?
47.7% of GMU 204 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 304,441 of its 638,769 acres. The largest share is national forest, 239,137 acres or 37.4% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 45,939 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 204 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 239,137 | 37.4% |
| DNR state trust land | 45,939 | 7.2% |
| WDFW land | 12,123 | 1.9% |
| BLM | 7,141 | 1.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 110 | under 0.1% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 101 | under 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 13 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 204, by WDFW's own boundaries: Scotch Creek Wildlife Area (11,569 acres here; units Tunk Valley, Chesaw and Charles And Mary Eder), Sinlahekin Wildlife Area (253 acres here; units McLoughlin Falls, Driscoll Island and Sinlahekin) and Sherman Creek Wildlife Area (143 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 204?
Highways through the unit: SR 20 (about 34 miles inside it), US 97 (about 20 miles inside it) and SR 21 (about 7 miles inside it). Towns inside: Tonasket. Nearby: Oroville (on the line), Republic (on the line), Riverside (on the line) and Omak (5 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 204?
GMU 204 touches 4 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 elk numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Elk taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 101 | Sherman | 72.8% | 10 | 305 |
| GMU 209 | Wannacut | 26.8% | 2 | 14 |
| GMU 215 | Sinlahekin | 72.4% | 0 | 34 |
| GMU 233 | Pogue | 45.7% | 2 | 50 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 204 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 204 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (any elk) and Nov. 25-Dec. 8 (late season, any bull); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (any bull); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 8 (any bull).
How many elk are taken in GMU 204?
WDFW reports 35 elk taken in GMU 204 in 2025: 35 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 2001 was 53, in 2024.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 204?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 5 elk permit hunts for GMU 204: 2200 North Half (10 permits), 2262 North Half (10 permits), 2407 East Okanogan (5 permits), 2505 East Okanogan (5 permits) and 2607 Okanogan (5 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 204?
47.7% of GMU 204, 304,441 of its 638,769 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 204?
Tonasket is inside the unit. Just outside: Oroville (on the line), Republic (on the line) and Riverside (on the line).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 204
Beginning on the eastern shore of Osoyoos Lake and the US-Canadian border; E on the US-Canadian border to the Kettle River near the Ferry Customs Office, north of the town of Toroda; S down the Kettle River to the mouth of Toroda Creek; W up Toroda Creek to Toroda Creek Rd; SW on Toroda Creek Rd to State Route (SR) 20 at the town of Wauconda; E on SR 20 to SR 21 at the town of Republic; S on SR 21 to the northern border of the Colville Indian reservation; W on the northern border of the Colville Indian reservation to the Okanogan River; N up the eastern shore of the Okanogan River and the eastern shore of Osoyoos Lake to the US-Canadian border 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 2 GMU 101 GMU 215 GMU 233