Swakane GMU 250 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and public land
WDFW's harvest report shows 4 elk taken in GMU 250 Swakane in 2025. General-season hunters numbered 37 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 100 hunter days. GMU 250 is 64.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (69,073 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)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 250Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 138,758 acres (217 square miles) |
| Counties | Chelan |
| Public land open to hunting | 64.8% (89,974 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 4 (4 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 37 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 31-Nov. 15, any elk |
| Towns in and near it | Sunnyslope, Cashmere, Leavenworth and Entiat |
Also for GMU 250: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 250?
WDFW reports 4 elk taken in GMU 250 in 2025, against 4 in 2024. The most in one year since 2000 was 4, in 2025. WDFW's figures average 3 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 2 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 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 100 | 11 | |
| 2024 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 57 | 169 | 7 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 53 | 171 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 49 | 110 | 8 | |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 245 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 134 | 5 | |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 191 | 4 | |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 140 | 6 | |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 148 | 5 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 48 | 174 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 178 | 4 | |
| 2014 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 57 | 197 | 5 |
| 2013 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 60 | 240 | 5 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 118 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 66 | 232 | 5 | |
| 2010 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 179 | 5 | |
| 2009 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 77 | 240 | 3 | |
| 2008 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| 2007 | 1 | 1 | not split out | 1 | 0 | 60 | 246 | 2 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | not split out | 0 | 0 | 69 | 287 | 0 |
| 2005 | 4 | 4 | not split out | 2 | 2 | 41 | 168 | 10 |
| 2004 | 2 | 2 | not split out | 1 | 1 | 58 | 293 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 | 2 | not split out | 2 | 0 | 45 | 191 | 4 |
| 2002 | 3 | 3 | not split out | 3 | 0 | 82 | 398 | 4 |
| 2001 | 3 | 3 | not split out | 2 | 1 | 101 | 351 | 3 |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | not split out | 0 | 0 | 87 | 198 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 250, 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. 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 250 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 250 in 2025: 26, who took 2 (7.6% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 6 | 22 | 0 | 0% | |
| Modern firearm | 26 | 62 | 2 | 7.6% | 31 |
| Muzzleloader | 5 | 16 | 2 | 40% | 8 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 250?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 1-point (spike): 2 of 4 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 250 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 250, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (any elk) and Oct. 31-Nov. 15 (late season, any elk); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (any elk) and Oct. 31-Nov. 15 (late season, any elk); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 15 (any elk).
| Weapon | Season | 2026 dates | Legal elk | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Oct. 31-Nov. 15 | Any elk | All hunters | |
| Archery | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | Any elk | All hunters | |
| Archery | Late archery season | Oct. 31-Nov. 15 | Any elk | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Oct. 3-9 | Any elk | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Late muzzleloader season | Oct. 31-Nov. 15 | Any elk | 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.
How much public land is in GMU 250?
64.8% of GMU 250 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 89,974 of its 138,758 acres. The largest share is national forest, 69,073 acres or 49.8% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 7,820 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 250 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 69,073 | 49.8% |
| WDFW land | 8,305 | 6% |
| DNR state trust land | 7,820 | 5.6% |
| BLM | 4,776 | 3.4% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 52 | under 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 31 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 250, by WDFW's own boundaries: Chelan Wildlife Area (11,019 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 250?
Highways through the unit: US 2 (about 19 miles inside it) and US 97 (about 17 miles inside it). Towns inside: Sunnyslope. Nearby: Cashmere (on the line), Leavenworth (on the line), Entiat (on the line) and Wenatchee (2 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 250?
GMU 250 touches 5 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 elk numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Elk taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 245 | Chiwawa | 88.6% | 0 | 74 |
| GMU 247 | Entiat | 75% | 2 | 24 |
| GMU 251 | Mission | 58.6% | 59 | 590 |
| GMU 262 | Withrow | 5.7% | 0 | |
| GMU 266 | Badger | 7.7% | 2 | 15 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 250 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 250 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (any elk) and Oct. 31-Nov. 15 (late season, any elk); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (any elk) and Oct. 31-Nov. 15 (late season, any elk); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 15 (any elk).
How many elk are taken in GMU 250?
WDFW reports 4 elk taken in GMU 250 in 2025: 4 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 2000 was 4, in 2025.
How much public land is in GMU 250?
64.8% of GMU 250, 89,974 of its 138,758 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 250?
Sunnyslope is inside the unit. Just outside: Cashmere (on the line), Leavenworth (on the line) and Entiat (on the line).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 250
Beginning at the intersection of US Hwy (US) 2 and State Route (SR) 209 (Chumstick Hwy); SE on US 2 to the Columbia River (Chelan-Douglas county line); NE on Chelan-Douglas county line (in the Columbia River) to the Entiat River; NW up the Entiat River to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 5700 (Mad River Rd) at the town of Ardenvoir; N on USFS Rd 5700 to USFS Rd 5800; SW on USFS Rd 5800 to USFS Rd 7520 at French Corral; S on USFS Rd 7520 to USFS Rd 7520 (Eagle Creek Rd); SW on USFS Rd 7520 to SR 209 (Chumstick Hwy); S on SR 209 to US 2 and the point of the 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.