Mission GMU 251 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 59 elk taken in GMU 251 Mission in 2025, 34 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 590 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 2,542 hunter days. GMU 251 is 58.6% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (146,799 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 251Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 333,331 acres (521 square miles) |
| Counties | Kittitas and Chelan |
| Public land open to hunting | 58.6% (195,221 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 59 (104 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 590 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 31-Nov. 8, true spike bull |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 12 hunts, 200 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Rock Island, East Wenatchee and Quincy |
Also for GMU 251: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 251?
WDFW reports 59 elk taken in GMU 251 in 2025, against 104 in 2024. The most in one year since 2000 was 104, in 2024. WDFW's figures average 84 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 76 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 | 59 | 25 | 34 | 32 | 27 | 590 | 2,542 | 4 |
| 2024 | 104 | 28 | 76 | 34 | 70 | 645 | 2,413 | 4 |
| 2023 | 85 | 34 | 51 | 39 | 46 | 756 | 3,101 | 4 |
| 2022 | 72 | 22 | 50 | 28 | 44 | 689 | 2,806 | 3 |
| 2021 | 100 | 37 | 63 | 50 | 50 | 698 | 2,720 | 5 |
| 2020 | 68 | 24 | 44 | 34 | 34 | 636 | 2,363 | 4 |
| 2019 | 92 | 37 | 55 | 48 | 44 | 519 | 2,018 | 7 |
| 2018 | 49 | 12 | 37 | 17 | 32 | 607 | 2,305 | 2 |
| 2017 | 83 | 21 | 62 | 27 | 56 | 666 | 2,586 | 3 |
| 2016 | 88 | 34 | 54 | 37 | 51 | 489 | 1,945 | 7 |
| 2015 | 82 | 42 | 40 | 44 | 38 | 573 | 2,062 | 7 |
| 2014 | 61 | 30 | 31 | 26 | 35 | 686 | 2,549 | 4 |
| 2013 | 75 | 45 | 30 | 42 | 33 | 707 | 2,681 | 6 |
| 2012 | 60 | 37 | 23 | 36 | 24 | 514 | 2,103 | 7 |
| 2011 | 85 | 65 | 20 | 40 | 45 | 618 | 2,512 | 11 |
| 2010 | 58 | 32 | 26 | 24 | 34 | 559 | 2,277 | 6 |
| 2009 | 64 | 25 | 39 | 18 | 46 | 733 | 2,970 | 3 |
| 2008 | 65 | 42 | 23 | 46 | 19 | |||
| 2007 | 10 | 10 | not split out | 10 | 0 | 803 | 3,706 | 1 |
| 2006 | 35 | 35 | not split out | 35 | 0 | 733 | 2,985 | 5 |
| 2005 | 22 | 22 | not split out | 22 | 0 | 910 | 3,996 | 2 |
| 2004 | 27 | 27 | not split out | 26 | 1 | 1,131 | 5,577 | 2 |
| 2003 | 48 | 48 | not split out | 47 | 1 | 1,064 | 5,049 | 5 |
| 2002 | 74 | 74 | not split out | 74 | 0 | 1,131 | 5,269 | 7 |
| 2001 | 51 | 51 | not split out | 48 | 3 | 1,054 | 4,509 | 5 |
| 2000 | 42 | 42 | not split out | 42 | 0 | 852 | 3,056 | 5 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 251, 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 251 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 251 in 2025: 277, who took 6 (2.2% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 114 | 506 | 10 | 8.8% | 51 |
| Modern firearm | 277 | 1,152 | 6 | 2.2% | 192 |
| Muzzleloader | 191 | 815 | 9 | 4.8% | 91 |
| Multiple-season tag | 8 | 69 | 0 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 251?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 1-point (spike): 24 of 32 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 27 |
| 2024 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 70 |
| 2023 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 46 |
| 2022 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 44 |
| 2021 | 28 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 50 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 251 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 251, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (spike bull) and Nov. 25-Dec. 8 (late season, spike Bull); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (true spike bull); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 8 (true spike bull).
| Weapon | Season | 2026 dates | Legal elk | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 251 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Oct. 31-Nov. 8 | True spike bull | All hunters | |
| Archery | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | Spike bull | All hunters | |
| Archery | Late archery season | Nov. 25-Dec. 8 | Spike Bull | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Oct. 3-9 | True spike 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 251?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 12 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 251, with 200 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Mission Quality Elk | EF | Sept. 25-29 | Any Bull | GMU 251 | 2 | 1,160 / 23 | 1 hunter, 1 taken |
| 2079 | Mission Quality Elk | EM | Sept. 30-Oct. 6 | Any Bull | GMU 251 | 2 | 461 / 15 | 2 hunters, 2 taken |
| 2215 | Malaga Antlerless Elk | EF | Sept. 5-16 | Antlerless | Elk Area 2032 | 20 | 572 / 6 | 10 hunters, 4 taken |
| 2216 | Malaga Antlerless Elk | EF | Nov. 1-Dec. 31 | Antlerless | Elk Area 2032 | 30 | 975 / 8 | 34 hunters, 7 taken |
| 2217 | Peshastin Antlerless Elk | EF | Dec. 15, 2026-Feb, 8, 2027 | Antlerless | Elk Area 2033 | 20 | 414 / 7 | 7 hunters, 6 taken |
| 2247 | Malaga Antlerless Elk | EA | Aug. 29-Sept. 4 | Antlerless | Elk Area 2032 | 20 | 85 / 4 | |
| 2277 | Malaga Antlerless Elk | EM | Oct. 3-9 | Antlerless | Elk Area 2032 | 45 | 263 / 6 | 24 hunters, 7 taken |
| 2409 | Malaga Youth only | EF | Nov. 1-Dec. 31 | Antlerless | Elk Area 2032 | 20 | 225 / 3 | |
| 2506 | Malaga Hunters 65 or older | EF | Nov. 1-Dec. 31 | Antlerless | Elk Area 2032 | 15 | 260 / 9 | |
| 2610 | Malaga Hunters with disabilities | EF, EM, EA | Sept. 5-16 | Antlerless | Elk Area 2032 | 20 | 111 / 8 | |
| 2803 | Mission Bull Elk | EF | Oct. 26-Nov. 8 | Any Bull | GMU 251 | 2 | 2,137 / 12 | 1 hunter, 1 taken |
| 2804 | Peshastin Bull Elk | EF | Feb. 8-17, 2027 | Any Bull | Elk Area 2033 | 4 | 785 / 10 | 2 hunters, 2 taken |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 47, 49, 50, 52, 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 251?
58.6% of GMU 251 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 195,221 of its 333,331 acres. The largest share is national forest, 146,799 acres or 44% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 27,476 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 251 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 146,799 | 44% |
| DNR state trust land | 27,476 | 8.2% |
| WDFW land | 17,027 | 5.1% |
| BLM | 3,919 | 1.2% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 2,335 | 0.7% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 1,023 | 0.3% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 251, by WDFW's own boundaries: Colockum Wildlife Area (25,490 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 251?
Highways through the unit: US 97 (about 35 miles inside it), US 2 (about 34 miles inside it) and SR 285 (about 7 miles inside it). Towns inside: Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere and South Wenatchee. Nearby: Rock Island (on the line), East Wenatchee (on the line), Quincy (11 miles) and Skykomish (12 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 251?
GMU 251 touches 10 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 249 | Alpine | 99.6% | 7 | 82 |
| GMU 250 | Swakane | 64.8% | 4 | 37 |
| GMU 266 | Badger | 7.7% | 2 | 15 |
| GMU 269 | Moses Coulee | 22.6% | 2 | 7 |
| GMU 328 | Naneum | 72.8% | 138 | 2,212 |
| GMU 329 | Quilomene | 87.9% | 140 | 1,155 |
| GMU 335 | Teanaway | 73.8% | 39 | 672 |
| GMU 448 | Stillaguamish | 81.4% | 0 | 15 |
| GMU 460 | Snoqualmie | 61.3% | 63 | 353 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 251 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 251 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (spike bull) and Nov. 25-Dec. 8 (late season, spike Bull); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (true spike bull); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 8 (true spike bull).
How many elk are taken in GMU 251?
WDFW reports 59 elk taken in GMU 251 in 2025: 32 antlered and 27 antlerless. The most in one year since 2000 was 104, in 2024.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 251?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 12 elk permit hunts for GMU 251: 2015 Mission (2 permits), 2079 Mission (2 permits), 2215 Malaga (20 permits), 2216 Malaga (30 permits), 2217 Peshastin (20 permits) and 2247 Malaga (20 permits), and more in the table above. Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 251?
58.6% of GMU 251, 195,221 of its 333,331 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 251?
Wenatchee, Leavenworth and Cashmere are inside the unit. Just outside: Rock Island (on the line), East Wenatchee (on the line) and Quincy (11 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 251
Beginning at US Hwy (US) 2 and the Columbia River (Chelan-Douglas county line); S down the Columbia River (Chelan-Douglas county line) to Tarpiscan Creek; W up Tarpiscan Creek to North Fork Tarpiscan Creek; W up North Fork Tarpiscan Creek to WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) 14 Rd (Tarpiscan Rd); N approximately 100 feet on WDFW 14 Rd to WDFW 10.10 Rd (North Fork Creek Rd); W along WDFW 10.10 Rd to the WDFW 10 Rd (Colockum Rd); W along the WDFW 10 Rd to WDFW 9 Rd (Naneum Ridge Rd); NW on WDFW 9 Rd to Naneum Ridge (Chelan-Kittitas county line) at Wenatchee Mountain; NW along Naneum Ridge, past Mission Peak, to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 9712 (Liberty-Beehive Rd); NW on USFS Rd 9712 to USFS Rd 9716; N on USFS Rd 9716 to US 97 at Swauk Pass; NW on the Wenatchee Mountain Range divide (Kittitas-Chelan county line) to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area boundary near Navaho Peak; N and E on Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area boundary to USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail); N on USFS Trail 2000 to US 2; E on US 2 to the Columbia River (Chelan-Douglas county line) 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 249 GMU 250 GMU 328 GMU 329 GMU 335 GMU 460