Bumping GMU 356 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 40 elk taken in GMU 356 Bumping in 2025, 14 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 589 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 3,101 hunter days. GMU 356 is 99.9% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (180,081 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 forestNational park or historic site (no hunting)GMU 356Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 3, South Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 180,253 acres (282 square miles) |
| Counties | Yakima |
| Public land open to hunting | 99.9% (180,081 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 40 (56 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 589 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 31-Nov. 8, spike bull |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 14 hunts, 314 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Tieton, South Cle Elum and Cle Elum |
Also for GMU 356: deer hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 356?
WDFW reports 40 elk taken in GMU 356 in 2025, against 56 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 174, in 2009. WDFW's figures average 41 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 87 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 | 40 | 26 | 14 | 30 | 10 | 589 | 3,101 | 4 |
| 2024 | 56 | 32 | 24 | 36 | 20 | 783 | 4,153 | 4 |
| 2023 | 39 | 24 | 15 | 28 | 11 | 723 | 3,605 | 3 |
| 2022 | 36 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 15 | 666 | 3,295 | 3 |
| 2021 | 34 | 20 | 14 | 23 | 11 | 416 | 2,003 | 5 |
| 2020 | 50 | 38 | 12 | 42 | 8 | 908 | 4,768 | 4 |
| 2019 | 68 | 52 | 16 | 42 | 26 | 1,156 | 6,016 | 4 |
| 2018 | 74 | 47 | 27 | 41 | 33 | 1,251 | 6,527 | 4 |
| 2017 | 75 | 31 | 44 | 48 | 27 | 1,173 | 6,389 | 3 |
| 2016 | 168 | 82 | 86 | 76 | 92 | 1,314 | 7,254 | 6 |
| 2015 | 154 | 102 | 52 | 63 | 91 | 1,263 | 6,735 | 8 |
| 2014 | 144 | 92 | 52 | 66 | 78 | 1,169 | 6,290 | 8 |
| 2013 | 112 | 73 | 39 | 54 | 58 | 1,223 | 6,722 | 6 |
| 2012 | 93 | 47 | 46 | 76 | 17 | 823 | 4,042 | 6 |
| 2011 | 40 | 15 | 25 | 38 | 2 | 1,015 | 5,287 | 1 |
| 2010 | 80 | 48 | 32 | 73 | 7 | 1,066 | 5,514 | 5 |
| 2009 | 174 | 117 | 57 | 86 | 88 | 1,443 | 8,006 | 8 |
| 2008 | 116 | 65 | 51 | 57 | 59 | |||
| 2007 | 79 | 79 | not split out | 36 | 43 | 1,587 | 8,418 | 5 |
| 2006 | 66 | 66 | not split out | 41 | 25 | 1,645 | 8,715 | 4 |
| 2005 | 64 | 64 | not split out | 38 | 26 | 1,688 | 9,021 | 4 |
| 2004 | 76 | 76 | not split out | 64 | 12 | 2,034 | 10,442 | 4 |
| 2003 | 63 | 63 | not split out | 41 | 22 | 1,877 | 10,020 | 3 |
| 2002 | 80 | 80 | not split out | 45 | 35 | 2,149 | 11,356 | 4 |
| 2001 | 90 | 90 | not split out | 72 | 18 | 2,384 | 12,659 | 4 |
| 2000 | 136 | 136 | not split out | 94 | 42 | 3,165 | 14,397 | 4 |
| 1999 | 84 | 84 | not split out | 50 | 34 | 3,303 | 19,799 | 3 |
| 1998 | 61 | 61 | not split out | 32 | 29 | 2,592 | 11,617 | 2 |
| 1997 | 71 | 71 | not split out | 45 | 26 | 2,965 | 12,898 | 2 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 356, 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 356 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 356 in 2025: 372, who took 22 (6% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 128 | 761 | 2 | 1.6% | 381 |
| Modern firearm | 372 | 1,893 | 22 | 6% | 86 |
| Muzzleloader | 81 | 401 | 2 | 2.4% | 201 |
| Multiple-season tag | 8 | 46 | 0 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 356?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 1-point (spike): 24 of 30 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| 2024 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 20 |
| 2023 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 |
| 2022 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| 2021 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 356 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 356, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (spike bull); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (spike bull); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 8 (spike bull).
| Weapon | Season | 2026 dates | Legal elk | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 356 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Oct. 31-Nov. 8 | Spike bull | All hunters | |
| Archery | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | Spike bull | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Oct. 3-9 | 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 356?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 14 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 356, with 314 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Goose Prairie Quality Elk | EF | Sept. 25-29 | Any Bull | GMUs 352, 356 | 4 | 621 / 16 | 1 hunter, 1 taken |
| 2060 | Goose Prairie Quality Elk | EA | Sept. 1-18 | Any Bull | GMUs 352, 356 | 18 | 432 / 9 | 1 hunter, 0 taken |
| 2084 | Goose Prairie Quality Elk | EM | Sept. 30-Oct. 6 | Any Bull | GMUs 352, 356 | 6 | 232 / 19 | 1 hunter, 0 taken |
| 2226 | Bumping Antlerless Elk | EF | Nov. 4-8 | Antlerless | GMU 356 | 20 | 886 / 10 | 11 hunters, 5 taken |
| 2256 | Bumping Antlerless Elk | EA | Sept. 12-24 | Antlerless | GMU 356 | 65 | 326 / 5 | |
| 2284 | Bumping Antlerless Elk | EM | Oct. 3-9 | Antlerless | GMU 356 | 15 | 344 / 7 | 5 hunters, 2 taken |
| 2411 | Yakima Central Youth only | EF | Oct. 28-Nov. 8 | Antlerless | GMUs 352, 356, 360 | 10 | 346 / 4 | |
| 2413 | Yakima Early Youth only | EA | Sept. 12-24 | Antlerless | GMUs 336, 340, 352, 356, 364 | 70 | 51 / 1 | 18 hunters, 2 taken |
| 2416 | Yakima Central Youth only | EM | Sept. 26-Oct. 9 | Antlerless | GMUs 352, 356, 360 | 15 | 79 / 2 | 5 hunters, 2 taken |
| 2508 | Yakima Central Hunters 65 or older | EF | Oct. 28-Nov. 8 | Antlerless | GMUs 352, 356, 360 | 10 | 650 / 14 | |
| 2510 | Yakima Early Hunters 65 or older | EA | Sept. 12-24 | Antlerless | GMUs 336, 340, 352, 356, 364 | 20 | 161 / 7 | 11 hunters, 1 taken |
| 2513 | Yakima Central Hunters 65 or older | EM | Sept. 26-Oct. 9 | Antlerless | GMUs 352, 356, 360 | 10 | 234 / 8 | 4 hunters, 1 taken |
| 2612 | Yakima Central Hunters with disabilities | EF, EM, EA | Oct. 28-Nov. 8 | Antlerless | GMUs 352, 356, 360 | 10 | 211 / 8 | |
| 2808 | Goose Prairie Bull Elk | EF | Oct. 26-Nov. 8 | Any Bull | GMUs 352, 356 | 41 | 1,817 / 16 | 5 hunters, 5 taken |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 47, 48, 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 356?
99.9% of GMU 356 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 180,081 of its 180,253 acres. The largest share is national forest, 180,081 acres or 99.9% of the unit.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 356 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 180,081 | 99.9% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 4 | 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 356?
Highways through the unit: US 12 (about 7 miles inside it) and SR 410 (about 6 miles inside it). Nearby: Tieton (16 miles), South Cle Elum (18 miles), Cle Elum (18 miles) and Naches (18 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 356?
GMU 356 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 346 | Little Naches | 93.7% | 143 | 1,275 |
| GMU 352 | Nile | 94.9% | 68 | 790 |
| GMU 360 | Bethel | 97% | 56 | 805 |
| GMU 364 | Rimrock | 96.3% | 75 | 939 |
| GMU 513 | South Rainier | 93.2% | 27 | 502 |
| GMU 516 | Packwood | 92.9% | 59 | 835 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 356 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 356 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (spike bull); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (spike bull); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 8 (spike bull).
How many elk are taken in GMU 356?
WDFW reports 40 elk taken in GMU 356 in 2025: 30 antlered and 10 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 174, in 2009.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 356?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 14 elk permit hunts for GMU 356: 2022 Goose Prairie (4 permits), 2060 Goose Prairie (18 permits), 2084 Goose Prairie (6 permits), 2226 Bumping (20 permits), 2256 Bumping (65 permits) and 2284 Bumping (15 permits), and more in the table above. Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 356?
99.9% of GMU 356, 180,081 of its 180,253 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 356?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Tieton (16 miles), South Cle Elum (18 miles) and Cle Elum (18 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 356
Beginning at the Mount Rainier National Park boundary and State Route (SR) 410 at Chinook Pass; NE on SR 410 to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 1800 (Bumping Lake Rd); SW on the USFS Rd 1800 to USFS Trail 973 (Richmond Mine Trail); SE on USFS Trail 973 to the north fork of Rattlesnake Creek; SE down the north fork of Rattlesnake Creek to USFS Rd 1502 (McDaniel Lake Rd); SE on USFS Rd 1502 to USFS Rd 1500; S on USFS Rd 1500 to US Hwy (US) 12; W on US 12 to USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) at White Pass; N on the USFS Trail 2000 to the Mount Rainier National Park boundary in T15N, R11E, Sec 20; N on the National Park boundary to SR 410 at Chinook Pass 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 3 GMU 346 GMU 352 GMU 360 GMU 364 GMU 513 GMU 516