Cowiche GMU 368 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 195 elk taken in GMU 368 Cowiche in 2025, 88 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 1,718 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 8,203 hunter days. GMU 368 is 40.9% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (75,457 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 landBureau of ReclamationOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 368Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 3, South Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 225,826 acres (353 square miles) |
| Counties | Yakima |
| Public land open to hunting | 40.9% (92,253 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 195 (164 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 1,718 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 31-Nov. 8, spike bull |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 13 hunts, 517 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Yakima, Union Gap, Tieton, Naches, Selah and Moxee |
Also for GMU 368: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 368?
WDFW reports 195 elk taken in GMU 368 in 2025, against 164 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 482, in 2000. WDFW's figures average 171 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 142 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 | 195 | 107 | 88 | 107 | 88 | 1,718 | 8,203 | 6 |
| 2024 | 164 | 91 | 73 | 85 | 79 | 1,674 | 8,217 | 5 |
| 2023 | 214 | 137 | 77 | 132 | 82 | 1,648 | 8,092 | 8 |
| 2022 | 152 | 94 | 58 | 82 | 70 | 1,615 | 7,895 | 6 |
| 2021 | 129 | 102 | 27 | 96 | 33 | 1,572 | 8,129 | 6 |
| 2020 | 100 | 84 | 16 | 75 | 25 | 1,590 | 7,334 | 5 |
| 2019 | 154 | 134 | 20 | 108 | 46 | 1,695 | 8,325 | 8 |
| 2018 | 135 | 107 | 28 | 86 | 49 | 1,790 | 8,931 | 6 |
| 2017 | 105 | 75 | 30 | 62 | 43 | 1,862 | 9,338 | 4 |
| 2016 | 214 | 136 | 78 | 101 | 113 | 2,058 | 10,297 | 7 |
| 2015 | 380 | 229 | 151 | 114 | 266 | 2,111 | 10,463 | 11 |
| 2014 | 292 | 149 | 143 | 78 | 214 | 2,223 | 10,859 | 7 |
| 2013 | 315 | 178 | 137 | 105 | 210 | 2,229 | 11,107 | 8 |
| 2012 | 479 | 302 | 177 | 174 | 305 | 2,242 | 10,493 | 13 |
| 2011 | 310 | 181 | 129 | 88 | 222 | 2,539 | 12,304 | 7 |
| 2010 | 247 | 185 | 62 | 102 | 145 | 2,454 | 12,065 | 8 |
| 2009 | 308 | 196 | 112 | 165 | 143 | 2,567 | 12,395 | 8 |
| 2008 | 265 | 149 | 116 | 105 | 160 | |||
| 2007 | 182 | 182 | not split out | 99 | 83 | 2,808 | 14,015 | 6 |
| 2006 | 202 | 202 | not split out | 124 | 78 | 2,916 | 14,635 | 7 |
| 2005 | 219 | 219 | not split out | 128 | 91 | 2,945 | 14,629 | 7 |
| 2004 | 156 | 156 | not split out | 134 | 22 | 3,231 | 15,699 | 5 |
| 2003 | 205 | 205 | not split out | 122 | 83 | 2,671 | 13,199 | 8 |
| 2002 | 334 | 334 | not split out | 135 | 199 | 3,284 | 15,903 | 10 |
| 2001 | 321 | 321 | not split out | 131 | 190 | 3,258 | 15,556 | 10 |
| 2000 | 482 | 482 | not split out | 211 | 271 | 4,236 | 17,130 | 11 |
| 1999 | 212 | 212 | not split out | 130 | 82 | 3,273 | 19,399 | 6 |
| 1998 | 162 | 162 | not split out | 142 | 20 | 3,033 | 13,080 | 5 |
| 1997 | 116 | 116 | not split out | 97 | 19 | 2,415 | 9,126 | 5 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 368, 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 368 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 368 in 2025: 1,112, who took 85 (7.6% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 182 | 999 | 2 | 1% | 500 |
| Modern firearm | 1,112 | 5,108 | 85 | 7.6% | 60 |
| Muzzleloader | 395 | 1,899 | 17 | 4.4% | 112 |
| Multiple-season tag | 29 | 197 | 3 | 10.4% | 66 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 368?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 1-point (spike): 93 of 107 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 93 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 88 |
| 2024 | 71 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 79 |
| 2023 | 110 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 82 |
| 2022 | 59 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 70 |
| 2021 | 76 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 33 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 368 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 368, by weapon: muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (spike bull); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 8 (spike bull). WDFW also lists 3 restricted general seasons here (master hunters only).
| Weapon | Season | 2026 dates | Legal elk | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 368 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Aug. 1, 2026-Jan. 20, 2027 | Antlerless only | Master Hunters only | Only in Elk Area 3912 |
| Modern firearm | General season | Oct. 31-Nov. 8 | Spike bull | All hunters | |
| Archery | Late archery season | Aug. 1, 2026 Jan. 20, 2027 | Antlerless only | Master Hunters only | Only in Elk Area 3912 |
| Archery | Late archery season | Nov. 25-Dec. 8 | Spike Bull | All hunters | Only in Elk Area 3681 |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Oct. 3-9 | Spike bull | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Late muzzleloader season | Aug. 1, 2026-Jan. 20, 2027 | Antlerless only | Master Hunters only | Only in Elk Area 3912 |
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 368?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 13 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 368, with 517 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Cowiche Quality Elk | EF | Sept. 25-29 | Any Bull | GMU 368 | 3 | 694 / 11 | 1 hunter, 1 taken |
| 2063 | Cowiche Quality Elk | EA | Sept. 1-18 | Any Bull | GMU 368 | 15 | 143 / 9 | 1 hunter, 0 taken |
| 2087 | Cowiche Quality Elk | EM | Sept. 30-Oct. 6 | Any Bull | GMU 368 | 17 | 363 / 9 | 2 hunters, 1 taken |
| 2229 | Cowiche Antlerless Elk | EF | Nov. 4-8 | Antlerless | GMU 368 | 105 | 1,330 / 7 | 54 hunters, 34 taken |
| 2258 | Cowiche Antlerless Elk | EA | Nov. 25-Dec. 6 | Antlerless | Elk Area 3681 | 130 | 250 / 3 | |
| 2286 | Cowiche Antlerless Elk | EM | Oct. 3-9 | Antlerless | GMU 368 | 80 | 592 / 7 | 40 hunters, 19 taken |
| 2412 | Yakima South Youth only | EF | Oct. 28-Nov. 8 | Antlerless | GMUs 364, 368 | 35 | 356 / 4 | |
| 2414 | Yakima Late Youth only | EA | Nov. 25-Dec. 6 | Antlerless | GMUs 336, 342, 368 | 50 | 26 / 1 | 4 hunters, 0 taken |
| 2417 | Yakima South Youth only | EM | Sept. 26-Oct. 9 | Antlerless | GMUs 364, 368 | 20 | 82 / 3 | 12 hunters, 6 taken |
| 2509 | Yakima South Hunters 65 or older | EF | Oct. 28-Nov. 8 | Antlerless | GMUs 364, 368 | 10 | 554 / 11 | |
| 2511 | Yakima Late Hunters 65 or older | EA | Nov. 25-Dec. 6 | Antlerless | GMUs 336, 342, 368 | 15 | 93 / 6 | 6 hunters, 1 taken |
| 2613 | Yakima South Hunters with disabilities | EF, EM, EA | Oct. 28-Nov. 8 | Antlerless | GMUs 364, 368 | 10 | 177 / 9 | |
| 2811 | Cowiche Bull Elk | EF | Oct. 26-Nov. 8 | Any Bull | GMU 368 | 27 | 1,804 / 16 | 6 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 368?
40.9% of GMU 368 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 92,253 of its 225,826 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 75,457 acres or 33.4% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 75,457 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 368 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 75,457 | 33.4% |
| WDFW land | 12,681 | 5.6% |
| National forest | 3,209 | 1.4% |
| BLM | 859 | 0.4% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 417 | 0.2% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 47 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 368, by WDFW's own boundaries: Oak Creek Wildlife Area (17,406 acres here; units Cowiche, Oak Creek and Bauguess).
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 368?
Highways through the unit: US 12 (about 30 miles inside it), I-82 (about 15 miles inside it) and US 97 (about 14 miles inside it). Towns inside: Yakima, Union Gap, Tieton, Ahtanum, Summitview and Tampico. Nearby: Naches (on the line), Selah (on the line), Moxee (3 miles) and Wapato (6 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 368?
GMU 368 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 342 | Umtanum | 69% | 131 | 1,271 |
| GMU 360 | Bethel | 97% | 56 | 805 |
| GMU 364 | Rimrock | 96.3% | 75 | 939 |
| GMU 372 | Rattlesnake Hills | 7.1% | 41 | 128 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 368 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 368 are muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (spike bull); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 8 (spike bull).
How many elk are taken in GMU 368?
WDFW reports 195 elk taken in GMU 368 in 2025: 107 antlered and 88 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 482, in 2000.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 368?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 13 elk permit hunts for GMU 368: 2025 Cowiche (3 permits), 2063 Cowiche (15 permits), 2087 Cowiche (17 permits), 2229 Cowiche (105 permits), 2258 Cowiche (130 permits) and 2286 Cowiche (80 permits), and more in the table above. Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 368?
40.9% of GMU 368, 92,253 of its 225,826 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 368?
Yakima, Union Gap and Tieton are inside the unit. Just outside: Naches (on the line), Selah (on the line) and Moxee (3 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 368
Beginning on US Hwy (US) 12 to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 1302; NE and SE on US 12 to Interstate Hwy (I)-82; NW on I-82 to the Yakima River; S down the Yakima River to Ahtanum Creek; W and NW on the Yakama Indian Reservation boundary to Reservation Creek and the main divide between the Diamond Fork and Ahtanum Creek drainages; N along the aforementioned divide to Darland Mountain; NE along the crest of Divide Ridge to Jump Of and USFS Rd 1302 (WA Dept of Natural Resources (DNR) C3000); NE on USFS Rd 1302 to US 12 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 342 GMU 360 GMU 364 GMU 372