Kahlotus GMU 381 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and public land
WDFW's harvest report shows 27 elk taken in GMU 381 Kahlotus in 2025. General-season hunters numbered 86 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 294 hunter days. GMU 381 is 10% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (31,639 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.
BLMDNR state trust landNational wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Bureau of ReclamationMilitary land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 381Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 3, South Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 624,273 acres (975 square miles) |
| Counties | Franklin and Adams |
| Public land open to hunting | 10% (62,734 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 27 (7 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 86 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 31-Nov. 15, any elk |
| Towns in and near it | Connell, Mesa, Washtucna, Pasco, Othello and Kennewick |
Also for GMU 381: deer hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 381?
WDFW reports 27 elk taken in GMU 381 in 2025, against 7 in 2024. The most in one year since 2002 was 27, in 2025. WDFW's figures average 10 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 5 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 | 27 | 27 | 3 | 24 | 86 | 294 | 31 | |
| 2024 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 49 | 180 | 14 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 42 | 127 | 7 | |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 27 | 160 | 22 | |
| 2021 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 58 | 212 | 16 | |
| 2020 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 57 | 200 | 12 | |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 61 | 233 | 11 | |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 52 | 253 | 12 | |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 65 | 241 | 5 | |
| 2015 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 28 | 118 | 25 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 173 | 6 | |
| 2013 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 176 | 8 | |
| 2012 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 147 | 5 | |
| 2011 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 51 | 142 | 14 | |
| 2010 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 52 | 173 | 6 | |
| 2009 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 45 | 194 | 16 | |
| 2008 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 4 | ||||
| 2007 | 3 | 3 | not split out | 1 | 2 | 32 | 110 | 9 |
| 2006 | 2 | 2 | not split out | 1 | 1 | 28 | 71 | 7 |
| 2005 | 2 | 2 | not split out | 2 | 0 | 22 | 49 | 9 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | not split out | 0 | 0 | 43 | 137 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 1 | not split out | 1 | 0 | 31 | 101 | 3 |
| 2002 | 2 | 2 | not split out | 2 | 0 | 7 | 30 | 29 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 381, 2002 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 381 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 381 in 2025: 65, who took 26 (40% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 8 | 36 | 0 | 0% | |
| Modern firearm | 65 | 236 | 26 | 40% | 9 |
| Muzzleloader | 13 | 22 | 1 | 7.6% | 22 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 381?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 6-point or larger: 2 of 3 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 24 |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 381 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 381, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (any elk) and Oct. 31-Nov. 15 (late season, any elk); muzzleloader: 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 381 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 381?
10% of GMU 381 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 62,734 of its 624,273 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 31,639 acres or 5.1% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 31,639 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 381 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 31,639 | 5.1% |
| BLM | 23,946 | 3.8% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 13,472 | 2.2% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 7,149 | 1.1% |
| Military land (restricted) | 1,272 | 0.2% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 229 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 381, by WDFW's own boundaries: Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area (1,677 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 381?
Highways through the unit: US 395 (about 66 miles inside it), SR 26 (about 44 miles inside it), SR 260 (about 36 miles inside it), SR 261 (about 21 miles inside it) and SR 21 (about 18 miles inside it). Towns inside: Connell, Mesa, Washtucna, Kahlotus and Hatton. Nearby: Pasco (on the line), Othello (2 miles), Kennewick (3 miles) and Starbuck (6 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 381?
GMU 381 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 142 | Almota | 3.6% | 26 | 147 |
| GMU 149 | Prescott | 2.5% | 17 | 104 |
| GMU 278 | Wahluke | 20.8% | 2 | 37 |
| GMU 284 | Ritzville | 6% | 15 | 58 |
| GMU 373 | Horse Heaven | 8.3% | 0 | 25 |
| GMU 379 | Ringold | 7.3% | 22 | 165 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 381 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 381 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (any elk) and Oct. 31-Nov. 15 (late season, any elk); muzzleloader: Oct. 31-Nov. 15 (late season, any elk); modern firearm: Oct. 31-Nov. 15 (any elk).
How many elk are taken in GMU 381?
WDFW reports 27 elk taken in GMU 381 in 2025: 3 antlered and 24 antlerless. The most in one year since 2002 was 27, in 2025.
How much public land is in GMU 381?
10% of GMU 381, 62,734 of its 624,273 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 381?
Connell, Mesa and Washtucna are inside the unit. Just outside: Pasco (on the line), Othello (2 miles) and Kennewick (3 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 381
Beginning at the junction of State Route (SR) 17 and SR 26; E on SR 26 to Old SR 26; E on Old SR 26 to the Palouse River (Whitman-Franklin county line); S down the Palouse River to Snake River (Franklin- Walla Walla county line); W and SW down the Snake River to the Columbia River (Franklin-Benton-Walla Walla county line junction); NW up the Columbia River (Franklin-Benton county line) to the US Hwy (US) 395 Blue Bridge; N on US 395 through Pasco (via eastbound Interstate Hwy (I)-182) to SR 17; N on SR 17 to the SR 26 junction 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 142 GMU 149 GMU 278 GMU 284 GMU 379