Randle GMU 503 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 20 elk taken in GMU 503 Randle in 2025, 2 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 399 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 2,149 hunter days. GMU 503 is 11.1% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (3,687 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 landOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 503Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 36,308 acres (57 square miles) |
| Counties | Lewis |
| Public land open to hunting | 11.1% (4,015 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 20 (40 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 399 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Nov. 7-18, 3 pt. min. |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 1 hunt (WDFW prints no permit number) |
| Towns in and near it | Morton and Mossyrock |
Also for GMU 503: deer hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 503?
WDFW reports 20 elk taken in GMU 503 in 2025, against 40 in 2024. The most in one year since 2003 was 68, in 2009. WDFW's figures average 28 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 29 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 | 20 | 18 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 399 | 2,149 | 5 |
| 2024 | 40 | 37 | 3 | 29 | 11 | 388 | 1,880 | 10 |
| 2023 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 335 | 1,773 | 6 |
| 2022 | 29 | 27 | 2 | 12 | 17 | 385 | 1,892 | 7 |
| 2021 | 31 | 27 | 4 | 13 | 18 | 393 | 1,858 | 7 |
| 2020 | 27 | 26 | 1 | 16 | 11 | 487 | 2,430 | 5 |
| 2019 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 379 | 1,867 | 7 |
| 2018 | 27 | 23 | 4 | 12 | 15 | 411 | 2,242 | 6 |
| 2017 | 34 | 30 | 4 | 25 | 9 | 420 | 2,110 | 7 |
| 2016 | 30 | 24 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 397 | 2,150 | 6 |
| 2015 | 41 | 36 | 5 | 25 | 16 | 521 | 2,403 | 7 |
| 2014 | 33 | 31 | 2 | 22 | 11 | 551 | 2,582 | 6 |
| 2013 | 53 | 50 | 3 | 22 | 31 | 585 | 2,802 | 9 |
| 2012 | 63 | 52 | 11 | 24 | 39 | 562 | 2,625 | 9 |
| 2011 | 46 | 43 | 3 | 22 | 24 | 590 | 2,823 | 7 |
| 2010 | 47 | 43 | 4 | 20 | 27 | 761 | 3,676 | 6 |
| 2009 | 68 | 54 | 14 | 30 | 38 | 918 | 4,537 | 6 |
| 2008 | 60 | 48 | 12 | 32 | 28 | |||
| 2007 | 58 | 58 | not split out | 37 | 21 | 948 | 4,475 | 6 |
| 2006 | 55 | 55 | not split out | 20 | 35 | 670 | 3,194 | 8 |
| 2005 | 64 | 64 | not split out | 38 | 26 | 713 | 3,413 | 9 |
| 2004 | 48 | 48 | not split out | 28 | 20 | 676 | 3,224 | 7 |
| 2003 | 49 | 49 | not split out | 19 | 30 | 560 | 2,837 | 9 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 503, 2003 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 503 in 2025?
The muzzleloader general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 503 in 2025: 158, who took 12 (7.6% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 73 | 476 | 4 | 5.4% | 119 |
| Modern firearm | 156 | 670 | 2 | 1.2% | 335 |
| Muzzleloader | 158 | 932 | 12 | 7.6% | 78 |
| Multiple-season tag | 12 | 71 | 0 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 503?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 6-point or larger: 4 of 11 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 13 | 2 | 11 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 17 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 18 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 503 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 503, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (3 pt. min. or antlerless) and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, 3 pt. min. or antlerless); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (3 pt. min. or antlerless) and Nov. 25-Dec. 8 (late season, 3 pt. min. or antlerless); modern firearm: Nov. 7-18 (3 pt. min.).
| Weapon | Season | 2026 dates | Legal elk | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 503 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Nov. 7-18 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | |
| Archery | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | All hunters | |
| Archery | Late archery season | Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Oct. 3-9 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Late muzzleloader season | Nov. 25-Dec. 8 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | 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 503?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 1 elk special permit hunt that takes in GMU 503, with 0 permits in all (WDFW prints no number for some). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2710 | Region 5 Northwest- Hoof Disease Master Hunters only | Any elk tag | Dec. 1-Feb. 28 | Antlerless | GMUs 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 520, 524, (except Elk Area 5066), 530, 550 | 73 / 3 | 13 hunters, 9 taken |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, page 58; 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 503?
11.1% of GMU 503 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 4,015 of its 36,308 acres. The largest share is national forest, 3,687 acres or 10.2% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 278 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 503 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 3,687 | 10.2% |
| DNR state trust land | 278 | 0.8% |
| BLM | 50 | 0.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 28 | 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 503, by WDFW's own boundaries: Cowlitz Wildlife Area (1,627 acres here; units Kosmos, Riffe Buffer, Spears and Kiona Creek).
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 503?
Highways through the unit: US 12 (about 11 miles inside it). Nearby: Morton (5 miles) and Mossyrock (14 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 503?
GMU 503 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 505 | Mossyrock | 3.4% | 34 | 446 |
| GMU 510 | Stormking | 32.6% | 12 | 279 |
| GMU 516 | Packwood | 92.9% | 59 | 835 |
| GMU 520 | Winston | 13.8% | 65 | 1,021 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 503 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 503 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (3 pt. min. or antlerless) and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, 3 pt. min. or antlerless); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (3 pt. min. or antlerless) and Nov. 25-Dec. 8 (late season, 3 pt. min. or antlerless); modern firearm: Nov. 7-18 (3 pt. min.).
How many elk are taken in GMU 503?
WDFW reports 20 elk taken in GMU 503 in 2025: 11 antlered and 9 antlerless. The most in one year since 2003 was 68, in 2009.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 503?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 1 elk permit hunt for GMU 503: 2710 Region 5 Northwest- Hoof Disease ( permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 503?
11.1% of GMU 503, 4,015 of its 36,308 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 503?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Morton (5 miles) and Mossyrock (14 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 503
Beginning at the intersection of US Hwy (US) 12 and the Rayonier 100 Mainline (Kosmos Rd, Old Champion Haul Rd); E on US 12 to State Route (SR) 131; S on SR 131 to Cispus Rd; E on Cispus Rd to Spears Rd; W on Spears Rd to SR 131; S on SR 131 to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 25; to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 25; S on the USFS Rd 25 to the Cispus River; W on the Cispus River to Rayonier 271 line; S on the Rayonier 271 line to the Rayonier 300 line; W on the Rayonier 300 line to the Rayonier 100 line (Kosmos Haul Rd); N on the Rayonier 100 line 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 5 GMU 505 GMU 510 GMU 516 GMU 520