Willapa Hills GMU 506 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 277 elk taken in GMU 506 Willapa Hills in 2025, 36 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 1,561 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 8,887 hunter days. GMU 506 is 16.6% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (39,762 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.
DNR state trust landWDFW landNational wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 506Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 239,984 acres (375 square miles) |
| Counties | Wahkiakum, Pacific and Lewis |
| Public land open to hunting | 16.6% (39,865 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 277 (206 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 1,561 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Nov. 7-18, 3 pt. min. |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 10 hunts, 171 permits where WDFW prints a number |
| Towns in and near it | Skamokawa Valley, Rosburg, Grays River, Pe Ell, Cathlamet and Raymond |
Also for GMU 506: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 506?
WDFW reports 277 elk taken in GMU 506 in 2025, against 206 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 362, in 2012. WDFW's figures average 272 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 299 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 | 277 | 241 | 36 | 242 | 35 | 1,561 | 8,887 | 15 |
| 2024 | 206 | 171 | 35 | 172 | 34 | 1,636 | 9,824 | 10 |
| 2023 | 250 | 224 | 26 | 166 | 84 | 1,806 | 11,246 | 12 |
| 2022 | 281 | 254 | 27 | 204 | 77 | 1,911 | 11,906 | 13 |
| 2021 | 348 | 320 | 28 | 233 | 115 | 1,999 | 12,066 | 16 |
| 2020 | 323 | 300 | 23 | 251 | 72 | 1,975 | 11,699 | 15 |
| 2019 | 355 | 332 | 23 | 264 | 91 | 1,916 | 11,467 | 17 |
| 2018 | 312 | 284 | 28 | 213 | 99 | 1,640 | 9,911 | 17 |
| 2017 | 251 | 223 | 28 | 179 | 72 | 1,529 | 8,603 | 15 |
| 2016 | 253 | 219 | 34 | 144 | 109 | 1,612 | 9,660 | 14 |
| 2015 | 328 | 296 | 32 | 226 | 102 | 1,683 | 9,910 | 18 |
| 2014 | 313 | 250 | 63 | 194 | 119 | 1,690 | 10,037 | 15 |
| 2013 | 277 | 245 | 32 | 196 | 81 | 1,736 | 10,437 | 14 |
| 2012 | 362 | 326 | 36 | 264 | 98 | 1,806 | 10,413 | 18 |
| 2011 | 242 | 212 | 30 | 184 | 58 | 1,738 | 9,351 | 12 |
| 2010 | 280 | 249 | 31 | 185 | 95 | 2,109 | 11,628 | 12 |
| 2009 | 267 | 229 | 38 | 179 | 88 | 2,175 | 12,646 | 11 |
| 2008 | 317 | 279 | 38 | 215 | 102 | |||
| 2007 | 244 | 244 | not split out | 188 | 56 | 2,264 | 12,918 | 11 |
| 2006 | 219 | 219 | not split out | 164 | 55 | 2,053 | 11,504 | 11 |
| 2005 | 321 | 321 | not split out | 268 | 53 | 2,201 | 11,777 | 15 |
| 2004 | 254 | 254 | not split out | 220 | 34 | 2,392 | 13,061 | 11 |
| 2003 | 327 | 327 | not split out | 257 | 70 | 2,276 | 12,618 | 14 |
| 2002 | 315 | 315 | not split out | 256 | 59 | 2,461 | 13,665 | 13 |
| 2001 | 275 | 275 | not split out | 230 | 45 | 2,384 | 13,170 | 12 |
| 2000 | 241 | 241 | not split out | 202 | 39 | 3,458 | 15,582 | 7 |
| 1999 | 292 | 292 | not split out | 177 | 115 | 4,355 | 30,637 | 7 |
| 1998 | 125 | 125 | not split out | 75 | 50 | 3,241 | 15,580 | 4 |
| 1997 | 166 | 166 | not split out | 94 | 72 | 2,475 | 11,137 | 7 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 506, 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 506 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 506 in 2025: 806, who took 121 (15% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 427 | 2,710 | 43 | 10% | 63 |
| Modern firearm | 806 | 4,530 | 121 | 15% | 37 |
| Muzzleloader | 279 | 1,347 | 64 | 23% | 21 |
| Multiple-season tag | 49 | 300 | 13 | 26.6% | 23 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 506?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 4-point: 113 of 242 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 113 | 112 | 7 | 35 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 61 | 75 | 18 | 34 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 73 | 72 | 14 | 84 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 96 | 83 | 12 | 77 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 105 | 107 | 10 | 115 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 506 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 506, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (3 pt. min.) and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, 3 pt. min.); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (3 pt. min.); modern firearm: Nov. 7-18 (3 pt. min.).
| Weapon | Season | 2026 dates | Legal elk | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 506 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Nov. 7-18 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | Footnoted in WDFW's table (page 44) |
| Archery | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | |
| Archery | Late archery season | Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Oct. 3-9 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | Footnoted in WDFW's table (page 46) |
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 506?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 10 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 506, with 171 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2028 | Wahkiakum Quality Elk | WF | Sept. 28-Oct. 2 | Any Bull | GMUs 506, 530 | 1 | 215 / 14 | 1 hunter, 1 taken |
| 2232 | Willapa Hills Antlerless Elk | WF | Nov. 7-18 | Antlerless | GMU 506 | 35 | 1,193 / 8 | |
| 2237 | Mallis Antlerless Elk | WF | Dec. 16-31 | Antlerless | Elk Area 6010 | 10 | 261 / 8 | |
| 2238 | Mallis Antlerless Elk | WF | Jan. 1-20, 2027 | Antlerless | Elk Area 6010 | 20 | 265 / 8 | |
| 2259 | Willapa Hills Antlerless Elk | WA | Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | Antlerless | GMU 506 | 60 | 460 / 7 | |
| 2287 | Willapa Hills Antlerless Elk | WM | Oct. 3-9 | Antlerless | GMU 506 | 20 | 404 / 8 | |
| 2294 | Mallis Antlerless Elk | WM | Oct. 3-9 | Antlerless | Elk Area 6010 | 10 | 73 / 5 | |
| 2436 | Mallis Youth only | WF | Dec. 16, 2026-Jan. 20, 2027 | Antlerless | Elk Area 6010 | 10 | 37 / 3 | |
| 2515 | Willapa Hills Hunters 65 or older | WF | Nov. 7-18 | Antlerless | GMU 506 | 5 | 236 / 8 | 4 hunters, 1 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, pages 47, 52, 53, 55, 56 and 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 506?
16.6% of GMU 506 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 39,865 of its 239,984 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 39,762 acres or 16.6% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 39,762 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 506 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 39,762 | 16.6% |
| WDFW land | 103 | under 0.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 100 | under 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 1 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 506, by WDFW's own boundaries: Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area (111 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 506?
Highways through the unit: SR 4 (about 27 miles inside it) and SR 6 (about 13 miles inside it). Towns inside: Skamokawa Valley, Rosburg, Grays River, Deep River, Altoona and Upper Elochoman. Nearby: Pe Ell (on the line), Cathlamet (on the line), Raymond (11 miles) and South Bend (12 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 506?
GMU 506 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 530 | Ryderwood | 13.6% | 163 | 1,332 |
| GMU 672 | Fall River | 26% | 67 | 896 |
| GMU 673 | Williams Creek | 24.4% | 172 | 1,460 |
| GMU 681 | Bear River | 5.2% | 134 | 755 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 506 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 506 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (3 pt. min.) and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, 3 pt. min.); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (3 pt. min.); modern firearm: Nov. 7-18 (3 pt. min.).
How many elk are taken in GMU 506?
WDFW reports 277 elk taken in GMU 506 in 2025: 242 antlered and 35 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 362, in 2012.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 506?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 10 elk permit hunts for GMU 506: 2028 Wahkiakum (1 permit), 2232 Willapa Hills (35 permits), 2237 Mallis (10 permits), 2238 Mallis (20 permits), 2259 Willapa Hills (60 permits) and 2287 Willapa Hills (20 permits), and more in the table above. Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 506?
16.6% of GMU 506, 39,865 of its 239,984 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 506?
Skamokawa Valley, Rosburg and Grays River are inside the unit. Just outside: Pe Ell (on the line), Cathlamet (on the line) and Raymond (11 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 506
Beginning at State Route (SR) 6 and 3rd St S at the town of Pe Ell; S on 3rd St S to Muller Rd; S on Muller Rd to Weyerhaeuser (Weyco) 1000 line; S on Weyco 1000 line to Weyco 1800 line; S on Weyco 1800 line to Weyco 500 line; SE on Weyco 500 line to SR 407 (Elochoman Valley Rd) at Camp 2; S on SR 407 to the Elochoman River; down the Elochoman River to Foster Rd; N on Foster Rd to Risk Rd; W and N along Risk Rd to SR 4; W on SR 4 to Skamokawa Creek; SW down Skamokawa Creek to the Columbia River; W along Columbia River to the mouth of the Deep River (including all islands in the Columbia River which are both north of the Washington state line and between Skamokawa Creek and Deep River); N along the Deep River to SR 4; NW on SR 4 to the Salmon Creek Rd; NE on Salmon Creek Rd to Weyco 5000 line; N on Weyco 5000 line (Deep River mainline) to Weyco 5800 line; NE on Weyco 5800 line to power transmission line (Section 21, T11N, R8W); E, NE, then N on the power transmission line to the Trap Creek A Line; E and N on the Trap Creek A Line to SR 6; E on SR 6 to the town of Pe Ell 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 530 GMU 672 GMU 673 GMU 681