Stormking GMU 510 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 12 elk taken in GMU 510 Stormking in 2025. General-season hunters numbered 279 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 1,357 hunter days. GMU 510 is 32.6% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (30,692 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 landGMU 510Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 131,353 acres (205 square miles) |
| Counties | Lewis |
| Public land open to hunting | 32.6% (42,801 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 12 (26 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 279 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Nov. 7-18, 3 pt. min. |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 1 hunt, 3 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Mineral, Morton, Eatonville and Mossyrock |
Also for GMU 510: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 510?
WDFW reports 12 elk taken in GMU 510 in 2025, against 26 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 43, in 2018. WDFW's figures average 20 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 25 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 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 279 | 1,357 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 286 | 1,186 | 9 | |
| 2023 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 238 | 1,158 | 8 | |
| 2022 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 254 | 1,145 | 9 | |
| 2021 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 290 | 1,454 | 6 | |
| 2020 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 340 | 1,404 | 6 | |
| 2019 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 277 | 1,341 | 8 | |
| 2018 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 297 | 1,370 | 14 | |
| 2017 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 321 | 1,543 | 6 | |
| 2016 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 306 | 1,602 | 5 | |
| 2015 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 272 | 1,249 | 5 | |
| 2014 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 233 | 1,099 | 5 |
| 2013 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 207 | 980 | 7 | |
| 2012 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 223 | 1,007 | 7 | |
| 2011 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 207 | 922 | 5 | |
| 2010 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 200 | 963 | 2 | |
| 2009 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 218 | 954 | 5 |
| 2008 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | ||||
| 2007 | 11 | 11 | not split out | 11 | 0 | 165 | 695 | 7 |
| 2006 | 4 | 4 | not split out | 4 | 0 | 175 | 773 | 2 |
| 2005 | 6 | 6 | not split out | 6 | 0 | 146 | 655 | 4 |
| 2004 | 9 | 9 | not split out | 9 | 0 | 179 | 678 | 5 |
| 2003 | 4 | 4 | not split out | 4 | 0 | 151 | 681 | 3 |
| 2002 | 7 | 7 | not split out | 7 | 0 | 167 | 715 | 4 |
| 2001 | 9 | 9 | not split out | 9 | 0 | 206 | 928 | 4 |
| 2000 | 5 | 5 | not split out | 5 | 0 | 280 | 794 | 2 |
| 1999 | 4 | 4 | not split out | 0 | 4 | 227 | 1,021 | 2 |
| 1998 | 5 | 5 | not split out | 5 | 0 | 167 | 370 | 3 |
| 1997 | 3 | 3 | not split out | 3 | 0 | 125 | 387 | 2 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 510, 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 510 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 510 in 2025: 117, who took 2 (1.8% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 93 | 484 | 8 | 8.6% | 61 |
| Modern firearm | 117 | 475 | 2 | 1.8% | 238 |
| Muzzleloader | 60 | 309 | 2 | 3.4% | 155 |
| Multiple-season tag | 9 | 89 | 0 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 510?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 6-point or larger: 8 of 12 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 510 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 510, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (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 510 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Nov. 7-18 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | |
| Archery | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Oct. 3-9 | 3 pt. min. | 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 510?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 1 elk special permit hunt that takes in GMU 510, with 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | South Rainier Quality Elk | WF | Sept. 28-Oct. 2 | Any Bull | GMUs 510, 513 | 3 | 208 / 15 | 2 hunters, 0 taken |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, page 48; 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 510?
32.6% of GMU 510 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 42,801 of its 131,353 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 30,692 acres or 23.4% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 30,692 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 510 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 30,692 | 23.4% |
| National forest | 12,104 | 9.2% |
| BLM | 5 | 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 510?
Highways through the unit: SR 7 (about 12 miles inside it) and US 12 (about 4 miles inside it). Towns inside: Mineral. Nearby: Morton (on the line), Eatonville (8 miles) and Mossyrock (10 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 510?
GMU 510 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 503 | Randle | 11.1% | 20 | 399 |
| GMU 505 | Mossyrock | 3.4% | 34 | 446 |
| GMU 513 | South Rainier | 93.2% | 27 | 502 |
| GMU 516 | Packwood | 92.9% | 59 | 835 |
| GMU 654 | Mashel | 19.3% | 97 | 810 |
| GMU 667 | Skookumchuck | 13.8% | 109 | 1,021 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 510 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 510 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (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 510?
WDFW reports 12 elk taken in GMU 510 in 2025: 12 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 43, in 2018.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 510?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 1 elk permit hunt for GMU 510: 2029 South Rainier (3 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 510?
32.6% of GMU 510, 42,801 of its 131,353 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 510?
Mineral is inside the unit. Just outside: Morton (on the line), Eatonville (8 miles) and Mossyrock (10 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 510
Beginning on US Hwy (US) 12 at the Silver Creek bridge; N up Silver Creek to Silverbrook Rd; E on Silverbrook Rd to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 47; N on USFS Rd 47 to USFS Rd 85; W and N on USFS Rd 85 to USFS Rd 52; N on USFS Rd 52 to the Nisqually River; W down the Nisqually River to State Route (SR) 7; S on SR 7 to Main St at town of Morton; E on Main St to Davis Lake Rd; E on Davis Lake Rd to US 12; E on US 12 to the Silver Creek bridge and 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 503 GMU 505 GMU 513 GMU 516 GMU 654 GMU 667