Packwood GMU 516 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 59 elk taken in GMU 516 Packwood in 2025, 1 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 835 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 4,126 hunter days. GMU 516 is 92.9% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (319,047 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 516Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 343,869 acres (537 square miles) |
| Counties | Lewis and Skamania |
| Public land open to hunting | 92.9% (319,589 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 59 (54 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 835 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Nov. 7-18, 3 pt. min. |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 1 hunt, 3 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Morton and Mossyrock |
Also for GMU 516: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 516?
WDFW reports 59 elk taken in GMU 516 in 2025, against 54 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 130, in 2005. WDFW's figures average 54 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 71 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 | 59 | 58 | 1 | 59 | 0 | 835 | 4,126 | 7 |
| 2024 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 775 | 3,991 | 7 | |
| 2023 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 913 | 4,451 | 5 |
| 2022 | 66 | 63 | 3 | 65 | 1 | 879 | 4,246 | 7 |
| 2021 | 47 | 45 | 2 | 46 | 1 | 1,079 | 5,488 | 4 |
| 2020 | 67 | 64 | 3 | 64 | 3 | 1,307 | 6,811 | 5 |
| 2019 | 49 | 45 | 4 | 49 | 0 | 1,157 | 5,889 | 4 |
| 2018 | 83 | 76 | 7 | 78 | 5 | 1,325 | 6,600 | 6 |
| 2017 | 85 | 76 | 9 | 80 | 5 | 1,320 | 6,413 | 6 |
| 2016 | 72 | 70 | 2 | 71 | 1 | 1,404 | 7,220 | 5 |
| 2015 | 80 | 78 | 2 | 80 | 0 | 1,485 | 7,089 | 5 |
| 2014 | 67 | 64 | 3 | 66 | 1 | 1,245 | 6,199 | 5 |
| 2013 | 62 | 57 | 5 | 61 | 1 | 1,355 | 7,154 | 4 |
| 2012 | 92 | 89 | 3 | 92 | 0 | 1,282 | 6,641 | 7 |
| 2011 | 85 | 77 | 8 | 83 | 2 | 1,485 | 7,484 | 5 |
| 2010 | 65 | 56 | 9 | 59 | 6 | 1,696 | 8,927 | 3 |
| 2009 | 129 | 123 | 6 | 126 | 3 | 1,857 | 9,387 | 7 |
| 2008 | 94 | 92 | 2 | 94 | 0 | |||
| 2007 | 119 | 119 | not split out | 119 | 0 | 1,739 | 9,032 | 7 |
| 2006 | 115 | 115 | not split out | 115 | 0 | 1,692 | 8,222 | 7 |
| 2005 | 130 | 130 | not split out | 130 | 0 | 1,621 | 7,883 | 8 |
| 2004 | 102 | 102 | not split out | 102 | 0 | 1,613 | 8,141 | 6 |
| 2003 | 97 | 97 | not split out | 97 | 0 | 1,477 | 7,681 | 7 |
| 2002 | 93 | 93 | not split out | 93 | 0 | 1,379 | 6,851 | 7 |
| 2001 | 64 | 64 | not split out | 64 | 0 | 1,417 | 6,854 | 5 |
| 2000 | 102 | 102 | not split out | 102 | 0 | 1,865 | 8,723 | 5 |
| 1999 | 92 | 92 | not split out | 43 | 49 | 1,818 | 10,449 | 5 |
| 1998 | 90 | 90 | not split out | 84 | 6 | 1,838 | 7,492 | 5 |
| 1997 | 25 | 25 | not split out | 19 | 6 | 1,374 | 5,010 | 2 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 516, 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 516 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 516 in 2025: 404, who took 25 (6.2% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 232 | 1,347 | 19 | 8.2% | 71 |
| Modern firearm | 404 | 1,854 | 25 | 6.2% | 74 |
| Muzzleloader | 181 | 770 | 12 | 6.6% | 64 |
| Multiple-season tag | 18 | 155 | 2 | 11.2% | 78 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 516?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 5-point: 26 of 59 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 26 | 18 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 15 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 32 | 14 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 14 | 1 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 516 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 516, 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 516 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 516?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 1 elk special permit hunt that takes in GMU 516, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | Packwood Quality Elk | WF | Sept. 28-Oct. 2 | Any Bull | GMU 516 | 3 | 294 / 8 | 2 hunters, 1 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 516?
92.9% of GMU 516 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 319,589 of its 343,869 acres. The largest share is national forest, 319,047 acres or 92.8% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 434 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 516 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 319,047 | 92.8% |
| DNR state trust land | 434 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 108 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 516, by WDFW's own boundaries: Cowlitz Wildlife Area (54 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 516?
Highways through the unit: US 12 (about 13 miles inside it). Nearby: Morton (7 miles) and Mossyrock (13 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 516?
GMU 516 touches 10 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 elk numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Elk taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 356 | Bumping | 99.9% | 40 | 589 |
| GMU 364 | Rimrock | 96.3% | 75 | 939 |
| GMU 503 | Randle | 11.1% | 20 | 399 |
| GMU 505 | Mossyrock | 3.4% | 34 | 446 |
| GMU 510 | Stormking | 32.6% | 12 | 279 |
| GMU 513 | South Rainier | 93.2% | 27 | 502 |
| GMU 520 | Winston | 13.8% | 65 | 1,021 |
| GMU 522 | Loo-wit | 95.5% | 23 | |
| GMU 524 | Margaret | 24.8% | 41 | 498 |
| GMU 560 | Lewis River | 90.2% | 73 | 2,135 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 516 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 516 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 516?
WDFW reports 59 elk taken in GMU 516 in 2025: 59 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 130, in 2005.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 516?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 1 elk permit hunt for GMU 516: 2030 Packwood (3 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 516?
92.9% of GMU 516, 319,589 of its 343,869 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 516?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Morton (7 miles) and Mossyrock (13 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 516
Beginning at US Hwy (US) 12 and US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) at White Pass; S on USFS Trail 2000 to the Yakama Indian Reservation border; S on the Yakama Indian Reservation border to USFS Trail 2000; S on USFS Trail 2000 to USFS Trail 98 at Sheep Lake; W on USFS Trail 98 to USFS Rd 2160 at Walupt Lake; W on USFS Rd 2160 to USFS Rd 21; S and W on USFS Rd 21 to USFS Rd 23; S on USFS Rd 23 to USFS Trail 263; S and W on USFS 263 to USFS Trail 261; S on USFS Trail 261 to USFS Trail 1; W on USFS Trail 1 to USFS Rd 99; W on USFS Rd 99 to USFS Rd 26; N on USFS Rd 26 to USFS Rd 2612; W on USFS Rd 2612 to USFS Trail 217; N and W on USFS Trail 217 to Weyerhaeuser (Weyco) 2600 line; W on Weyco 2600 line to Weyco 2658 line; N on Weyco 2658 line to Rayonier (Campbell Group) 430 line; N on Rayonier 430 line to the Rayonier Mainline 400 line; N and E on Rayonier Mainline 400 line to Rayonier 300 line; E on Rayonier 300 line to Rayonier 271 line; N on Rayonier 271 line to the Cispus River; E on the Cispus River to USFS Rd 25; N on USFS Rd 25 to State Route (SR) 131; N on SR 131 to Spears Rd; E on Spears Rd to Cispus Rd; W on Cispus Rd to SR 131; N on SR 131 to US 12; E on US 12 to the USFS Trail 2000 at White Pass and beginning.
From WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, Game Management Unit Descriptions.
Get a Washington hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Washington are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Washington included.
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 356 GMU 364 GMU 503 GMU 505 GMU 510 GMU 513 GMU 520 GMU 522 GMU 524 GMU 560