Loo-wit GMU 522 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 23 elk taken in GMU 522 Loo-wit in 2025, 23 of them on special permits. GMU 522 is 95.5% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (52,088 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 forestDNR state trust landWDFW landGMU 522Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 66,775 acres (104 square miles) |
| Counties | Cowlitz and Skamania |
| Public land open to hunting | 95.5% (63,749 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 23 (24 in 2024) |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 15 hunts, 41 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Mossyrock, Morton and Toledo |
How many elk are taken in GMU 522?
WDFW reports 23 elk taken in GMU 522 in 2025, against 24 in 2024. The most in one year since 2006 was 40, in 2018. WDFW's figures average 26 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 30 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 | 23 | 0 | 23 | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2024 | 24 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | 32 | 0 | 32 | 21 | 11 | |||
| 2022 | 25 | 0 | 25 | 19 | 6 | |||
| 2021 | 27 | 0 | 27 | 17 | 10 | |||
| 2020 | 25 | 25 | 16 | 9 | ||||
| 2019 | 34 | 0 | 34 | 22 | 12 | |||
| 2018 | 40 | 0 | 40 | 23 | 17 | |||
| 2017 | 24 | 0 | 24 | 13 | 11 | |||
| 2016 | 26 | 26 | 13 | 13 | ||||
| 2015 | 28 | 28 | 13 | 15 | ||||
| 2014 | 28 | 28 | 14 | 14 | ||||
| 2013 | 24 | 24 | 13 | 11 | ||||
| 2012 | 37 | 37 | 14 | 23 | ||||
| 2011 | 31 | 31 | 13 | 18 | ||||
| 2010 | 31 | 31 | 16 | 15 | ||||
| 2009 | 38 | 0 | 38 | 17 | 21 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| 2008 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 9 | 7 | |||
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | not split out | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 522, 2006 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.
What size bulls come out of GMU 522?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 6-point or larger: 14 of 23 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 11 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 6 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 10 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 522 in 2026?
No general elk season is open to all hunters in GMU 522 in 2026.
Source: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, 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 522?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 15 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 522, with 41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2037 | Upper Smith Creek Quality Elk | WF | Sept. 24-29 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5064 | 1 | 158 / 25 | 1 hunter, 1 taken |
| 2038 | Mount Whittier Quality Elk | WF | Sept. 24-29 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5065 | 1 | 150 / 22 | 0 hunters, 0 taken |
| 2040 | Mudflow Quality Elk | WF | Nov. 7-18 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5099 | 7 | 1,181 / 14 | 7 hunters, 7 taken |
| 2066 | Mudflow Quality Elk | WA | Sept. 12-24 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5099 | 7 | 681 / 10 | 6 hunters, 4 taken |
| 2089 | Upper Smith Creek Quality Elk | WM | Sept. 16-22 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5064 | 1 | 184 / 14 | 1 hunter, 1 taken |
| 2090 | Mount Whittier Quality Elk | WM | Sept. 16-22 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5065 | 1 | 141 / 14 | 1 hunter, 1 taken |
| 2092 | Mudflow Quality Elk | WM | Oct. 3-13 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5099 | 7 | 669 / 16 | 7 hunters, 4 taken |
| 2424 | Mudflow Youth only | WA, WF, WM | Nov. 20-30 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5099 | 5 | 676 / 5 | |
| 2616 | Mudflow Hunters with disabilities | WF, WM, WA | Sept. 25-Oct. 1 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5099 | 5 | 362 / 14 | 4 hunters, 3 taken |
| 2814 | Upper Smith Creek Bull Elk | WF | Oct. 17-23 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5064 | 1 | 710 / 16 | |
| 2815 | Mount Whittier Bull Elk | WF | Oct. 17-23 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5065 | 1 | 642 / 29 | |
| 2824 | Upper Smith Creek Bull Elk | WA | Oct. 1-7 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5064 | 1 | 368 / 9 | |
| 2825 | Mount Whittier Bull Elk | WA | Oct. 1-7 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5065 | 1 | 399 / 16 | |
| 2835 | Upper Smith Creek Bull Elk | WM | Oct. 9-15 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5064 | 1 | 322 / 19 | |
| 2836 | Mount Whittier Bull Elk | WM | Oct. 9-15 | Any Bull | Elk Area 5065 | 1 | 318 / 7 |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 48, 49, 50, 55 and 57; 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 522?
95.5% of GMU 522 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 63,749 of its 66,775 acres. The largest share is national forest, 52,088 acres or 78% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 8,051 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 522 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 52,088 | 78% |
| DNR state trust land | 8,051 | 12.1% |
| WDFW land | 3,610 | 5.4% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 522, by WDFW's own boundaries: Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area (3,636 acres here; units Mudflow and Hoffstadt).
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 522?
Highways through the unit: SR 504 (about 14 miles inside it). Nearby: Mossyrock (14 miles), Morton (16 miles), Toledo (18 miles) and Castle Rock (19 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 522?
GMU 522 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 516 | Packwood | 92.9% | 59 | 835 |
| GMU 524 | Margaret | 24.8% | 41 | 498 |
| GMU 556 | Toutle | 31.1% | 32 | |
| GMU 560 | Lewis River | 90.2% | 73 | 2,135 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 522 in 2026?
GMU 522 has no general elk season open to all hunters in 2026; WDFW lists 15 special permit hunts that include it.
How many elk are taken in GMU 522?
WDFW reports 23 elk taken in GMU 522 in 2025: 23 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 2006 was 40, in 2018.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 522?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 15 elk permit hunts for GMU 522: 2037 Upper Smith Creek (1 permit), 2038 Mount Whittier (1 permit), 2040 Mudflow (7 permits), 2066 Mudflow (7 permits), 2089 Upper Smith Creek (1 permit) and 2090 Mount Whittier (1 permit), and more in the table above. Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 522?
95.5% of GMU 522, 63,749 of its 66,775 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 522?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Mossyrock (14 miles), Morton (16 miles) and Toledo (18 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 522
Beginning on the North Fork Toutle River at the mouth of Hofstadt Creek; SE up the North Fork Toutle River to Deer Creek; SE up Deer Creek to Weyerhaeuser (Weyco) 3020 line; NW along Weyco 3020 line to Weyco 3000 line; E along Weyco 3000 line to US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 216G; SE along USFS Trail 216G to USFS Trail 216; S on USFS Trail 216 to South Fork of the Toutle River; E along South Fork Toutle River to its headwaters and Mount St. Helens crater's southern edge; E along the Mt. St. Helens crater's southern edge to the headwaters of Ape Canyon Creek; SE down Ape Canyon Creek to USFS Trail 225 (Smith Creek Trail); N and NW on USFS Trail 225 to USFS Rd 99; NE along USFS Rd 99 to USFS Rd 26; N on USFS Rd 26 to USFS Trail 1 (Boundary Trail); W on USFS Trail 1 to USFS Trail 214 (Whittier Trail); N on USFS Trail 214 to USFS Trail 211 (Lakes Trail); W on USFS Trail 211 to USFS Trail 211, USFS Trail 230 (Coldwater Trail) junction; NE to Minnie Peak; W to the USFS property boundary in the SE 1/4 of Section 20, T10N, R5E; W and S on USFS property boundary to SR 504 near the center of Section 35, T10N, R4E; W on SR 504 to Hofstadt Creek Bridge on Hofstadt Creek; S and W down Hofstadt Creek to the North Fork Toutle River and point of 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 516 GMU 524 GMU 556 GMU 560