Coweeman GMU 550 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 75 elk taken in GMU 550 Coweeman in 2025, 1 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 1,063 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 5,825 hunter days. GMU 550 is 7.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (15,248 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.
BLMDNR state trust landWDFW landOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 550Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 222,179 acres (347 square miles) |
| Counties | Cowlitz |
| Public land open to hunting | 7.2% (15,991 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 75 (88 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 1,063 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Nov. 7-18, 3 pt. min. |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 2 hunts, 1 permit where WDFW prints a number |
| Towns in and near it | Castle Rock, Kelso, Kalama and Longview |
Also for GMU 550: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 550?
WDFW reports 75 elk taken in GMU 550 in 2025, against 88 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 598, in 2012. WDFW's figures average 88 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 135 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 | 75 | 74 | 1 | 75 | 0 | 1,063 | 5,825 | 7 |
| 2024 | 88 | 84 | 4 | 85 | 3 | 1,142 | 6,491 | 7 |
| 2023 | 92 | 85 | 7 | 74 | 18 | 1,262 | 6,815 | 7 |
| 2022 | 85 | 81 | 4 | 79 | 6 | 1,339 | 7,766 | 6 |
| 2021 | 99 | 86 | 13 | 79 | 20 | 1,354 | 7,454 | 6 |
| 2020 | 132 | 125 | 7 | 126 | 6 | 1,450 | 8,445 | 9 |
| 2019 | 134 | 130 | 4 | 118 | 16 | 1,286 | 7,502 | 10 |
| 2018 | 107 | 100 | 7 | 87 | 20 | 1,220 | 6,914 | 8 |
| 2017 | 113 | 95 | 18 | 88 | 25 | 1,366 | 7,543 | 7 |
| 2016 | 188 | 157 | 31 | 150 | 38 | 1,393 | 7,236 | 11 |
| 2015 | 188 | 159 | 29 | 150 | 38 | 1,513 | 8,004 | 11 |
| 2014 | 182 | 138 | 44 | 132 | 50 | 1,953 | 11,444 | 7 |
| 2013 | 372 | 221 | 151 | 209 | 163 | 3,110 | 17,835 | 7 |
| 2012 | 598 | 292 | 306 | 260 | 338 | 3,176 | 18,155 | 9 |
| 2011 | 465 | 202 | 263 | 181 | 284 | 3,428 | 19,570 | 6 |
| 2010 | 419 | 288 | 131 | 252 | 167 | 3,762 | 21,096 | 8 |
| 2009 | 401 | 271 | 130 | 245 | 156 | 3,695 | 21,370 | 7 |
| 2008 | 372 | 244 | 128 | 220 | 152 | |||
| 2007 | 283 | 283 | not split out | 243 | 40 | 3,836 | 21,284 | 7 |
| 2006 | 289 | 289 | not split out | 260 | 29 | 3,214 | 18,017 | 9 |
| 2005 | 327 | 327 | not split out | 310 | 17 | 3,004 | 16,142 | 11 |
| 2004 | 329 | 329 | not split out | 285 | 44 | 3,453 | 18,525 | 10 |
| 2003 | 356 | 356 | not split out | 328 | 28 | 3,115 | 17,123 | 11 |
| 2002 | 302 | 302 | not split out | 282 | 20 | 3,152 | 18,097 | 10 |
| 2001 | 254 | 254 | not split out | 236 | 18 | 3,106 | 17,262 | 8 |
| 2000 | 223 | 223 | not split out | 210 | 13 | 4,327 | 21,078 | 5 |
| 1999 | 308 | 308 | not split out | 271 | 37 | 5,055 | 30,573 | 6 |
| 1998 | 44 | 44 | not split out | 33 | 11 | 2,462 | 11,610 | 2 |
| 1997 | 186 | 186 | not split out | 139 | 47 | 4,284 | 21,101 | 4 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 550, 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 550 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 550 in 2025: 670, who took 31 (4.6% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 207 | 1,453 | 25 | 12% | 58 |
| Modern firearm | 670 | 3,379 | 31 | 4.6% | 109 |
| Muzzleloader | 171 | 810 | 13 | 7.6% | 62 |
| Multiple-season tag | 15 | 183 | 5 | 33.4% | 37 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 550?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 4-point: 32 of 75 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 32 | 28 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 39 | 29 | 6 | 3 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 29 | 29 | 7 | 18 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 45 | 24 | 3 | 6 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 35 | 29 | 10 | 20 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 550 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 550, 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 550 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 550?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 2 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 550, with 1 permit 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2032 | Coweeman Quality Elk | WF | Sept. 28-Oct. 2 | Any Bull | GMU 550 | 1 | 76 / 17 | 1 hunter, 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 48 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 550?
7.2% of GMU 550 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 15,991 of its 222,179 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 15,248 acres or 6.9% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 15,248 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 550 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 15,248 | 6.9% |
| WDFW land | 627 | 0.3% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 506 | 0.2% |
| BLM | 116 | 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 550, by WDFW's own boundaries: Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area (154 acres here; units Canal Road and Carnine).
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 550?
Highways through the unit: I-5 (about 17 miles inside it), SR 504 (about 11 miles inside it) and SR 503 (about 4 miles inside it). Towns inside: Castle Rock. Nearby: Kelso (2 miles), Kalama (2 miles), Longview (4 miles) and Woodland (4 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 550?
GMU 550 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 504 | Stella | 0.3% | 11 | 238 |
| GMU 520 | Winston | 13.8% | 65 | 1,021 |
| GMU 530 | Ryderwood | 13.6% | 163 | 1,332 |
| GMU 554 | Yale | 22.4% | 9 | 72 |
| GMU 556 | Toutle | 31.1% | 32 | |
| GMU 564 | Battle Ground | 3.3% | 8 | 174 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 550 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 550 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 550?
WDFW reports 75 elk taken in GMU 550 in 2025: 75 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 598, in 2012.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 550?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 2 elk permit hunts for GMU 550: 2032 Coweeman (1 permit) and 2710 Region 5 Northwest- Hoof Disease ( permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 550?
7.2% of GMU 550, 15,991 of its 222,179 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 550?
Castle Rock is inside the unit. Just outside: Kelso (2 miles), Kalama (2 miles) and Longview (4 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 550
Beginning at the mouth of the Toutle River on the Cowlitz River; E along the Toutle River to the South Fork Toutle River; up the South Fork Toutle River to Weyerhaeuser (Weyco) 4100 line; E on Weyco 4100 line to Weyco 4950 line; S and E on Weyco 4950 line to Weyco 235 line; SE on Weyco 235 line to Weyco 200 line; W on Weyco 200 line to Weyco 240 line; SE on Weyco 240 line to Weyco 243 line; E on Weyco 243 line to Weyco 135A line; S on Weyco 135A line to Weyco 135 line; E on Weyco 135 line to Weyco 134 line; SW on Weyco 134 line to Weyco 133 line; SW on Weyco 133 line to Weyco 130 line; SW on Weyco 130 line to Weyco 1680 line; W on Weyco 1680 line to Weyco 1600 line; SE on Weyco 1600 line to Weyco 1400 line; W on Weyco 1400 line to Weyco 1420 line which is the Kalama/Coweeman Summit; SE on Weyco 1420 line to Weyco 1426 line; W on Weyco 1426 line to Weyco 1428 line; SW on Weyco 1428 line to Weyco 1429 line which turns into Weyco 6400 line; SW down Weyco 6400 line to Weyco 6000 line; E on Weyco 6000 line to Weyco 6450 line; SE for approximately one mile on Weyco 6450 line (crossing the Kalama River) to Weyco 6452 line; SE on Weyco 6452 line to Dubois Rd; SE on Dubois Rd to State Route (SR) 503; W on SR 503 to Cape Horn Creek; SE down Cape Horn Creek to Merwin Reservoir; SW along the north shore of Merwin Reservoir to the Lewis River; SW down the Lewis River to the power transmission lines in Section 4, T5N, R2E; NW along the power transmission lines to Northwest Natural Gas Pipeline located east of the town of Kalama, approximately 1/2 mile east of China Gardens Rd; N up the Natural Gas Pipeline right of way to Ostrander Creek; W down Ostrander Creek to the Cowlitz River; N on the Cowlitz River to the Toutle River 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 504 GMU 520 GMU 530 GMU 554 GMU 556 GMU 564