Yale GMU 554 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 9 elk taken in GMU 554 Yale in 2025, 3 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 72 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 279 hunter days. GMU 554 is 22.4% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (6,328 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 554Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 28,554 acres (45 square miles) |
| Counties | Cowlitz and Clark |
| Public land open to hunting | 22.4% (6,405 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 9 (9 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 72 |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 4 hunts, 11 permits where WDFW prints a number |
| Towns in and near it | Yacolt, La Center and Woodland |
Also for GMU 554: deer hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 554?
WDFW reports 9 elk taken in GMU 554 in 2025, against 9 in 2024. The most in one year since 2000 was 43, in 2012. WDFW's figures average 10 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 15 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 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 72 | 279 | 8 |
| 2024 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 60 | 240 | 15 |
| 2023 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 62 | 255 | 13 |
| 2022 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 82 | 367 | 17 |
| 2021 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 82 | 319 | 6 |
| 2020 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 103 | 462 | 6 |
| 2019 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 130 | 576 | 7 |
| 2018 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 174 | 736 | 5 |
| 2017 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 173 | 836 | 2 |
| 2016 | 31 | 19 | 12 | 19 | 12 | 186 | 731 | 10 |
| 2015 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 169 | 821 | 6 |
| 2014 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 181 | 797 | 12 |
| 2013 | 37 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 245 | 1,148 | 8 |
| 2012 | 43 | 16 | 27 | 16 | 27 | 181 | 814 | 9 |
| 2011 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 10 | 219 | 990 | 7 |
| 2010 | 34 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 14 | 225 | 971 | 8 |
| 2009 | 38 | 13 | 25 | 14 | 24 | 160 | 836 | 8 |
| 2008 | 24 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 15 | |||
| 2007 | 14 | 14 | not split out | 8 | 6 | 294 | 1,568 | 5 |
| 2006 | 15 | 15 | not split out | 11 | 4 | 201 | 883 | 7 |
| 2005 | 21 | 21 | not split out | 13 | 8 | 234 | 1,168 | 9 |
| 2004 | 21 | 21 | not split out | 17 | 4 | 244 | 1,249 | 9 |
| 2003 | 5 | 5 | not split out | 5 | 0 | 211 | 1,098 | 2 |
| 2002 | 17 | 17 | not split out | 15 | 2 | 224 | 1,189 | 8 |
| 2001 | 6 | 6 | not split out | 5 | 1 | 213 | 1,111 | 3 |
| 2000 | 18 | 18 | not split out | 5 | 13 | 252 | 951 | 7 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 554, 2000 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 554 in 2025?
The muzzleloader general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 554 in 2025: 34, who took 4 (11.8% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 32 | 138 | 2 | 6.2% | 69 |
| Muzzleloader | 34 | 108 | 4 | 11.8% | 27 |
| Multiple-season tag | 6 | 33 | 0 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 554?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 5-point: 4 of 7 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 554 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 554, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (3 pt. min. or antlerless); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (3 pt. min.).
| Weapon | Season | 2026 dates | Legal elk | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 554 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Oct. 3-9 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters |
Source: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 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 554?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 4 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 554, with 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2289 | Yale Antlerless Elk | WM | Oct. 3-9 | Antlerless | GMU 554 | 3 | 101 / 4 | |
| 2290 | Yale Antlerless Elk | WM | Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | Antlerless | GMU 554 | 3 | 209 / 9 | |
| 2711 | Region 5 Southeast- Hoof Disease Master Hunters only | Any elk tag | Dec. 1-Feb. 28 | Antlerless | GMUs 382, 388, 554, 560, 564, 568, 572, 574, 578 | 46 / 3 | 7 hunters, 4 taken | |
| 2838 | Yale Bull Elk | WM | Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | 3 pt. min. | GMU 554 | 5 | 196 / 15 |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 50, 53 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 554?
22.4% of GMU 554 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 6,405 of its 28,554 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 6,328 acres or 22.2% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 6,328 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 554 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 6,328 | 22.2% |
| National forest | 39 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 38 | 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 554?
Highways through the unit: SR 503 (about 8 miles inside it). Nearby: Yacolt (4 miles), La Center (8 miles), Woodland (10 miles) and Ridgefield (10 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 554?
GMU 554 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 550 | Coweeman | 7.2% | 75 | 1,063 |
| GMU 556 | Toutle | 31.1% | 32 | |
| GMU 560 | Lewis River | 90.2% | 73 | 2,135 |
| GMU 564 | Battle Ground | 3.3% | 8 | 174 |
| GMU 568 | Washougal | 49.5% | 41 | 582 |
| GMU 572 | Siouxon | 91.4% | 22 | 825 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 554 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 554 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (3 pt. min. or antlerless); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (3 pt. min.).
How many elk are taken in GMU 554?
WDFW reports 9 elk taken in GMU 554 in 2025: 7 antlered and 2 antlerless. The most in one year since 2000 was 43, in 2012.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 554?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 4 elk permit hunts for GMU 554: 2289 Yale (3 permits), 2290 Yale (3 permits), 2711 Region 5 Southeast- Hoof Disease ( permits) and 2838 Yale (5 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 554?
22.4% of GMU 554, 6,405 of its 28,554 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 554?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Yacolt (4 miles), La Center (8 miles) and Woodland (10 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 554
Beginning on State Route (SR) 503 at its crossing of Cape Horn Creek; E and NE on SR 503 to Dog Creek; S down Dog Creek to Yale Reservoir; S and W along western shore of Reservoir to Yale Dam and the North Fork Lewis River; W along the northern shore of the North Fork Lewis River to SR 503 bridge crossing; S and W along SR 503 to NE 221st Ave; N about 1/4 mile on NE 221st Ave to NE Cedar Creek Rd; W along NE Cedar Creek Rd to NE Pup Creek Rd; N on NE Pup Creek Rd to NE Buncombe Hollow Rd; N about 1/4 mile on NE Buncombe Hollow Rd to power transmission line; S and W on the power transmission line to the north shore of the North Fork Lewis River; NE along the north shore of the North Fork Lewis River to Merwin Reservoir at the Merwin Dam; NE along the north shore of Merwin Reservoir to Cape Horn Creek; NW up Cape Horn Creek to SR 503 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 550 GMU 556 GMU 560 GMU 564 GMU 568 GMU 572