Toutle GMU 556 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 32 elk taken in GMU 556 Toutle in 2025, 32 of them on special permits. GMU 556 is 31.1% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (43,567 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 556Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 147,044 acres (230 square miles) |
| Public land open to hunting | 31.1% (45,693 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 32 (29 in 2024) |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 4 hunts, 55 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Yacolt, Kalama and Woodland |
Also for GMU 556: deer hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 556?
WDFW reports 32 elk taken in GMU 556 in 2025, against 29 in 2024. The most in one year since 2007 was 385, in 2012. WDFW's figures average 33 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 59 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 | 32 | 0 | 32 | 32 | 0 | |||
| 2024 | 29 | 0 | 29 | 29 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | 31 | 0 | 31 | 22 | 9 | |||
| 2022 | 32 | 0 | 32 | 24 | 8 | |||
| 2021 | 40 | 0 | 40 | 30 | 10 | |||
| 2020 | 35 | 35 | 24 | 11 | ||||
| 2019 | 57 | 0 | 57 | 33 | 24 | |||
| 2018 | 53 | 0 | 53 | 34 | 19 | |||
| 2017 | 57 | 0 | 57 | 31 | 26 | |||
| 2016 | 91 | 91 | 36 | 55 | ||||
| 2015 | 85 | 85 | 48 | 37 | ||||
| 2014 | 93 | 93 | 38 | 55 | ||||
| 2013 | 198 | 0 | 198 | 51 | 147 | 3 | 14 | 0 |
| 2012 | 385 | 2 | 383 | 111 | 274 | 3 | 4 | 67 |
| 2011 | 287 | 1 | 286 | 120 | 167 | 4 | 17 | 25 |
| 2010 | 224 | 0 | 224 | 97 | 127 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 | 199 | 199 | 103 | 96 | ||||
| 2008 | 218 | 218 | 89 | 129 | ||||
| 2007 | 0 | 0 | not split out | 0 | 0 | 4 | 38 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 556, 2007 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 556?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 4-point: 11 of 32 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 0 |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2022 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| 2021 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 10 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 556 in 2026?
No general elk season is open to all hunters in GMU 556 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 556?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 4 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 556, with 55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2033 | Toutle Quality Elk | WF | Sept. 28-Oct. 2 and Nov. 7-18 | Any Bull | GMU 556 | 2 | 811 / 12 | 1 hunter, 1 taken |
| 2034 | Toutle Quality Elk | WF | Nov. 7-18 | Any Bull | GMU 556 | 28 | 889 / 12 | 23 hunters, 20 taken |
| 2064 | Toutle Quality Elk | WA | Sept. 12-24 and Dec. 1-15 | Any Bull | GMU 556 | 15 | 521 / 11 | 12 hunters, 6 taken |
| 2088 | Toutle Quality Elk | WM | Oct. 3-9 | Any Bull | GMU 556 | 10 | 423 / 14 | 7 hunters, 5 taken |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 48 and 49; 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 556?
31.1% of GMU 556 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 45,693 of its 147,044 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 43,567 acres or 29.6% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 43,567 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 556 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 43,567 | 29.6% |
| WDFW land | 1,578 | 1.1% |
| National forest | 548 | 0.4% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 556, by WDFW's own boundaries: Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area (1,551 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 556?
Highways through the unit: SR 503 (about 6 miles inside it). Nearby: Yacolt (8 miles), Kalama (11 miles), Woodland (11 miles) and La Center (12 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 556?
GMU 556 touches 7 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 elk numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Elk taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 520 | Winston | 13.8% | 65 | 1,021 |
| GMU 522 | Loo-wit | 95.5% | 23 | |
| GMU 524 | Margaret | 24.8% | 41 | 498 |
| GMU 550 | Coweeman | 7.2% | 75 | 1,063 |
| GMU 554 | Yale | 22.4% | 9 | 72 |
| GMU 560 | Lewis River | 90.2% | 73 | 2,135 |
| GMU 572 | Siouxon | 91.4% | 22 | 825 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 556 in 2026?
GMU 556 has no general elk season open to all hunters in 2026; WDFW lists 4 special permit hunts that include it.
How many elk are taken in GMU 556?
WDFW reports 32 elk taken in GMU 556 in 2025: 32 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 2007 was 385, in 2012.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 556?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 4 elk permit hunts for GMU 556: 2033 Toutle (2 permits), 2034 Toutle (28 permits), 2064 Toutle (15 permits) and 2088 Toutle (10 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 556?
31.1% of GMU 556, 45,693 of its 147,044 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 556?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Yacolt (8 miles), Kalama (11 miles) and Woodland (11 miles).
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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.
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