Lewis River GMU 560 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 73 elk taken in GMU 560 Lewis River in 2025, 3 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 2,135 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 11,700 hunter days. GMU 560 is 90.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (420,614 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 560Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 475,619 acres (743 square miles) |
| Counties | Cowlitz, Skamania, Klickitat, Yakima and Lewis |
| Public land open to hunting | 90.2% (428,932 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 73 (96 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 2,135 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Nov. 7-18, 3 pt. min. |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 4 hunts, 12 permits where WDFW prints a number |
| Towns in and near it | Trout Lake, Cougar, Yacolt, White Salmon and Bingen |
Also for GMU 560: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 560?
WDFW reports 73 elk taken in GMU 560 in 2025, against 96 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 390, in 2007. WDFW's figures average 115 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 207 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 | 73 | 70 | 3 | 72 | 1 | 2,135 | 11,700 | 3 |
| 2024 | 96 | 92 | 4 | 93 | 3 | 2,290 | 13,258 | 4 |
| 2023 | 122 | 113 | 9 | 105 | 17 | 2,570 | 13,998 | 4 |
| 2022 | 140 | 130 | 10 | 114 | 26 | 2,710 | 15,303 | 5 |
| 2021 | 144 | 135 | 9 | 114 | 30 | 3,142 | 18,031 | 4 |
| 2020 | 178 | 170 | 8 | 153 | 25 | 3,632 | 20,294 | 5 |
| 2019 | 147 | 133 | 14 | 121 | 26 | 3,233 | 19,042 | 4 |
| 2018 | 183 | 158 | 25 | 137 | 46 | 3,620 | 21,459 | 4 |
| 2017 | 226 | 207 | 19 | 185 | 41 | 3,636 | 20,958 | 6 |
| 2016 | 303 | 268 | 35 | 219 | 84 | 4,046 | 23,791 | 7 |
| 2015 | 376 | 328 | 48 | 279 | 97 | 4,139 | 23,682 | 8 |
| 2014 | 312 | 259 | 53 | 209 | 103 | 3,814 | 23,140 | 7 |
| 2013 | 303 | 265 | 38 | 223 | 80 | 3,920 | 23,526 | 7 |
| 2012 | 348 | 285 | 63 | 236 | 112 | 3,616 | 21,577 | 8 |
| 2011 | 281 | 241 | 40 | 214 | 67 | 3,650 | 21,433 | 7 |
| 2010 | 261 | 207 | 54 | 176 | 85 | 4,099 | 24,292 | 5 |
| 2009 | 373 | 297 | 76 | 242 | 131 | 4,033 | 23,440 | 7 |
| 2008 | 335 | 276 | 59 | 242 | 93 | |||
| 2007 | 390 | 390 | not split out | 318 | 72 | 4,542 | 26,588 | 9 |
| 2006 | 322 | 322 | not split out | 270 | 52 | 4,297 | 24,943 | 7 |
| 2005 | 212 | 212 | not split out | 168 | 44 | 2,599 | 14,487 | 8 |
| 2004 | 199 | 199 | not split out | 160 | 39 | 3,081 | 17,320 | 6 |
| 2003 | 286 | 286 | not split out | 248 | 38 | 2,891 | 16,700 | 10 |
| 2002 | 262 | 262 | not split out | 212 | 50 | 3,196 | 18,534 | 8 |
| 2001 | 215 | 215 | not split out | 178 | 37 | 3,182 | 18,206 | 7 |
| 2000 | 385 | 385 | not split out | 321 | 64 | 3,941 | 20,512 | 10 |
| 1999 | 238 | 238 | not split out | 197 | 41 | 4,046 | 26,286 | 6 |
| 1998 | 236 | 236 | not split out | 195 | 41 | 4,238 | 20,317 | 6 |
| 1997 | 110 | 110 | not split out | 69 | 41 | 2,715 | 11,523 | 4 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 560, 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 560 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 560 in 2025: 1,297, who took 37 (2.8% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 432 | 2,788 | 8 | 1.8% | 349 |
| Modern firearm | 1,297 | 6,905 | 37 | 2.8% | 187 |
| Muzzleloader | 380 | 1,800 | 23 | 6% | 78 |
| Multiple-season tag | 26 | 207 | 2 | 7.6% | 104 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 560?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 4-point: 29 of 72 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 29 | 25 | 8 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 31 | 41 | 16 | 3 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 36 | 42 | 10 | 17 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 53 | 44 | 8 | 26 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 56 | 31 | 8 | 30 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 560 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 560, 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 560 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 560?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 4 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 560, with 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2035 | Lewis River Quality Elk | WF | Sept. 28-Oct. 2 | Any Bull | GMU 560 | 2 | 320 / 23 | 1 hunter, 0 taken |
| 2425 | Lewis River Youth only | WF | Nov. 7-18 | Antlerless | GMU 560 | 5 | 209 / 3 | |
| 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 | |
| 2827 | Lewis River Bull Elk | WA | Nov. 25-Dec. 8 | 3 pt. min. | GMU 560 | 5 | 236 / 17 |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 48, 50, 55 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 560?
90.2% of GMU 560 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 428,932 of its 475,619 acres. The largest share is national forest, 420,614 acres or 88.4% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 8,249 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 560 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 420,614 | 88.4% |
| DNR state trust land | 8,249 | 1.7% |
| BLM | 69 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 560, by WDFW's own boundaries: Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area (1,448 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 560?
No numbered highway crosses the unit. Towns inside: Trout Lake and Cougar. Nearby: Yacolt (13 miles), White Salmon (17 miles) and Bingen (18 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 560?
GMU 560 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 516 | Packwood | 92.9% | 59 | 835 |
| GMU 522 | Loo-wit | 95.5% | 23 | |
| GMU 554 | Yale | 22.4% | 9 | 72 |
| GMU 556 | Toutle | 31.1% | 32 | |
| GMU 572 | Siouxon | 91.4% | 22 | 825 |
| GMU 574 | Wind River | 73.3% | 19 | 322 |
| GMU 578 | West Klickitat | 27.6% | 47 | 543 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 560 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 560 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 560?
WDFW reports 73 elk taken in GMU 560 in 2025: 72 antlered and 1 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 390, in 2007.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 560?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 4 elk permit hunts for GMU 560: 2035 Lewis River (2 permits), 2425 Lewis River (5 permits), 2711 Region 5 Southeast- Hoof Disease ( permits) and 2827 Lewis River (5 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 560?
90.2% of GMU 560, 428,932 of its 475,619 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 560?
Trout Lake and Cougar are inside the unit. Just outside: Yacolt (13 miles), White Salmon (17 miles) and Bingen (18 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 560
Beginning on State Route (SR) 141 and Mount Adams Recreational Area Rd at the town of Trout Lake; N on the Mount Adams Recreational Area Rd to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 82 (Mount Adams Recreational Area Rd); N on USFS Road 82 to Yakama Indian Reservation boundary (Section 16, T7N, R11E); N along the Yakama Indian reservation boundary (Cascade Mountain Range Crest) to USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) in Section 3, T11N, R11E; 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 Trail 263 to USFS Trail 261; S on USFS Trail 261 to USFS Trail 1; W on USFS Trail 1 to USFS Rd 99; S and W on USFS Rd 99 to USFS Trail 225 (Smith Creek Trail); S on USFS Trail 225 to Ape Canyon Creek; N and W up Ape Canyon Creek to Mt. St. Helens crater's eastern edge; W along Mt. St. Helens crater's southern edge to headwaters of S Fork Toutle River; W along S Weyco 1000 line; N on Weyco 1000 line to Muller Rd; N on Muller Rd to 3rd St South in the town of Pe Ell; N on 3rd St South to SR 6 at the town of Pe Ell; N on SR 6 to Stevens Rd, south of the town of Doty, 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 516 GMU 522 GMU 554 GMU 556 GMU 572 GMU 574 GMU 578