Pysht GMU 603 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 20 elk taken in GMU 603 Pysht in 2025, 2 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 95 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 333 hunter days. GMU 603 is 55.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (42,472 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 landWDFW landNational park or historic site (no hunting)Military land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 603Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 149,891 acres (234 square miles) |
| Counties | Clallam |
| Public land open to hunting | 55.2% (82,706 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 20 (15 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 95 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Nov. 7-18, 3 pt. min. |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 5 hunts, 23 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Port Angeles and Forks |
Also for GMU 603: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 603?
WDFW reports 20 elk taken in GMU 603 in 2025, against 15 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 26, in 2022. WDFW's figures average 16 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 16 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 | 20 | 18 | 2 | 18 | 2 | 95 | 333 | 19 |
| 2024 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 107 | 483 | 12 |
| 2023 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 124 | 591 | 9 |
| 2022 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 23 | 3 | 144 | 613 | 16 |
| 2021 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 131 | 549 | 3 |
| 2020 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 136 | 584 | 14 | |
| 2019 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 127 | 593 | 13 | |
| 2018 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 145 | 713 | 10 | |
| 2017 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 117 | 514 | 9 | |
| 2016 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 154 | 633 | 13 | |
| 2015 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 114 | 488 | 11 | |
| 2014 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 120 | 568 | 8 | |
| 2013 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 161 | 673 | 10 | |
| 2012 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 144 | 628 | 10 | |
| 2011 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 128 | 631 | 9 |
| 2010 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 117 | 606 | 14 | |
| 2009 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 137 | 609 | 15 | |
| 2008 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2007 | 4 | 4 | not split out | 4 | 0 | 104 | 440 | 4 |
| 2006 | 7 | 7 | not split out | 7 | 0 | 137 | 625 | 5 |
| 2005 | 10 | 10 | not split out | 10 | 0 | 116 | 441 | 9 |
| 2004 | 6 | 6 | not split out | 6 | 0 | 120 | 501 | 5 |
| 2003 | 16 | 16 | not split out | 16 | 0 | 115 | 521 | 14 |
| 2002 | 6 | 6 | not split out | 6 | 0 | 115 | 562 | 5 |
| 2001 | 5 | 5 | not split out | 5 | 0 | 127 | 541 | 4 |
| 2000 | 5 | 5 | not split out | 5 | 0 | 138 | 569 | 4 |
| 1999 | 7 | 7 | not split out | 7 | 0 | 101 | 433 | 7 |
| 1998 | 21 | 21 | not split out | 21 | 0 | 148 | 337 | 14 |
| 1997 | 6 | 6 | not split out | 6 | 0 | 90 | 199 | 7 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 603, 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 603 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 603 in 2025: 46, who took 5 (10.8% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 25 | 93 | 7 | 28% | 13 |
| Modern firearm | 46 | 160 | 5 | 10.8% | 32 |
| Muzzleloader | 22 | 70 | 6 | 27.2% | 12 |
| Multiple-season tag | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 603?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 4-point: 11 of 18 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 603 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 603, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (3 pt. min.) and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, 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 603 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Nov. 7-18 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | |
| Archery | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | |
| Archery | Late archery season | Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | 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 603?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 5 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 603, with 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2041 | Peninsula Quality Elk | WF | Sept. 26-30 | 3 pt. min. | GMUs 602, 603, 607, 612 | 4 | 237 / 15 | 3 hunters, 2 taken |
| 2067 | Peninsula Quality Elk | WA | Sept. 1-11 | 3 pt. min. | GMUs 602, 603, 607, 612 | 2 | 131 / 10 | 1 hunter, 0 taken |
| 2093 | Peninsula Quality Elk | WM | Oct. 3-14 | 3 pt. min. | GMUs 602, 603, 607, 612 | 2 | 152 / 11 | 2 hunters, 0 taken |
| 2242 | Joyce Antlerless Elk | WF, WM, WA | Jan. 1-31, 2027 | Antlerless | Elk Area 6030 | 10 | 129 / 7 | |
| 2440 | Joyce Youth only | WF, WM, WA | Dec. 16-31 | Antlerless | Elk Area 6030 | 5 | New hunt |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 48, 49, 52 and 55; 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 603?
55.2% of GMU 603 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 82,706 of its 149,891 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 42,472 acres or 28.3% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 42,472 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 603 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 42,472 | 28.3% |
| National forest | 40,099 | 26.8% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 207 | 0.1% |
| WDFW land | 97 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 38 | under 0.1% |
| Military land (restricted) | 14 | under 0.1% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 11 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 603, by WDFW's own boundaries: North Olympic Wildlife Area (263 acres here; units Elwha and Twin Rivers).
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 603?
Highways through the unit: SR 112 (about 60 miles inside it), US 101 (about 12 miles inside it) and SR 113 (about 8 miles inside it). Nearby: Port Angeles (5 miles) and Forks (10 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 603?
GMU 603 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 602 | Dickey | 33.3% | 14 | 202 |
| GMU 607 | Sol Duc | 76% | 36 | 314 |
| GMU 621 | Olympic | 73.2% | 2 | |
| GMU 624 | Coyle | 9.3% | 0 | 29 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 603 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 603 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (3 pt. min.) and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, 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 603?
WDFW reports 20 elk taken in GMU 603 in 2025: 18 antlered and 2 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 26, in 2022.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 603?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 5 elk permit hunts for GMU 603: 2041 Peninsula (4 permits), 2067 Peninsula (2 permits), 2093 Peninsula (2 permits), 2242 Joyce (10 permits) and 2440 Joyce (5 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 603?
55.2% of GMU 603, 82,706 of its 149,891 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 603?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Port Angeles (5 miles) and Forks (10 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 603
Beginning at the mouth of the Clallam River on Strait of Juan de Fuca; E along the shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the mouth of the Elwha River; S along the Elwha River to the Olympic National Park boundary; W along the Olympic National Park boundary to one mile west of Lake Crescent; S on the Olympic National Park boundary to US Hwy (US) 101; W on US 101 to the State Route (SR) 113 (Burnt Mountain Rd); N on SR 113 to SR 112; N on SR 112 to the Clallam River; N along the Clallam River to its mouth 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 6 GMU 602 GMU 607 GMU 621