Skokomish GMU 636 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows no elk taken in GMU 636 Skokomish in 2025; the last year with any was 2024, with 3. GMU 636 is 56% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (133,471 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 landNational park or historic site (no hunting)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 636Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 241,230 acres (377 square miles) |
| Counties | Grays Harbor and Mason |
| Public land open to hunting | 56% (135,167 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 0 (3 in 2024) |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 3 hunts, 10 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Hoodsport, Shelton, McCleary and Montesano |
Also for GMU 636: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 636?
WDFW reports 0 elk taken in GMU 636 in 2025, against 3 in 2024. The most in one year since 2008 was 6, in 2017. WDFW's figures average 2 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 4 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 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2020 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |||
| 2017 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2016 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | ||||
| 2015 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2014 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2013 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2010 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 2009 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | ||||
| 2008 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 636, 2008 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 636?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, WDFW reported 0 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 636 in 2026?
No general elk season is open to all hunters in GMU 636 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 636?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 3 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 636, with 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2818 | Skokomish Bull Elk | WF | Nov. 1-18 | 3 pt. min. | GMU 636 | 5 | 375 / 14 | |
| 2830 | Skokomish Bull Elk | WA | Sept. 12-27 and Dec. 1-15 | 3 pt. min. | GMU 636 | 4 | 220 / 10 | |
| 2840 | Skokomish Bull Elk | WM | Oct. 3-16 | 3 pt. min. | GMU 636 | 1 | 212 / 12 |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, page 50; 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 636?
56% of GMU 636 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 135,167 of its 241,230 acres. The largest share is national forest, 133,471 acres or 55.3% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 1,525 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 636 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 133,471 | 55.3% |
| DNR state trust land | 1,525 | 0.6% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 492 | 0.2% |
| WDFW land | 171 | 0.1% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 3 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 636, by WDFW's own boundaries: South Puget Sound Wildlife Area (68 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 636?
Highways through the unit: US 101 (about 6 miles inside it), SR 102 (about 2 miles inside it) and SR 119 (about 2 miles inside it). Towns inside: Hoodsport. Nearby: Shelton (on the line), McCleary (11 miles), Montesano (15 miles) and Elma (15 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 636?
GMU 636 touches 5 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 elk numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Elk taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 621 | Olympic | 73.2% | 2 | |
| GMU 633 | Mason | 14.2% | 0 | 11 |
| GMU 638 | Quinault Ridge | 85.9% | 15 | 178 |
| GMU 648 | Wynoochee | 3.9% | 13 | 344 |
| GMU 651 | Satsop | 2.8% | 11 | 200 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 636 in 2026?
GMU 636 has no general elk season open to all hunters in 2026; WDFW lists 3 special permit hunts that include it.
How many elk are taken in GMU 636?
WDFW reports 0 elk taken in GMU 636 in 2025: 0 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 2008 was 6, in 2017.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 636?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 3 elk permit hunts for GMU 636: 2818 Skokomish (5 permits), 2830 Skokomish (4 permits) and 2840 Skokomish (1 permit). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 636?
56% of GMU 636, 135,167 of its 241,230 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 636?
Hoodsport is inside the unit. Just outside: Shelton (on the line), McCleary (11 miles) and Montesano (15 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 636
Beginning on the Olympic National Park boundary and the North Fork of the Skokomish River; S along the North Fork Skokomish River to Lake Cushman; SE along the west shore of Lake Cushman to Standstill Dr (Power Dam Rd) at the Upper Cushman Dam; E on the Standstill Dr to State Route (SR) 119 (Lake Cushman Rd); SE on SR 119 to US Hwy (US) 101 at the town of Hoodsport; S on US 101 to the Shelton-Matlock Rd at the town of Shelton; W on the Shelton-Matlock Rd to the Matlock-Brady Rd; S on the Matlock-Brady Rd to Deckerville Rd south of the town of Matlock; W on Deckerville Rd to Boundary Rd (Middle Satsop Rd); W and S on Boundary Rd to Kelly Rd; N on Kelly Rd to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 2368 (Simpson Timber 500 line); N on USFS Rd 2368 to USFS Rd 2260 (Simpson Timber 600 line); W on USFS Rd 2260 to USFS Rd 22 (Wynoochee Rd); NW and W on USFS Rd 22 to USFS Rd 2294, 1/4 mile east of Big Creek; NW on USFS Rd 2294, which parallels Big Creek, to junction with USFS Rd 2281; W on USFS Rd 2281, to the watershed divide between the Humptulips River watershed and the Wynoochee River watershed; N on the ridge between the Humptulips River watershed and Wynoochee River watershed to Olympic National Park boundary; E along the Olympic National Park boundary to the north fork of the Skokomish River 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 621 GMU 638 GMU 648 GMU 651