Copalis GMU 642 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and public land
WDFW's harvest report shows 5 elk taken in GMU 642 Copalis in 2025. General-season hunters numbered 97 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 571 hunter days. GMU 642 is 9.1% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (7,989 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 wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Military land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 642Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 177,546 acres (277 square miles) |
| Counties | Grays Harbor |
| Public land open to hunting | 9.1% (16,244 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 5 (4 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 97 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Nov. 7-18, 3 pt. min. |
| Towns in and near it | Hoquiam, Ocean Shores, Humptulips, Aberdeen, Westport and Cosmopolis |
Also for GMU 642: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 642?
WDFW reports 5 elk taken in GMU 642 in 2025, against 4 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 19, in 2019. WDFW's figures average 7 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 14 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 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 97 | 571 | 5 | |
| 2024 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 66 | 357 | 6 | |
| 2023 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 78 | 440 | 8 | |
| 2022 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 82 | 535 | 12 |
| 2021 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 106 | 498 | 7 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 124 | 679 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 125 | 696 | 15 | |
| 2018 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 98 | 460 | 15 |
| 2017 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 91 | 483 | 13 |
| 2016 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 93 | 440 | 18 |
| 2015 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 114 | 556 | 16 | |
| 2014 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 16 | 3 | 113 | 525 | 14 |
| 2013 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 115 | 534 | 3 | |
| 2012 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 113 | 513 | 13 | |
| 2011 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 107 | 612 | 11 | |
| 2010 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 121 | 561 | 11 | |
| 2009 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 115 | 598 | 9 | |
| 2008 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2007 | 8 | 8 | not split out | 8 | 0 | 87 | 431 | 9 |
| 2006 | 1 | 1 | not split out | 1 | 0 | 55 | 292 | 2 |
| 2005 | 5 | 5 | not split out | 5 | 0 | 96 | 434 | 5 |
| 2004 | 5 | 5 | not split out | 5 | 0 | 94 | 377 | 5 |
| 2003 | 11 | 11 | not split out | 11 | 0 | 97 | 442 | 11 |
| 2002 | 8 | 8 | not split out | 8 | 0 | 115 | 512 | 7 |
| 2001 | 12 | 12 | not split out | 12 | 0 | 118 | 570 | 10 |
| 2000 | 2 | 2 | not split out | 2 | 0 | 132 | 474 | 2 |
| 1999 | 6 | 6 | not split out | 6 | 0 | 159 | 686 | 4 |
| 1998 | 4 | 4 | not split out | 4 | 0 | 67 | 186 | 6 |
| 1997 | 7 | 7 | not split out | 7 | 0 | 46 | 254 | 15 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 642, 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 642 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 642 in 2025: 64, who took 0 (0% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 19 | 110 | 3 | 15.8% | 37 |
| Modern firearm | 64 | 394 | 0 | 0% | |
| Muzzleloader | 14 | 67 | 2 | 14.2% | 34 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 642?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 5-point: 5 of 5 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 642 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 642, 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 642 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
How much public land is in GMU 642?
9.1% of GMU 642 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 16,244 of its 177,546 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 7,989 acres or 4.5% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 7,989 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 642 |
|---|---|---|
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 17,814 | 10% |
| DNR state trust land | 7,989 | 4.5% |
| National forest | 7,001 | 3.9% |
| WDFW land | 1,254 | 0.7% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 101 | 0.1% |
| Military land (restricted) | 84 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 642, by WDFW's own boundaries: Johns River Wildlife Area (960 acres here; units Oyhut, Ocean Shores Airport and Humptulips-Grass Creek).
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 642?
Highways through the unit: SR 109 (about 32 miles inside it), US 101 (about 19 miles inside it) and SR 115 (about 3 miles inside it). Towns inside: Hoquiam, Ocean Shores, Humptulips, Copalis Beach, Ocean City and Moclips. Nearby: Aberdeen (3 miles), Westport (3 miles), Cosmopolis (5 miles) and Montesano (14 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 642?
GMU 642 touches 2 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 elk numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Elk taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 638 | Quinault Ridge | 85.9% | 15 | 178 |
| GMU 648 | Wynoochee | 3.9% | 13 | 344 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 642 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 642 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 642?
WDFW reports 5 elk taken in GMU 642 in 2025: 5 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 19, in 2019.
How much public land is in GMU 642?
9.1% of GMU 642, 16,244 of its 177,546 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 642?
Hoquiam, Ocean Shores and Humptulips are inside the unit. Just outside: Aberdeen (3 miles), Westport (3 miles) and Cosmopolis (5 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 642
Beginning at the Quinault Indian reservation and US Hwy (US) 101 south of Lake Quinault; S on US 101 to the Hoquiam River in the city of Hoquiam; S along the Hoquiam River to the north shore of Grays Harbor; W along the north shore of Grays Harbor to the Pacific Ocean; N along the shore of the Pacific Ocean to the Quinault Indian reservation boundary; E and NE along the Quinault Indian reservation to US 101 south of Lake Quinault 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 638 GMU 648