Satsop GMU 651 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and public land
WDFW's harvest report shows 11 elk taken in GMU 651 Satsop in 2025. General-season hunters numbered 200 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 1,183 hunter days. GMU 651 is 2.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (5,321 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.
DNR state trust landWDFW landOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 651Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 189,504 acres (296 square miles) |
| Counties | Grays Harbor, Mason and Thurston |
| Public land open to hunting | 2.8% (5,322 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 11 (11 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 200 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Nov. 7-18, 3 pt. min. |
| Towns in and near it | Elma, McCleary, Satsop, Shelton, Montesano and Olympia |
Also for GMU 651: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 651?
WDFW reports 11 elk taken in GMU 651 in 2025, against 11 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 39, in 2003. WDFW's figures average 12 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 30 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 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 200 | 1,183 | 6 | |
| 2024 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 191 | 1,004 | 6 | |
| 2023 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 252 | 1,611 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 229 | 1,474 | 5 | |
| 2021 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 223 | 1,166 | 8 | |
| 2020 | 25 | 24 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 297 | 1,517 | 8 |
| 2019 | 31 | 27 | 4 | 25 | 6 | 280 | 1,520 | 10 |
| 2018 | 35 | 32 | 3 | 30 | 5 | 329 | 1,834 | 10 |
| 2017 | 29 | 26 | 3 | 24 | 5 | 271 | 1,412 | 10 |
| 2016 | 30 | 28 | 2 | 28 | 2 | 294 | 1,278 | 10 |
| 2015 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 317 | 1,731 | 7 | |
| 2014 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 242 | 1,259 | 7 |
| 2013 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 296 | 1,471 | 7 | |
| 2012 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 299 | 1,350 | 6 |
| 2011 | 17 | 16 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 283 | 1,336 | 6 |
| 2010 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 322 | 1,508 | 4 |
| 2009 | 30 | 29 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 363 | 1,808 | 8 |
| 2008 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 7 | |||
| 2007 | 17 | 17 | not split out | 16 | 1 | 361 | 2,009 | 5 |
| 2006 | 15 | 15 | not split out | 14 | 1 | 446 | 2,176 | 3 |
| 2005 | 26 | 26 | not split out | 26 | 0 | 415 | 1,815 | 6 |
| 2004 | 35 | 35 | not split out | 35 | 0 | 599 | 2,587 | 6 |
| 2003 | 39 | 39 | not split out | 35 | 4 | 538 | 2,511 | 7 |
| 2002 | 28 | 28 | not split out | 28 | 0 | 528 | 2,647 | 5 |
| 2001 | 24 | 24 | not split out | 24 | 0 | 502 | 2,365 | 5 |
| 2000 | 30 | 30 | not split out | 30 | 0 | 420 | 1,646 | 7 |
| 1999 | 25 | 25 | not split out | 25 | 0 | 401 | 1,602 | 6 |
| 1998 | 17 | 17 | not split out | 17 | 0 | 231 | 815 | 7 |
| 1997 | 7 | 7 | not split out | 7 | 0 | 67 | 152 | 10 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 651, 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 651 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 651 in 2025: 134, who took 9 (6.8% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 21 | 143 | 0 | 0% | |
| Modern firearm | 134 | 795 | 9 | 6.8% | 88 |
| Muzzleloader | 37 | 205 | 2 | 5.4% | 103 |
| Multiple-season tag | 8 | 40 | 0 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 651?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 5-point: 7 of 11 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 651 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 651, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (3 pt. min.); muzzleloader: Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, 3 pt. min.); modern firearm: Nov. 7-18 (3 pt. min.).
| Weapon | Season | 2026 dates | Legal elk | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 651 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | All hunters | Only in Elk Area 6061 |
| Muzzleloader | Late muzzleloader season | Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | 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 651?
2.8% of GMU 651 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 5,322 of its 189,504 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 5,321 acres or 2.8% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 5,321 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 651 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 5,321 | 2.8% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 308 | 0.2% |
| WDFW land | 1 | under 0.1% |
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 651?
Highways through the unit: SR 8 (about 21 miles inside it), US 101 (about 12 miles inside it), SR 108 (about 12 miles inside it) and US 12 (about 5 miles inside it). Towns inside: Elma, McCleary and Satsop. Nearby: Shelton (on the line), Montesano (3 miles), Olympia (6 miles) and Tumwater (6 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 651?
GMU 651 touches 6 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 elk numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Elk taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 633 | Mason | 14.2% | 0 | 11 |
| GMU 636 | Skokomish | 56% | 0 | |
| GMU 648 | Wynoochee | 3.9% | 13 | 344 |
| GMU 660 | Minot Peak | 15.8% | 63 | 662 |
| GMU 663 | Capitol Peak | 68.5% | 8 | 174 |
| GMU 666 | Deschutes | 1.8% | 35 | 328 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 651 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 651 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (3 pt. min.); muzzleloader: Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, 3 pt. min.); modern firearm: Nov. 7-18 (3 pt. min.).
How many elk are taken in GMU 651?
WDFW reports 11 elk taken in GMU 651 in 2025: 11 antlered and 0 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 39, in 2003.
How much public land is in GMU 651?
2.8% of GMU 651, 5,322 of its 189,504 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 651?
Elma, McCleary and Satsop are inside the unit. Just outside: Shelton (on the line), Montesano (3 miles) and Olympia (6 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 651
Beginning at the US Hwy (US) 12 bridge on the Satsop River; N up the Satsop River to its junction with the west fork of the Satsop River; N up the west fork of the Satsop River to Cougar Smith Rd; E on Cougar Smith Rd to Boundary Rd (Middle Satsop Rd); N and E on Boundary Rd to Deckerville Rd; E on Deckerville Rd to Matlock-Brady Rd; N on Matlock-Brady Rd to the town of Matlock; E on Shelton-Matlock Rd to its junction with US 101 west of the town of Shelton; S on US 101 to its junction with State Route (SR) 8; W on SR 8 to its junction with US 12; W along US 12 to bridge over the Satsop 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 636 GMU 648 GMU 660 GMU 663 GMU 666