Puyallup GMU 652 elk hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 222 elk taken in GMU 652 Puyallup in 2025, 6 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 889 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 5,489 hunter days. GMU 652 is 1.1% public land open to hunting, the largest share WDFW land (3,197 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 landNational wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Military land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 652Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 428,995 acres (670 square miles) |
| Counties | Pierce and King |
| Public land open to hunting | 1.1% (4,538 acres) |
| Elk taken, 2025 | 222 (236 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 889 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Nov. 7-18, 3 pt. min. |
| Elk special permit hunts, 2026 | 3 hunts, 30 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Tacoma, Federal Way, Lakewood, Buckley, Auburn and Wilkeson |
Also for GMU 652: deer hunting, black bear hunting.
How many elk are taken in GMU 652?
WDFW reports 222 elk taken in GMU 652 in 2025, against 236 in 2024. The most in one year since 2000 was 237, in 2020. WDFW's figures average 223 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 194 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 | 222 | 216 | 6 | 151 | 71 | 889 | 5,489 | 24 |
| 2024 | 236 | 227 | 9 | 145 | 91 | 1,099 | 6,805 | 21 |
| 2023 | 233 | 227 | 6 | 137 | 96 | 953 | 5,735 | 24 |
| 2022 | 225 | 220 | 5 | 151 | 74 | 1,021 | 5,890 | 22 |
| 2021 | 197 | 190 | 7 | 123 | 74 | 1,001 | 6,303 | 19 |
| 2020 | 237 | 232 | 5 | 165 | 72 | 1,104 | 6,828 | 21 |
| 2019 | 196 | 188 | 8 | 120 | 76 | 922 | 5,304 | 20 |
| 2018 | 183 | 178 | 5 | 109 | 74 | 945 | 6,114 | 19 |
| 2017 | 188 | 184 | 4 | 112 | 76 | 1,018 | 6,224 | 18 |
| 2016 | 167 | 160 | 7 | 94 | 73 | 935 | 5,386 | 17 |
| 2015 | 159 | 153 | 6 | 81 | 78 | 944 | 5,667 | 16 |
| 2014 | 160 | 155 | 5 | 87 | 73 | 793 | 4,306 | 20 |
| 2013 | 113 | 108 | 5 | 63 | 50 | 742 | 3,860 | 15 |
| 2012 | 124 | 121 | 3 | 79 | 45 | 662 | 3,431 | 18 |
| 2011 | 92 | 92 | 61 | 31 | 605 | 3,043 | 15 | |
| 2010 | 103 | 103 | 56 | 47 | 694 | 3,568 | 15 | |
| 2009 | 103 | 103 | 66 | 37 | 692 | 3,644 | 15 | |
| 2008 | 65 | 65 | 44 | 21 | ||||
| 2007 | 61 | 61 | not split out | 31 | 30 | 589 | 3,359 | 10 |
| 2006 | 81 | 81 | not split out | 49 | 32 | 556 | 2,926 | 15 |
| 2005 | 56 | 56 | not split out | 26 | 30 | 446 | 2,454 | 13 |
| 2004 | 75 | 75 | not split out | 37 | 38 | 523 | 2,632 | 14 |
| 2003 | 58 | 58 | not split out | 21 | 37 | 448 | 2,583 | 13 |
| 2002 | 64 | 64 | not split out | 27 | 37 | 528 | 2,979 | 12 |
| 2001 | 28 | 28 | not split out | 27 | 1 | 427 | 2,239 | 7 |
| 2000 | 33 | 33 | not split out | 21 | 12 | 526 | 2,458 | 6 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, GMU 652, 2000 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 652 in 2025?
The muzzleloader general season drew the most elk hunters in GMU 652 in 2025: 374, who took 98 (26.2% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Elk taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 350 | 2,568 | 71 | 20.2% | 36 |
| Modern firearm | 136 | 622 | 37 | 27.2% | 17 |
| Muzzleloader | 374 | 2,013 | 98 | 26.2% | 21 |
| Multiple-season tag | 29 | 286 | 10 | 34.4% | 29 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk general season, 2025).
What size bulls come out of GMU 652?
WDFW counts antlered elk by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 5-point: 81 of 151 antlered elk.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 points | 6 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 81 | 41 | 71 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 67 | 54 | 91 |
| 2023 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 57 | 45 | 96 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 17 | 59 | 61 | 74 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 44 | 64 | 74 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (elk, antler points).
When is elk season in GMU 652 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 652, by weapon: archery: Sept. 12-24 (3 pt. min. or antlerless) and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, 3 pt. min. or antlerless); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (3 pt. min. or antlerless) and Nov. 25-Dec. 8 (late season, 3 pt. min. or antlerless); modern firearm: Nov. 7-18 (3 pt. min.).
| Weapon | Season | 2026 dates | Legal elk | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 652 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | Nov. 7-18 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | Except Elk Area 6014 |
| Archery | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | Any elk | All hunters | Only in Elk Area 6014 |
| Archery | Early archery season | Sept. 12-24 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | All hunters | Except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless |
| Archery | Late archery season | Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | All hunters | Except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless |
| Archery | Late archery season | Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | Any elk | All hunters | Only in Elk Area 6014 |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Oct. 3-9 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | All hunters | Except Elk Area 6013 closed to antler- less |
| Muzzleloader | Late muzzleloader season | Nov. 25-Dec. 8 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless | All hunters | Except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless |
| Muzzleloader | Late muzzleloader season | Nov. 25-Dec. 15 | Any elk | All hunters | Only in Elk Area 6014 |
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 652?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 3 elk special permit hunts that take in GMU 652, with 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2239 | Puyallup Antlerless Elk | WF | Jan. 1-20, 2027 | Antlerless | Elk Area 6014 | 10 | 245 / 10 | |
| 2240 | Puyallup Antlerless Elk | WF | Jan. 21-Feb. 10, 2027 | Antlerless | Elk Area 6014 | 10 | 211 / 7 | |
| 2241 | Puyallup Antlerless Elk | WF | Feb. 11-28, 2027 | Antlerless | Elk Area 6014 | 10 | 192 / 6 |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, page 52; 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 652?
1.1% of GMU 652 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 4,538 of its 428,995 acres. The largest share is WDFW land, 3,197 acres or 0.7% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 1,341 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 652 |
|---|---|---|
| Military land (restricted) | 68,989 | 16.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 5,496 | 1.3% |
| WDFW land | 3,197 | 0.7% |
| DNR state trust land | 1,341 | 0.3% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 303 | 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 652, by WDFW's own boundaries: South Puget Sound Wildlife Area (47 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 652?
Highways through the unit: I-5 (about 54 miles inside it), SR 161 (about 39 miles inside it), SR 509 (about 34 miles inside it), SR 7 (about 31 miles inside it) and SR 512 (about 24 miles inside it). Towns inside: Tacoma, Federal Way, Lakewood, Puyallup, Edgewood and University Place. Nearby: Buckley (on the line), Auburn (on the line), Wilkeson (on the line) and Carbonado (on the line).
Which GMUs border GMU 652?
GMU 652 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 454 | Issaquah | 4.6% | 106 | 509 |
| GMU 653 | White River | 52.7% | 70 | 142 |
| GMU 654 | Mashel | 19.3% | 97 | 810 |
| GMU 655 | Anderson Island | 0% | 0 | |
| GMU 666 | Deschutes | 1.8% | 35 | 328 |
| GMU 667 | Skookumchuck | 13.8% | 109 | 1,021 |
Questions hunters ask
When is elk season in GMU 652 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general elk seasons open to all hunters in GMU 652 are archery: Sept. 12-24 (3 pt. min. or antlerless) and Nov. 25-Dec. 15 (late season, 3 pt. min. or antlerless); muzzleloader: Oct. 3-9 (3 pt. min. or antlerless) and Nov. 25-Dec. 8 (late season, 3 pt. min. or antlerless); modern firearm: Nov. 7-18 (3 pt. min.).
How many elk are taken in GMU 652?
WDFW reports 222 elk taken in GMU 652 in 2025: 151 antlered and 71 antlerless. The most in one year since 2000 was 237, in 2020.
Which special permit elk hunts include GMU 652?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 3 elk permit hunts for GMU 652: 2239 Puyallup (10 permits), 2240 Puyallup (10 permits) and 2241 Puyallup (10 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 652?
1.1% of GMU 652, 4,538 of its 428,995 acres, is national forest, BLM, DNR trust, WDFW, Reclamation or national recreation area land; the largest share is WDFW land. Measured by FilledTag from WA DNR's public land maps.
What town is closest to GMU 652?
Tacoma, Federal Way and Lakewood are inside the unit. Just outside: Buckley (on the line), Auburn (on the line) and Wilkeson (on the line).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 652
Beginning at Redondo Junction on the shore of Puget Sound and Redondo Way S; SE on Redondo Way S to State Route (SR) 509; E on SR 509 to Pacific Hwy S (Old Hwy 99); S on Pacific Hwy S to SR 18 at the city of Auburn; E on SR 18 to SR 164; SE on SR 164 to SR 410 (Chinook Pass Hwy) at the town of Enumclaw; E on SR 410 to the second set of power transmission lines near the Mud Mountain Dam Rd; SW on the power transmission lines to the White River; NW along the White River to SR 410; S on SR 410 to SR 165; S on SR 165 to the first intersection with a power transmission line at T19N, R06E, Sec 21; SW on this power transmission line to Orville Rd E at the Puyallup River; S on Orville Rd E to SR 161; S on SR 161 to the Mashel River; down the Mashel River to the Nisqually River (Pierce-Thurston county line); NW along the Nisqually River, along the Pierce-Thurston county line, to the Nisqually Reach in the Puget Sound; NW along the Thurston- Pierce county line in the Nisqually Reach to a point on the Thurston-Pierce county line southeast of Drayton Passage Channel; NE through Drayton Passage and Pitt Passage to Carr Inlet; E and S around McNeil Island to a point southwest of the Tacoma Narrows (including McNeil, Gertrude and Ketron Islands); NE through the Tacoma Narrows to a point on the Pierce-King county line northeast of the main channel of the Tacoma Narrows; E on the Pierce-King county line to the point where the county line turns southeast, northwest of Dash Point; E to Redondo Junction on the eastern shore of the Puget Sound 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 454 GMU 653 GMU 654 GMU 666 GMU 667