Best Deer Hunting in Washington State
Since I shot my first deer, I’ve been borderline obsessed with hunting big game of all types. I’ve taken on this incredible pursuit fairly late in life, proving that it is possible to get into without growing up with it.
The learning curve is steep, steeper than getting salmon to bite in rivers, but the payoff is even bigger!
This page and more like it (coming soon) are here to aide your own hunting research efforts. Washington is one of the worst of the western states in terms of hunter success, so we need all the advantages we can get
The basis for this page are the harvest statistics WDFW publishes after each hunting year. With these statistics we will rank the best deer hunting opportunities in Washington state based on 3 categories:
- Best place to harvest a deer, period. You can’t eat antlers, right?
- Best place to harvest any deer with the least amount of effort. We only have so much time these days…
- Best place to harvest a trophy deer. For those looking for that deer of a lifetime!
We will also break these 3 categories down by weapon type as not everyone is flexible and sometimes the weapon type really changes the rankings here.
Last caveat: All of this data is based on general seasons, not any of the special hunt opportunities. We really want to highlight what’s possible by anyone anywhere, not what hunts you should “enter the lottery” for.
Best place to harvest ANY deer in Washington State in 2023
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest among all weapon types divided by total hunters within the GMU. We also, excluded the Puget Sound islands as they dominate the top of the rankings, have very little public land and including them wouldn’t be much help.
Bottom line, if you have permisson or access to private land on one of the island opportunities, just do that.
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 504 | STELLA | Southwest Washington | 35.00% |
| 667 | SKOOKUMCHUCK | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 33.00% |
| 564 | BATTLE GROUND | Southwest Washington | 33.00% |
| 373 | HORSE HEAVEN | South Central Washington | 31.00% |
| 284 | RITZVILLE | North Central Washington | 31.00% |
| 181 | COUSE | Eastern Washington | 31.00% |
| 601 | HOKO | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 31.00% |
| 124 | MOUNT SPOKANE | Eastern Washington | 31.00% |
| 186 | GRANDE RONDE | Eastern Washington | 31.00% |
| 624 | COYLE | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 30.00% |
Best place to harvest a deer with the least effort in Washington State in 2023
Our criteria for this ranking is: total hunter days among all weapon types divided by total harvest within the GMU. We again excluded the Puget Sound islands
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Hunter Days per Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 186 | GRANDE RONDE | Eastern Washington | 12 |
| 284 | RITZVILLE | North Central Washington | 12 |
| 382 | EAST KLICKITAT | Southwest Washington | 13 |
| 181 | COUSE | Eastern Washington | 13 |
| 136 | HARRINGTON | Eastern Washington | 13 |
| 145 | MAYVIEW | Eastern Washington | 13 |
| 373 | HORSE HEAVEN | South Central Washington | 13 |
| 254 | SAINT ANDREWS | North Central Washington | 13 |
| 178 | PEOLA | Eastern Washington | 13 |
| 262 | WITHROW | North Central Washington | 14 |
Best place to harvest a trophy deer in Washington State in 2023
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest of 5 point deer with all weapon types divided by total hunters within the GMU. We haven’t excluded the Puget Sound islands this time…Go get that big boy!
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent of Trophy Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 419 | GUEMES | North Puget Sound | 17.00% |
| 373 | HORSE HEAVEN | South Central Washington | 10.00% |
| 422 | VASHON | North Puget Sound | 7.00% |
| 426 | DIABLO | North Puget Sound | 6.00% |
| 413 | SAN JUAN | North Puget Sound | 6.00% |
| 127 | MICA PEAK | Eastern Washington | 6.00% |
| 284 | RITZVILLE | North Central Washington | 6.00% |
| 254 | SAINT ANDREWS | North Central Washington | 5.00% |
| 178 | PEOLA | Eastern Washington | 5.00% |
| 139 | STEPTOE | Eastern Washington | 5.00% |
Best place to harvest ANY deer during Modern Firearm season in Washington State in 2023
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest among ONLY Modern Firearm season divided by total hunters during Modern Firearm season within the GMU. We also, excluded the Puget Sound islands as they dominate the top of the rankings, have very little public land and including them wouldn’t be much help.
Bottom line, if you have permisson or access to private land on one of the island opportunities, just do that.
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 564 | BATTLE GROUND | Southwest Washington | 34.00% |
| 601 | HOKO | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 34.00% |
| 284 | RITZVILLE | North Central Washington | 33.00% |
| 373 | HORSE HEAVEN | South Central Washington | 33.00% |
| 124 | MOUNT SPOKANE | Eastern Washington | 32.00% |
| 684 | LONG BEACH | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 30.00% |
| 667 | SKOOKUMCHUCK | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 30.00% |
| 504 | STELLA | Southwest Washington | 29.00% |
| 624 | COYLE | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 28.00% |
| 382 | EAST KLICKITAT | Southwest Washington | 28.00% |
Best place to harvest a deer during Modern Firearm season with the least effort in Washington State in 2023
Our criteria for this ranking is: total hunter days among ONLY Modern Firearm season divided by total harvest during Modern Firearm season within the GMU. We again excluded the Puget Sound islands
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Hunter Days per Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 373 | HORSE HEAVEN | South Central Washington | 9 |
| 284 | RITZVILLE | North Central Washington | 10 |
| 564 | BATTLE GROUND | Southwest Washington | 12 |
| 136 | HARRINGTON | Eastern Washington | 12 |
| 145 | MAYVIEW | Eastern Washington | 12 |
| 254 | SAINT ANDREWS | North Central Washington | 13 |
| 382 | EAST KLICKITAT | Southwest Washington | 13 |
| 381 | KAHLOTUS | South Central Washington | 13 |
| 178 | PEOLA | Eastern Washington | 13 |
| 186 | GRANDE RONDE | Eastern Washington | 13 |
Best place to harvest a trophy deer during Modern Firearm season in Washington State in 2023
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest of 5 point deer with ONLY Modern Firearm divided by total hunters during Modern Firearm season within the GMU. We haven’t excluded the Puget Sound islands this time…Go get that big boy!
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent of Trophy Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 419 | GUEMES | North Puget Sound | 29.00% |
| 373 | HORSE HEAVEN | South Central Washington | 11.00% |
| 426 | DIABLO | North Puget Sound | 9.00% |
| 413 | SAN JUAN | North Puget Sound | 8.00% |
| 381 | KAHLOTUS | South Central Washington | 6.00% |
| 284 | RITZVILLE | North Central Washington | 6.00% |
| 266 | BADGER | North Central Washington | 5.00% |
| 684 | LONG BEACH | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 5.00% |
| 254 | SAINT ANDREWS | North Central Washington | 5.00% |
| 422 | VASHON | North Puget Sound | 5.00% |
Best place to harvest ANY deer during Archery season in Washington State in 2023
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest among ONLY Archery season divided by total hunters during Archery season within the GMU. We also, excluded the Puget Sound islands as they dominate the top of the rankings, have very little public land and including them wouldn’t be much help.
Bottom line, if you have permisson or access to private land on one of the island opportunities, just do that.
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 254 | SAINT ANDREWS | North Central Washington | 55.00% |
| 504 | STELLA | Southwest Washington | 44.00% |
| 142 | ALMOTA | Eastern Washington | 41.00% |
| 231 | GARDNER | North Central Washington | 39.00% |
| 260 | FOSTER CREEK | North Central Washington | 37.00% |
| 178 | PEOLA | Eastern Washington | 36.00% |
| 624 | COYLE | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 35.00% |
| 621 | OLYMPIC | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 34.00% |
| 247 | ENTIAT | North Central Washington | 34.00% |
| 139 | STEPTOE | Eastern Washington | 31.00% |
Best place to harvest a deer during Archery season with the least effort in Washington State in 2023
Our criteria for this ranking is: total hunter days among ONLY Archery season divided by total harvest during Archery season within the GMU. We again excluded the Puget Sound islands
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Hunter Days per Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 254 | SAINT ANDREWS | North Central Washington | 9 |
| 260 | FOSTER CREEK | North Central Washington | 11 |
| 231 | GARDNER | North Central Washington | 11 |
| 145 | MAYVIEW | Eastern Washington | 12 |
| 247 | ENTIAT | North Central Washington | 13 |
| 642 | COPALIS | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 13 |
| 504 | STELLA | Southwest Washington | 13 |
| 142 | ALMOTA | Eastern Washington | 14 |
| 178 | PEOLA | Eastern Washington | 15 |
| 426 | DIABLO | North Puget Sound | 15 |
Best place to harvest a trophy deer during Archery season in Washington State in 2023
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest of 5 point deer with ONLY Archery divided by total hunters during Modern Firearm season within the GMU. We haven’t excluded the Puget Sound islands this time…Go get that big boy!
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent of Trophy Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 642 | COPALIS | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 29.00% |
| 422 | VASHON | North Puget Sound | 10.00% |
| 127 | MICA PEAK | Eastern Washington | 8.00% |
| 101 | SHERMAN | Eastern Washington | 7.00% |
| 105 | KELLY HILL | Eastern Washington | 7.00% |
| 108 | DOUGLAS | Eastern Washington | 7.00% |
| 381 | KAHLOTUS | South Central Washington | 7.00% |
| 239 | CHILIWIST | North Central Washington | 7.00% |
| 410 | ISLANDS | North Puget Sound | 7.00% |
| 178 | PEOLA | Eastern Washington | 7.00% |
Best place to harvest ANY deer during Muzzleloader season in Washington State in 2023
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest among ONLY Muzzleloader season divided by total hunters during Muzzleloader season within the GMU. We also, excluded the Puget Sound islands as they dominate the top of the rankings, have very little public land and including them wouldn’t be much help.
Bottom line, if you have permisson or access to private land on one of the island opportunities, just do that.
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 262 | WITHROW | North Central Washington | 60.00% |
| 504 | STELLA | Southwest Washington | 45.00% |
| 667 | SKOOKUMCHUCK | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 41.00% |
| 334 | ELLENSBURG | South Central Washington | 41.00% |
| 172 | MOUNTAIN VIEW | Eastern Washington | 40.00% |
| 572 | SIOUXON | Southwest Washington | 40.00% |
| 181 | COUSE | Eastern Washington | 37.00% |
| 254 | SAINT ANDREWS | North Central Washington | 36.00% |
| 136 | HARRINGTON | Eastern Washington | 34.00% |
| 209 | WANNACUT | North Central Washington | 33.00% |
Best place to harvest a deer during Muzzleloader season with the least effort in Washington State in 2023
Our criteria for this ranking is: total hunter days among ONLY Muzzleloader season divided by total harvest during Muzzleloader season within the GMU. We again excluded the Puget Sound islands
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Hunter Days per Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 262 | WITHROW | North Central Washington | 5 |
| 572 | SIOUXON | Southwest Washington | 6 |
| 334 | ELLENSBURG | South Central Washington | 8 |
| 172 | MOUNTAIN VIEW | Eastern Washington | 9 |
| 209 | WANNACUT | North Central Washington | 9 |
| 254 | SAINT ANDREWS | North Central Washington | 10 |
| 105 | KELLY HILL | Eastern Washington | 10 |
| 136 | HARRINGTON | Eastern Washington | 10 |
| 269 | MOSES COULEE | North Central Washington | 12 |
| 181 | COUSE | Eastern Washington | 12 |
Best place to harvest a trophy deer during Muzzleloader season in Washington State in 2023
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest of 5 point deer with ONLY Muzzleloader divided by total hunters during Muzzleloader season within the GMU. We haven’t excluded the Puget Sound islands this time…Go get that big boy!
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent of Trophy Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 278 | WAHLUKE | North Central Washington | 11.00% |
| 254 | SAINT ANDREWS | North Central Washington | 9.00% |
| 172 | MOUNTAIN VIEW | Eastern Washington | 9.00% |
| 149 | PRESCOTT | Eastern Washington | 8.00% |
| 420 | WHIDBEY | North Puget Sound | 8.00% |
| 379 | RINGOLD | South Central Washington | 6.00% |
| 139 | STEPTOE | Eastern Washington | 6.00% |
| 250 | SWAKANE | North Central Washington | 6.00% |
| 136 | HARRINGTON | Eastern Washington | 5.00% |
| 121 | HUCKLEBERRY | Eastern Washington | 4.00% |