Elk hunting is the pinnacle of PNW big game hunting pursuits. Once you’ve been in the woods around these magnificent creatures, it’s hard to not plan your calendar around whatever period you plan to hunt elk in a given year.
The learning curve is steep, steeper than any other PNW harvest pursuit, but there’s also no bigger payoff!
This page is here to aide your own hunting research efforts. Washington is one of the worst of the western states in terms of hunter success for elk, 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 elk hunting opportunities in Washington state based on 3 categories:
- Best place to harvest an elk, period.
- Best place to harvest any elk with the least amount of effort
- Best place to harvest a trophy elk during a general hunting season
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.
Are you new to elk hunting? Check out our comprehensive How to get started big game hunting for deer and elk page here
Best place to harvest ANY elk in Washington State in 2024
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest among all weapon types divided by total hunters within the GMU. We also excluded some GMU’s with very little public land.
Bottom line, if you have permission or access to private with lots of elk, just do that.
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 371 | ALKALI | South Central Washington | 45.00% |
| 684 | LONG BEACH | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 35.00% |
| 699 | LONG ISLAND | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 35.00% |
| 244 | CLARK | North Central Washington | 32.00% |
| 272 | BEEZLEY | North Central Washington | 30.00% |
| 372 | RATTLESNAKE HILLS | South Central Washington | 29.00% |
| 652 | PUYALLUP | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 24.00% |
| 460 | SNOQUALMIE | North Puget Sound | 21.00% |
| 278 | WAHLUKE | North Central Washington | 20.00% |
| 130 | CHENEY | Eastern Washington | 19.00% |
Best place to harvest an elk with the least effort in Washington State in 2024
Our criteria for this ranking is: total hunter days among all weapon types divided by total harvest within the GMU. We again excluded some GMU’s with very little public land.
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Hunter Days per Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 371 | ALKALI | South Central Washington | 7 |
| 272 | BEEZLEY | North Central Washington | 10 |
| 244 | CLARK | North Central Washington | 10 |
| 372 | RATTLESNAKE HILLS | South Central Washington | 12 |
| 684 | LONG BEACH | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 12 |
| 278 | WAHLUKE | North Central Washington | 14 |
| 250 | SWAKANE | North Central Washington | 16 |
| 149 | PRESCOTT | Eastern Washington | 20 |
| 139 | STEPTOE | Eastern Washington | 20 |
| 460 | SNOQUALMIE | North Puget Sound | 22 |
Best place to harvest a trophy elk in Washington State in 2024
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest of 6 plus point elk with all weapon types divided by total hunters within the GMU.
We haven’t excluded any GMU’s this time…Go get that big boy!
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent of Trophy elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | SWAKANE | North Central Washington | 22.00% |
| 372 | RATTLESNAKE HILLS | South Central Washington | 21.00% |
| 284 | RITZVILLE | North Central Washington | 20.00% |
| 215 | SINLAHEKIN | North Central Washington | 11.00% |
| 278 | WAHLUKE | North Central Washington | 10.00% |
| 382 | EAST KLICKITAT | Southwest Washington | 10.00% |
| 244 | CLARK | North Central Washington | 10.00% |
| 460 | SNOQUALMIE | North Puget Sound | 8.00% |
| 272 | BEEZLEY | North Central Washington | 7.00% |
| 142 | ALMOTA | Eastern Washington | 6.00% |
Best place to harvest ANY elk during Modern Firearm season in Washington State in 2024
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 some GMU’s with very little public land.
Bottom line, if you have permission or access to private lands with lots of elk, just do that.
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 371 | ALKALI | South Central Washington | 54.00% |
| 244 | CLARK | North Central Washington | 35.00% |
| 272 | BEEZLEY | North Central Washington | 30.00% |
| 372 | RATTLESNAKE HILLS | South Central Washington | 29.00% |
| 130 | CHENEY | Eastern Washington | 23.00% |
| 127 | MICA PEAK | Eastern Washington | 22.00% |
| 139 | STEPTOE | Eastern Washington | 21.00% |
| 684 | LONG BEACH | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 18.00% |
| 248 | BIG BEND | North Central Washington | 17.00% |
| 133 | ROOSEVELT | Eastern Washington | 17.00% |
Best place to harvest an elk during Modern Firearm season with the least effort in Washington State in 2024
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 some GMU’s without much public land.
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Hunter Days per Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 371 | ALKALI | South Central Washington | 5 |
| 244 | CLARK | North Central Washington | 10 |
| 372 | RATTLESNAKE HILLS | South Central Washington | 12 |
| 272 | BEEZLEY | North Central Washington | 13 |
| 684 | LONG BEACH | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 15 |
| 139 | STEPTOE | Eastern Washington | 17 |
| 130 | CHENEY | Eastern Washington | 17 |
| 127 | MICA PEAK | Eastern Washington | 18 |
| 149 | PRESCOTT | Eastern Washington | 23 |
| 133 | ROOSEVELT | Eastern Washington | 24 |
Best place to harvest a trophy elk during Modern Firearm season in Washington State in 2024
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest of 6 plus point elk with ONLY Modern Firearm divided by total hunters during Modern Firearm season within the GMU. We haven’t excluded any GMU’s this time…Go get that big boy!
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent of Trophy elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 372 | RATTLESNAKE HILLS | South Central Washington | 21.00% |
| 284 | RITZVILLE | North Central Washington | 19.00% |
| 215 | SINLAHEKIN | North Central Washington | 11.00% |
| 684 | LONG BEACH | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 11.00% |
| 382 | EAST KLICKITAT | Southwest Washington | 10.00% |
| 244 | CLARK | North Central Washington | 10.00% |
| 460 | SNOQUALMIE | North Puget Sound | 9.00% |
| 272 | BEEZLEY | North Central Washington | 9.00% |
| 233 | POGUE | North Central Washington | 6.00% |
| 388 | GRAYBACK | Southwest Washington | 5.00% |
Best place to harvest ANY elk during Archery season in Washington State in 2024
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 GMU’s at the top of the rankings that have very little public land as including them wouldn’t be much help.
Bottom line, if you have permission or access to private land with lots of elk, just do that.
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 642 | COPALIS | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 40.00% |
| 699 | LONG ISLAND | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 35.00% |
| 371 | ALKALI | South Central Washington | 27.00% |
| 454 | ISSAQUAH | North Puget Sound | 23.00% |
| 278 | WAHLUKE | North Central Washington | 22.00% |
| 652 | PUYALLUP | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 22.00% |
| 130 | CHENEY | Eastern Washington | 22.00% |
| 460 | SNOQUALMIE | North Puget Sound | 19.00% |
| 181 | COUSE | Eastern Washington | 18.00% |
| 658 | NORTH RIVER | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 18.00% |
Best place to harvest an elk during Archery season with the least effort in Washington State in 2024
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 some GMU’s.
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Hunter Days per Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 642 | COPALIS | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 15 |
| 278 | WAHLUKE | North Central Washington | 22 |
| 699 | LONG ISLAND | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 22 |
| 130 | CHENEY | Eastern Washington | 23 |
| 371 | ALKALI | South Central Washington | 27 |
| 181 | COUSE | Eastern Washington | 28 |
| 454 | ISSAQUAH | North Puget Sound | 29 |
| 652 | PUYALLUP | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 29 |
| 460 | SNOQUALMIE | North Puget Sound | 31 |
| 578 | WEST KLICKITAT | Southwest Washington | 34 |
Best place to harvest a trophy elk during Archery season in Washington State in 2024
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest of 6 plus point elk with ONLY Archery divided by total hunters during Modern Firearm season within the GMU. We haven’t excluded any GMU’s this time…Go get that big boy!
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent of Trophy elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 278 | WAHLUKE | North Central Washington | 22.00% |
| 653 | WHITE RIVER | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 13.00% |
| 105 | KELLY HILL | Eastern Washington | 10.00% |
| 142 | ALMOTA | Eastern Washington | 10.00% |
| 460 | SNOQUALMIE | North Puget Sound | 7.00% |
| 652 | PUYALLUP | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 6.00% |
| 667 | SKOOKUMCHUCK | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 5.00% |
| 454 | ISSAQUAH | North Puget Sound | 5.00% |
| 658 | NORTH RIVER | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 5.00% |
| 130 | CHENEY | Eastern Washington | 5.00% |
Best place to harvest ANY elk during Muzzleloader season in Washington State in 2024
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 some GMU’s that have very little public land as including them wouldn’t be much help.
Bottom line, if you have permission or access to private land with lots of elk, just do that.
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 684 | LONG BEACH | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 51.00% |
| 272 | BEEZLEY | North Central Washington | 50.00% |
| 460 | SNOQUALMIE | North Puget Sound | 42.00% |
| 278 | WAHLUKE | North Central Washington | 36.00% |
| 652 | PUYALLUP | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 31.00% |
| 149 | PRESCOTT | Eastern Washington | 30.00% |
| 663 | CAPITOL PEAK | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 29.00% |
| 681 | BEAR RIVER | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 23.00% |
| 250 | SWAKANE | North Central Washington | 22.00% |
| 121 | HUCKLEBERRY | Eastern Washington | 20.00% |
Best place to harvest an elk during Muzzleloader season with the least effort in Washington State in 2024
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 some GMU’s.
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Hunter Days per Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 272 | BEEZLEY | North Central Washington | 4 |
| 663 | CAPITOL PEAK | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 9 |
| 460 | SNOQUALMIE | North Puget Sound | 9 |
| 149 | PRESCOTT | Eastern Washington | 10 |
| 278 | WAHLUKE | North Central Washington | 10 |
| 684 | LONG BEACH | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 12 |
| 250 | SWAKANE | North Central Washington | 16 |
| 127 | MICA PEAK | Eastern Washington | 19 |
| 681 | BEAR RIVER | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 20 |
| 652 | PUYALLUP | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 20 |
Best place to harvest a trophy elk during Muzzleloader season in Washington State in 2024
Our criteria for this ranking is: total harvest of 6 plus point elk with ONLY Muzzleloader divided by total hunters during Muzzleloader season within the GMU. We haven’t excluded any GMU’s this time…Go get that big boy!
| GMU | GMU Name | Region | Harvest Percent of Trophy elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 284 | RITZVILLE | North Central Washington | 40.00% |
| 250 | SWAKANE | North Central Washington | 22.00% |
| 136 | HARRINGTON | Eastern Washington | 8.00% |
| 121 | HUCKLEBERRY | Eastern Washington | 8.00% |
| 142 | ALMOTA | Eastern Washington | 7.00% |
| 101 | SHERMAN | Eastern Washington | 6.00% |
| 638 | QUINAULT RIDGE | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 6.00% |
| 460 | SNOQUALMIE | North Puget Sound | 5.00% |
| 127 | MICA PEAK | Eastern Washington | 5.00% |
| 652 | PUYALLUP | South Sound / Olympic Peninsula | 5.00% |
If you notice a GMU on here that has little to no access, drop it in the comments, and I will exclude it above.