GMU 22 Quileute Indian Reservation
The Quileute Reservation at La Push — sovereign tribal land, closed to state-licensed hunting, managed by the Quileute Tribe.
WDFW Region 6 — Coastal / Olympic Peninsula (Clallam County coast) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1
sq mi
Public land
0%
approx.
Elevation
0–200
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
GMU 22 "Quileute Indian Reservation" is a tiny (~1 square mile) coastal unit at the mouth of the Quillayute River at La Push, on the far western Olympic Peninsula in Clallam County. It is the sovereign land of the Quileute Tribe, and for practical purposes it is not a public hunting unit: hunting on the reservation is governed by the Tribe, not WDFW, and is reserved for tribal members. The Quileute co-manage Olympic Peninsula Roosevelt elk, black bear and cougar with the state and hold Treaty of Olympia rights to hunt off-reservation "open and unclaimed lands" across a much larger treaty area. The unit is listed here for completeness and boundary reference; state-licensed hunters should plan their Olympic Peninsula hunts in the surrounding public GMUs, not on the reservation.
Terrain
Low, flat coastal ground at and just above sea level around the mouth of the Quillayute River and the village of La Push, fronting the Pacific with beaches, sea stacks and the river estuary.
Cover: Coastal temperate rainforest fringe — Sitka spruce, western hemlock and western redcedar with dense salal, salmonberry and sword-fern understory; beach, dune and estuary/riparian habitat along the shoreline and river mouth.
Landmarks: La Push (village and tribal center) · Quillayute River mouth and estuary · First, Second and Third Beaches · James Island (A-Ka-Lat) offshore sea stack · Pacific Ocean shoreline
Access
This is tribal land under Quileute jurisdiction, not open to state-licensed public hunting. Hunting on the reservation is regulated by the Quileute Tribe and reserved for tribal members; a WDFW deer/elk tag does not authorize hunting here. Non-tribal visitors come to La Push for the beaches, lodging and fishing, not to hunt. State-licensed hunters seeking Olympic Peninsula Roosevelt elk or blacktail should hunt the surrounding public GMUs and coordinate with WDFW and the relevant land managers.
Managers: Quileute Tribe (sovereign reservation land)
Access points: La Push Road (SR 110) from Forks to La Push — public road access to the village only, not a hunting entry
Species notes
Roosevelt Elk
transient lowThe Olympic Peninsula holds the world's largest Roosevelt elk population, and the Quileute co-manage this resource with the state. On the reservation itself, elk are transient in the small acreage of coastal timber and river-bottom habitat, and any hunting is a tribal, members-only activity — not a state-licensed opportunity.
- →Not applicable to state-licensed hunters — the reservation is closed to public hunting.
- →Pursue Olympic Peninsula Roosevelt elk in the surrounding public GMUs (USFS Olympic NF, WDNR, industrial timber walk-in areas) instead.
Blacktail Deer
common lowColumbian blacktail inhabit the coastal rainforest and edges around La Push, as they do across the western Peninsula. On-reservation hunting is tribal jurisdiction only; there is no state-licensed deer opportunity within GMU 22.
- →Not applicable to state-licensed hunters — hunt blacktail in the adjacent public coastal GMUs.
- →For Peninsula blacktail, target regenerating timber cuts and edges on public/industrial-timber ground outside the reservation.
Black Bear
common lowBlack bears are common throughout the coastal Olympic rainforest and are among the species the Quileute co-manage. As with deer and elk, any hunting on the reservation is a tribal, members-only matter, not a public opportunity.
- →Not applicable to state-licensed hunters on the reservation.
- →Hunt coastal black bear on surrounding public and industrial-timber ground with the appropriate WDFW tag.
Pro tips
- →Do not plan a state-licensed hunt inside GMU 22 — the Quileute Reservation is sovereign tribal land, hunted only by tribal members.
- →Route your Olympic Peninsula Roosevelt elk or blacktail hunt into the adjacent public GMUs, not the reservation.
- →Visit La Push for the beaches, fishing and tribal resort — but treat it as a community, not a hunting destination.
- →Contact WDFW Region 6 (and, for off-reservation treaty context, the Quileute Natural Resources program) when planning nearby Peninsula hunts.
Watch out for
- !The entire unit is sovereign Quileute Reservation land — trespass and unauthorized hunting carry tribal legal consequences.
- !A WDFW tag does not authorize hunting on the reservation; on-reservation hunting is tribal-members-only.
- !It is a very small (~1 sq mi) inhabited coastal community, not backcountry — treat it with respect.
- !Off-reservation, the Quileute hold Treaty of Olympia hunting rights across a broad area — be aware of co-management context.
Logistics
La Push, at the end of SR 110 west of Forks, offers tribal-run lodging (Quileute Oceanside Resort), a marina and beach access, but no public hunting infrastructure. Forks (~14 miles east) is the regional service hub for fuel, groceries and lodging and the practical base for anyone hunting the surrounding Olympic Peninsula GMUs. Respect that the reservation is a living community and sovereign land.
Nearest towns: La Push, Forks
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: Quileute Indian Reservation — Wikipedia · Quileute Tribe — Natural Resources Programs · WDFW Game Management Units
FAQ
- How big is GMU 22 in Washington?
- GMU 22 (Quileute Indian Reservation) covers about 1 square miles, ranging from roughly 0 to 200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 22?
- Approximately 0% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Quileute Tribe (sovereign reservation land). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 22?
- Roosevelt Elk, Blacktail Deer, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 22 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.