GMU 410 Islands
The San Juan 'everything-else' unit — dozens of private, boat-only islands with almost no public hunting
WDFW Region 4 — North Puget Sound / San Juan Islands (District 13) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
821
sq mi
Public land
3%
approx.
Elevation
0–1,500
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
GMU 410 (Islands) is the catch-all San Juan County unit: when WDFW carved the archipelago into island-specific GMUs in 2013 (Orcas 411, Shaw 412, San Juan 413, Lopez 414, Blakely 415, Decatur 416, Cypress 417, Guemes 419, Whidbey 420, Henry 423, Stuart 424), everything left over stayed as 410. WDFW is blunt about it — these leftover islands are not served by the state ferry, some hold no deer at all, and the rest are privately owned and closed to public hunting. Columbian black-tailed deer are the only huntable big game; there are no elk, bear, or cougar in the San Juans. Realistically this is a landowner-permission or boat-in-with-a-connection unit, not a DIY destination.
Terrain
A scatter of small rock-and-fir islands and reefs across the San Juan Archipelago in the rain shadow of the Olympics. Most are low, sea-level to a few hundred feet, ringed by bluffs and beaches; a few outer islands rise higher.
Cover: Douglas-fir, Pacific madrone and shore pine over salal and Oregon grape, with pockets of rare Garry oak woodland and open bald prairie. Island deer densities have historically been high enough to degrade these sensitive habitats.
Landmarks: San Juan Archipelago · Rosario Strait · San Juan Channel · Haro Strait · Salish Sea
Access
WDFW's own description: the islands in GMU 410 are not accessible by the Washington State Ferry, some do not have deer, and others are privately owned and prohibit public hunting. Hunting on private land anywhere in San Juan County requires written landowner permission by county ordinance (SJC Code 9.08), which must be carried in the field. Almost all 410 access is boat-in, and there is very little open public ground. Much of the BLM San Juan Islands National Monument in 410 is un-landable rocks and reefs (a National Wildlife Refuge in places) rather than huntable island interior. Effectively an access-negotiation unit — WDFW rates public access across the archipelago as extremely limited.
Managers: Private (dominant), BLM San Juan Islands National Monument (scattered rocks/reefs), WDNR, San Juan County / San Juan County Land Bank
Access points: Private boat / kayak launch only (no ferry service to 410 islands) · San Juan County public boat ramps and docks (Visitor's Bureau dock maps) · BLM San Juan Islands National Monument parcels (verify huntable vs. refuge)
Species notes
Blacktail Deer
limited lowColumbian black-tailed deer are the only big game, and even they are hit-or-miss: WDFW notes some 410 islands hold no deer at all while others are locked up as private property. Island blacktails run smaller than their mainland relatives. A 2021 adenovirus hemorrhagic disease (AHD) outbreak killed hundreds of deer archipelago-wide; 410 was one of the units that showed a harvest decrease into 2023 rather than a clean rebound.
- →Treat this as an access problem first, biology second — secure written landowner permission (SJC Code 9.08) or boat access before scouting
- →Confirm the specific island you plan to hunt actually holds deer; several 410 islands do not
- →Glass Garry oak balds, beach fringes and old-orchard edges at dawn and dusk where island deer feed
- →Plan a boat-based day hunt — no ferry service and no overnight camping on most parcels
Pro tips
- →San Juan County bans modern rifles: only short-range specialty pistols, shotguns, archery equipment and muzzleloaders are legal countywide — plan your weapon before you go
- →This unit rewards local relationships — a landowner or boat-owner connection is worth more than any scouting app here
- →Verify your target island is in GMU 410 and not one of the individually numbered island GMUs; hunters routinely misreport island units
- →Check the WDFW Private Lands Access Program site before the season in case a 410-area parcel gets enrolled
- →Carry written landowner permission on your person — it is legally required and actively enforced in San Juan County
Watch out for
- !Most 410 islands are private and closed to public hunting; trespass without written permission is a violation
- !No state-ferry access — a boat and marine judgment are mandatory
- !Some islands genuinely have no deer; scout or ask before committing a trip
- !Modern rifles are illegal countywide (firearm restriction area)
- !Many BLM National Monument rocks/reefs are wildlife refuge, not huntable land
- !AHD has cycled through the archipelago and can knock local deer numbers down fast
Logistics
There is no ferry into GMU 410 — access is by private boat or kayak out of Anacortes, Friday Harbor or a neighboring island, so trailer a skiff and plan tides and weather. Provision fully on the mainland (Anacortes) or at Friday Harbor; the small islands have no services. Cell coverage is patchy in the channels. San Juan County maintains public docks and boat ramps, but landing rights on private islands must be arranged in advance.
Nearest towns: Friday Harbor, Anacortes, Eastsound (Orcas), Lopez Village
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW — Hunting in the San Juan Islands (2024) · WDFW — 2025 District 13 Hunting Prospects (Region 4) · WDFW — Game Status and Trends Report, Islands Deer Management Zone
FAQ
- How big is GMU 410 in Washington?
- GMU 410 (Islands) covers about 821 square miles, ranging from roughly 0 to 1,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 410?
- Approximately 3% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Private (dominant), BLM San Juan Islands National Monument (scattered rocks/reefs), WDNR, San Juan County / San Juan County Land Bank. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 410?
- Blacktail Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 410 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.