GMU 466 Stampede
The huntable wedge of west-Cascade timber between Seattle's and Tacoma's closed watersheds — steep, snowy, and the district's best shot at mountain elk.
WDFW Region 4 — North Puget Sound (King County, District 12) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
91
sq mi
Public land
—
approx.
Elevation
1,600–5,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 466 "Stampede" is a small (~91 sq mi) west-slope Cascade unit in southeast King County, hemmed between the City of Seattle Cedar River Watershed (its north/east boundary) and the City of Tacoma Green River Watershed (its west/south boundary), with the Pacific Crest Trail along the crest. It is the one open, general-hunting unit in this corner of District 12 — a patchwork of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, WDNR state forest, and private industrial timber. WDFW notes elk are "sometimes present here at higher densities than other mountainous areas in District 12," making it the district's most realistic backcountry elk unit, but it is steep country with roughly 2,500 ft of elevation change, variable road access, and early snow that can strand hunters. Both blacktail deer and elk are part of the North Rainier herd landscape.
Terrain
Steep west-slope Cascade timber climbing from the ~1,600 ft watershed-boundary bottoms up to the crestline near Blowout Mountain, Pyramid Peak, and Windy Gap above 5,000 ft. WDFW cites roughly 2,500 ft of elevation change and 'a lot of steep ground.' The unit is drained by headwater tributaries walled between the two municipal watersheds, so the huntable ground is a narrow, vertical band of ridges and creek draws feeding the Green and Cedar systems.
Cover: Second-growth Douglas fir/western hemlock timber dominates, with scattered old-growth stands on Forest Service ground. Early-seral clearcuts and regrowth on the timberland side produce browse and berry crops; higher slopes grade into Pacific silver fir and huckleberry benches near the crest.
Landmarks: Stampede Pass (unit namesake, on the Cascade crest) · Blowout Mountain (~5,500 ft, crest boundary) · Pyramid Peak / Windy Gap (southeast crest) · Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (Trail 2000, east boundary) · City of Seattle Cedar River Watershed boundary (north/east edge) · City of Tacoma Green River Watershed boundary (west/south edge)
Access
This is the open, general-hunting unit sandwiched between two entirely closed municipal watersheds — do not stray across the posted Cedar River (Seattle) or Green River (Tacoma) watershed boundaries, which are closed to all entry. Inside the unit, the largest huntable block is Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF, supplemented by WDNR forest and private timber; WDFW cautions that 'though many forest roads exist, road conditions and access vary considerably,' and industrial-timber and state roads are frequently gated. Scout well ahead of the season to learn which gates are open and which company (permit/fee) programs govern the private pieces. Access is easiest off the crest/I-90 side; the interior is steep walk-in.
Managers: USFS Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, WDNR state forest, Private industrial timber, City of Seattle / City of Tacoma watershed lands (closed, form the boundaries)
Access points: Stampede Pass Road (FR 54) off the I-90 corridor near Easton · Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF road network (FR 7030/7032/7036/7038) on the southeast crest · Pacific Crest Trail (Trail 2000) for ridge/crest walk-in access · Gated WDNR and private timber roads — verify open gates before opening day
Species notes
Roosevelt Elk
common qualityGMU 466 is District 12's standout mountain-elk unit — WDFW states elk are 'sometimes present here at higher densities than other mountainous areas in the district, providing the chance for exceptional experiences.' These are part of the North Rainier herd complex on the west Cascade slope. Elk use is patchy and tied to clearcut forage and cover, and success depends on being in the country when animals are there rather than road-hunting.
- →Scout the second-growth/clearcut edges and open forage benches well before the season and be mobile — elk here are present in pulses, not everywhere
- →Hunt the steep timbered draws and ridge saddles off the crest where elk escape road pressure
- →Glass early-seral cuts at first and last light, then still-hunt shaded north-facing timber mid-day
- →Let early snow work for you — it pushes elk down and reveals fresh sign, but be ready to get out before you're stranded
Blacktail Deer
common opportunityColumbian blacktail are distributed through the second-growth timber and clearcut edges. WDFW notes forest management on district timberland is favorable to deer, with the best odds in early-seral forests (under ~30 years old) bordering older stands and along riparian cover. Blacktails hold tight to cover in this steep, brushy country.
- →Focus on young clearcut/regrowth edges next to mid- or late-successional timber, and on riparian draws that offer both forage and cover
- →Hunt the brushy transition zones slowly at dawn and dusk; blacktails rarely expose themselves in the open by day
- →Use elevation — glass higher cuts early season, follow deer down as weather and snow arrive
- →Still-hunt into the wind along logging-road benches where blacktails feed at the edge
Black Bear
common opportunityGMU 466 sits in Black Bear Management Unit 4. Bear numbers are healthy but success is low (WDFW reported 4% success — 4 bears from 110 hunters in 2023), reflecting the steep, timbered terrain and gated access rather than a lack of bears. Berry production drives movement; bears are low and in riparian areas early, moving higher as the season progresses.
- →Scout out berry patches and fresh sign, then glass those slopes in the cool morning and evening hours
- →Hunt low riparian zones and clearcut berry fields early in the fall before bears move upslope
- →Watch clearcut edges and old skid roads from a vantage with distance
- →Carry a bear tag while deer/elk hunting — most 466 bears are taken incidentally
Cougar
common opportunityCougars follow the deer and elk throughout this timbered unit. Washington's cougar season runs Sept. 1–March 31 and closes by Population Management Unit once a mortality cap (13%, raised to 20% in some cases) is reached; hound use is prohibited, so nearly all harvest is incidental. Check current PMU cap status before hunting.
- →Most cougars are taken by deer/elk hunters who cut fresh tracks — carry a tag through the fall
- →Hunt the prey-rich timbered draws; cats stay near concentrations of deer and elk
- →Fresh snow dramatically improves odds of cutting and following a track
- →Monitor the PMU cap — the season can close on short notice once the cap fills
Pro tips
- →This is the only open general-hunting unit wedged between Seattle's and Tacoma's closed watersheds — carry a mapping app and know exactly where the posted Cedar River and Green River watershed boundaries are; crossing them is a trespass into a closed area.
- →466 is District 12's best mountain-elk unit per WDFW — but elk are here in pulses. Scout the clearcut forage and be willing to relocate rather than sit a single road.
- →Play the vertical: deer and bears low in the riparian and young-cut edges early, elk and deer higher toward the crest, then everything shifting down when snow arrives.
- →Learn the gate situation before opening day — many USFS, WDNR, and private timber roads are gated and 'access varies considerably'; a locked gate can add miles of walk-in.
- →Let early snow be your ally for tracking, but respect it — 2,500 ft of steep ground plus snow is how hunters get stranded here.
Watch out for
- !The unit is bounded on all sides by the City of Seattle Cedar River Watershed and the City of Tacoma Green River Watershed — both entirely CLOSED to public entry and hunting. Do not cross the posted boundaries.
- !Steep terrain with ~2,500 ft of elevation change; early winter snowfall can strand hunters and complicate game retrieval.
- !Many Forest Service, WDNR, and private timber roads are gated with variable, seasonally changing conditions — verify access in advance.
- !Very high year-round recreational use on the crest and Pacific Crest Trail; respect safety and No Shooting corridors.
- !Treponeme-Associated Hoof Disease (TAHD) is present at low prevalence in the North Rainier elk herd area — report and avoid limping/deformed-hoof elk.
Logistics
Access is easiest from the I-90 corridor over Snoqualmie Pass — Cle Elum/Easton to the northeast and North Bend to the northwest — with Enumclaw the closest town on the southwest side. Full services (gas, groceries, lodging) are in North Bend, Enumclaw, and Cle Elum; the Seattle metro is close for anything larger. Most hunters camp dispersed in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF; there is no development inside the unit. Expect heavy year-round recreational traffic on the crest and PCT. Verify Forest Service and timber-company road/gate status before you go — many roads are seasonally gated and conditions vary. WDFW's Region 4 (Mill Creek) office handles District 12 access questions.
Nearest towns: Enumclaw, WA, North Bend, WA, Cle Elum, WA, Maple Valley, WA
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW — Game Management Units (GMUs) · WDFW — 2024 District 12 Hunting Prospects (King County) · eRegulations — Washington Game Management Units (GMU 466 Stampede boundary)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 466 in Washington?
- GMU 466 (Stampede) covers about 91 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,600 to 5,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 466?
- Roosevelt Elk, Blacktail Deer, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 466 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.