GMU 513 South Rainier
A near-wilderness national-forest unit under Mount Rainier's south face: wide-open public access, but thin, hard-won deer and elk.
WDFW Region 5 — South Cascades / Southwest Washington (District 10) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
247
sq mi
Public land
95%
approx.
Elevation
1,000–7,000
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
GMU 513 "South Rainier" is a 240-square-mile District 10 unit lying north of State Route 12 and immediately south of Mount Rainier National Park, entirely within Lewis County. It is almost exclusively U.S. Forest Service (Gifford Pinchot National Forest) — roughly 95% public, with two designated wildernesses (Tatoosh and William O. Douglas) covering about a fifth of the unit — and only a narrow ribbon of private land along SR 12 and the Cowlitz River. That makes access the easiest in the district, but WDFW rates the unit low for both black-tailed deer and elk: rugged, high-elevation terrain and limited roads keep harvest low (in 2024 about 29 bucks and 12 elk). This is a unit you hunt for solitude, public ground, and the occasional mature buck or bull — not for numbers.
Terrain
Steep, glaciated Cascade-crest country climbing from the Cowlitz River corridor near SR 12 up through timbered slopes to alpine ridges and the Tatoosh and William O. Douglas wildernesses. Relief is severe and much of the high ground is roadless.
Cover: Douglas-fir, western hemlock, silver fir and subalpine forest with huckleberry brush, avalanche chutes, and alpine meadows at the top of the elevation band; scattered clearcut regen only in the narrow private SR 12 corridor.
Landmarks: Cowlitz River (south boundary along SR 12) · Sawtooth Ridge · Skate Mountain · Carlton Ridge · Tatoosh Wilderness · William O. Douglas Wilderness · Mount Rainier National Park (north boundary, no hunting) · Pacific Crest Trail
Access
Access is the strong suit here: about 95% of the unit is open Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and WDFW notes these federal lands generally stay open even during high fire danger when private timber closes. The tradeoff is that roughly 20% of the unit is congressionally designated wilderness (Tatoosh and William O. Douglas) — no motorized or mechanized travel, foot and stock only. The private strip along SR 12 and the Cowlitz River is the only ownership to worry about; get permission or stay on federal ground. Part of the unit east of SR 123 and north of SR 12 falls inside an elk hunting area — verify the current elk-area boundary and season structure before you go.
Managers: USFS Gifford Pinchot NF (Cowlitz Valley Ranger District), Small private timber/residential along SR 12
Access points: State Route 12 corridor along the Cowlitz River · U.S. Forest Service Road 47 · Pacific Crest Trail and wilderness trailheads for backcountry foot access · State Route 123 (east side, toward the Rainier/elk-area boundary)
Species notes
Blacktail Deer
common opportunityWDFW rates 513 low for black-tailed deer — about 29 bucks harvested in 2024 at a 12.6% success rate across 194 hunters (0.10 bucks/sq mi). Deer are here but thinly spread across rugged, mostly-timbered public ground, so this is an opportunity unit that rewards boots and glass over road-hunting.
- →Hunt the timber/opening edges and avalanche chutes on the mid-elevation slopes rather than the roads — deer densities are low, so cover ground and glass.
- →Save your hardest effort for the late buck season, when the rut overlaps cooler, wetter still-hunting weather.
- →Move slowly and scan constantly in the thick cover; blacktails hold small home ranges and sit tight.
- →Use the open Forest Service ground to get away from the SR 12 corridor crowds and into pockets other hunters skip.
Roosevelt Elk
limited opportunityGMU 513 sits in the South Rainier elk herd area, where Cascade-crest elk are of mixed origin — a genetic blend of native Roosevelt and introduced Rocky Mountain elk. Numbers and harvest are low: about 12 elk taken in 2024 at 7.0% success over 171 hunters. Part of the unit (east of SR 123, north of SR 12) is a designated elk area with its own rules.
- →Scout the high basins and meadow edges near the Rainier boundary and wilderness fringes where elk summer away from roads.
- →Be prepared to hunt on foot deep into roadless and wilderness ground — the accessible timber gets pressure and holds few elk.
- →Locate a herd pre-season and stay with it; elk here are scattered and unpredictable once pressure builds.
- →Confirm the elk-area boundary and permit/season structure before hunting the northeast corner.
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear occur throughout the unit (Mount St. Helens BBMU) but harvest is modest — only 2 bears in 2024, though 11 came out in 2022, showing the potential in a good berry year. Most bears are taken opportunistically by deer and elk hunters.
- →Glass huckleberry slopes, avalanche chutes, and alpine openings at dawn and dusk during the late-summer/early-fall berry feed.
- →Key on cascara and blackberry pockets in the lower SR 12 corridor as well as high huckleberry fields.
- →Predator calling can pull bears in the dense Cascade cover.
- →Carry the tag and hunt bear as a bonus while glassing for deer and elk.
Cougar
common opportunityCougars range throughout District 10 and are almost always taken incidentally by deer and elk hunters. The season is harvest-cap (CHMU) managed and can close mid-season, so status must be checked.
- →Hunt fresh snow or post-rain conditions and cut roads and ridgelines for tracks.
- →Look for four-clawed vertical scratches and claw-raked trees as sign.
- →Try calls where deer concentrate — cougars follow the prey.
- →Call the Cougar Hotline or check the online openings before and during your hunt to confirm the CHMU is still open.
Pro tips
- →Hunt 513 for its access, not its numbers — it's nearly all open national forest, but WDFW rates it low for both deer and elk.
- →Get off the SR 12 corridor and up into the timber, chutes, and basins; the road-accessible ground is thin and pressured.
- →Respect the wilderness boundaries — Tatoosh and William O. Douglas are foot/stock only, no vehicles or e-bikes.
- →Time deer effort for the late buck season and the rut for your best shot at a mature blacktail.
- →Know exactly where the Mount Rainier National Park line is — no hunting inside the park.
- →Verify the elk-area boundary and rules in the northeast corner (east of SR 123, north of SR 12) before hunting elk.
Watch out for
- !WDFW rates the unit low for both deer and elk — manage expectations; success rates and harvest are among the district's lowest.
- !About 20% of the unit is designated wilderness with no motorized/mechanized access — plan foot or stock travel.
- !Mount Rainier National Park forms the north boundary and is closed to hunting; know the line.
- !High-elevation roads and trails can close with early snow; the terrain is steep and remote.
- !The narrow private strip along SR 12/Cowlitz River requires permission — don't assume it's open like the surrounding forest.
- !Cougar and bear seasons are cap-managed/regulation-specific — confirm current status before hunting.
Logistics
Base out of Packwood or Randle along the US 12 corridor for fuel, lodging, and groceries; both sit at the doorstep of the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District. Gifford Pinchot National Forest offers dispersed and developed camping (subject to seasonal and fire closures). Forest Service Road 47 and the SR 12/SR 123 corridors are the main vehicle arteries; beyond them, plan on foot travel into the Tatoosh and William O. Douglas wildernesses. Carry a current national-forest motor vehicle use map and check road status, as remote spurs can be gated or washed out.
Nearest towns: Packwood, Randle, Morton, Ashford
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW 2025 District 10 Hunting Prospects (GMU 513 overview, land table, elk/deer/bear harvest tables) · WDFW Game Management Units (GMU boundaries & maps) · Gifford Pinchot National Forest (Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, Tatoosh & William O. Douglas wildernesses)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 513 in Washington?
- GMU 513 (South Rainier) covers about 247 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,000 to 7,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 513?
- Approximately 95% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Gifford Pinchot NF (Cowlitz Valley Ranger District), Small private timber/residential along SR 12. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 513?
- Blacktail Deer, Roosevelt Elk, 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 513 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.