GMU 554 Yale
A small Clark County shotgun-only unit on the Lewis River reservoirs — walk-in PacifiCorp and DNR ground for blacktails and a few elk.
Region 5 — Southwest WA / Lewis River foothills · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
45
sq mi
Public land
23%
approx.
Elevation
300–2,500
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
GMU 554 "Yale" is a compact 45-square-mile unit in WDFW Region 5 (District 9), tucked into the Lewis River foothills of Clark County around Yale and Merwin reservoirs. It is mostly private (~74%) with roughly 23% public — some DNR forest plus PacifiCorp lands in the Lewis River basin that are open to free non-motorized (walk-in) hunting. As a Clark County unit it is a Firearm Restriction Area, so centerfire rifles are not allowed; it's a shotgun/muzzleloader/archery hunt. WDFW frames Yale as an attractive general-season blacktail opportunity, with deer and elk most abundant and accessible where recent clearcuts and thinning open up the mixed-conifer forest.
Terrain
Small, rolling-to-steep Lewis River foothill country wrapped around the Yale and Merwin reservoir shorelines. Elevations run from roughly 300–500 ft at the reservoirs up toward 2,500 ft on the timbered ridges. Riparian corridors along the Lewis River and its tributaries thread through a mixed-conifer forest matrix.
Cover: Mixed Douglas-fir/western hemlock conifer forest with riparian bottoms; recent clearcuts and forest-thinning units create the openings and brushy greenup (salmonberry, huckleberry, forbs) that concentrate deer and elk. Wet westside climate keeps cover dense and green.
Landmarks: Yale Lake (Yale Reservoir) · Lake Merwin · Lewis River · PacifiCorp Lewis River hydro lands · St. Helens Ranger Station (Gifford Pinchot National Forest) · Speelyai / Yale Bridge area
Access
About 74% private and ~23% public. The public opportunity is a mix of DNR forest and PacifiCorp's Lewis River basin lands — PacifiCorp owns over 15,000 acres in the basin (mainly GMUs 554 and 560) managed for fish and wildlife and generally open to free non-motorized (walk-in) hunting; check its hunting-access maps for exact parcels and any posted restrictions. There is no Weyerhaeuser permit ground of note in Yale. The overriding rule here is the Clark County firearm restriction: GMU 554 is a Firearm Restriction Area, so centerfire rifles are prohibited (shotgun with slug/buckshot, muzzleloader, and archery only — verify the current Big Game pamphlet). Scout ownership carefully in this checkerboard of small private and public parcels.
Managers: PacifiCorp (Lewis River hydro lands — free non-motorized walk-in), Washington DNR (state forest), Small private / rural landowners
Access points: Yale Bridge Road / Lewis River Road corridor from Amboy and Woodland · PacifiCorp reservoir-shoreline walk-in access on Yale and Merwin lakes · DNR forest roads and spurs (some gated) · Rural county roads off SR 503 near Amboy
Species notes
Blacktail Deer
common opportunityColumbian blacktails are the primary quarry and Yale is listed by WDFW among District 9's attractive general-season deer units. It's a high-opportunity, hard-to-trophy hunt typical of small westside foothill ground — deer are there in good numbers, concentrated where clearcuts and thinning create feed, but dense cover and Clark County's shotgun-only restriction keep it a close-range game. About a third of the region's buck harvest comes during the four-day November late buck hunt.
- →Glass recent clearcuts and thinned units at first and last light where bucks feed on new growth before slipping back to timber.
- →Be in position before daylight — Yale blacktails are often highly nocturnal in this cover.
- →Hunt the late buck season, when the rut pushes bucks into openings and cooler, wetter weather aids still-hunting.
- →Because it's shotgun/muzzleloader/archery only, plan close-cover setups — pinch points, cut edges, and reservoir-side benches.
- →Walk PacifiCorp and DNR ground away from the roads to escape the local pressure.
Roosevelt Elk
limited opportunityYale sits within the Mount St. Helens elk herd range and holds elk, but as a small unit it is a secondary elk destination compared with neighboring GMU 560 (Lewis River), which offers District 9's best elk hunting. Elk here are most accessible around clearcuts and thinned units; expect a low-odds, opportunistic general elk hunt under the Western Washington elk tag and the Clark County firearm restriction.
- →Focus on clearcuts and recent thinning where elk feed, plus timbered benches and riparian bottoms where they bed.
- →Cut fresh sign on PacifiCorp and DNR roads, then move in on foot.
- →Consider neighboring GMU 560 (Lewis River) for a higher-odds elk hunt if elk are your priority.
- →Hunt close given the shotgun/muzzleloader/archery restriction — set up on feeding-cut edges at dawn and dusk.
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are common in this productive, brushy Lewis River foothill habitat. The wet climate and abundant berry-and-greenup feed on clearcuts and thinned ground support a reasonable opportunity bear hunt within the Clark County firearm restriction.
- →Glass clearcuts and reprod for bears feeding on grass and forbs early, then on ripening berries later.
- →Watch sunny cut faces and edges morning and evening, and reservoir-side greenup.
- →Still-hunt creek bottoms and skid roads where forage and travel concentrate.
- →Plan close shots under the shotgun/muzzleloader/archery restriction.
Cougar
common opportunityCougars range through the unit following the deer and elk prey base. Most are taken incidentally by deer and elk hunters; the general season runs Sept. 1 through March 31 or until the Cougar Hunt Management Unit harvest cap is met, so verify the CHMU is open before hunting.
- →Hunt cougar alongside deer/elk seasons where prey concentrates.
- →Cut for tracks on muddy or snow-dusted logging roads after weather; look for four-claw raking.
- →Focus on brushy Lewis River drainages near deer wintering ground.
- →Check the WDFW Cougar Hotline or online CHMU status (updated Thursdays) before hunting.
Pro tips
- →Know the rule that defines this unit: GMU 554 is a Clark County Firearm Restriction Area — shotgun, muzzleloader, or archery only, no centerfire rifle.
- →Lean on the public ~23%: PacifiCorp's free walk-in Lewis River lands and DNR forest are your access, since ~74% is private.
- →Concentrate on recent clearcuts and forest thinning — that's where WDFW says deer and elk are most abundant and accessible in this small unit.
- →Scout early: it's only ~45 sq mi, so learn the accessible openings and pinch points before opening day.
- →Time your best deer effort to the late buck hunt, when rut movement meets ideal still-hunting weather.
- →If elk are the goal, consider neighboring GMU 560 (Lewis River) for higher odds and more public Gifford Pinchot ground.
Watch out for
- !Firearm Restriction Area: no centerfire rifles allowed in GMU 554 (Clark County) — confirm legal weapons in the current Big Game pamphlet before hunting.
- !~74% private in a small, checkerboarded unit — verify PacifiCorp/DNR vs. private boundaries and respect posted PacifiCorp access signs (walk-in, non-motorized).
- !Mount St. Helens elk herd is below objective; elk opportunity in this small unit is limited and low-odds.
- !Treponeme-Associated Hoof Disease (TAHD) occurs in area elk — follow WDFW reporting guidance.
- !Fire-danger and gate closures possible on timberland in late summer/early fall; some DNR spurs are gated.
- !Small unit near populated Clark County — expect local hunting pressure on the accessible openings.
- !Motorized access is limited (much public ground is non-motorized walk-in); plan to hike in.
Logistics
Base out of Amboy, Woodland, or Battle Ground for fuel, groceries, and lodging, and reach the unit via SR 503 and the Yale Bridge Road / Lewis River Road corridor. Public options are DNR forest and PacifiCorp's walk-in Lewis River lands around Yale and Merwin lakes; download PacifiCorp's hunting-access map and carry offline ownership layers since the parcels checkerboard with private ground. Remember this is a shotgun/muzzleloader/archery unit — leave the centerfire rifle home. Expect wet gravel roads and some gated DNR spurs; the unit is small, so scout the accessible openings before opening day.
Nearest towns: Amboy, Woodland, Cougar, Battle Ground, Yacolt
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW — 2025 District 9 Hunting Prospects (Region 5): GMU 554 Yale land summary (~74% private/~23% public), PacifiCorp walk-in, Firearm Restriction Area, deer/elk narrative · WDFW — Game Management Units (GMUs) · PacifiCorp — Lewis River hydro lands recreation/hunting access (15,000+ acres, GMUs 554 & 560, non-motorized) · WDFW — Mount St. Helens Elk Herd status (below objective)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 554 in Washington?
- GMU 554 (Yale) covers about 45 square miles, ranging from roughly 300 to 2,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 554?
- Approximately 23% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: PacifiCorp (Lewis River hydro lands — free non-motorized walk-in), Washington DNR (state forest), Small private / rural landowners. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 554?
- 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 554 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.