GMU 612 Goodman
La Push-to-Forks rainforest between the Hoh and the coast — high-harvest Roosevelt elk on public timber
WDFW Region 6 — Coastal / Olympic Peninsula (District 16) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
117
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
50–2,400
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 612 (Goodman) covers the coastal-rainforest wedge of western Jefferson and Clallam counties, running from the Olympic National Park boundary east of La Push, up the La Push Road to Forks, then south across the Hoh River back to the ONP boundary. It is prime Olympic Peninsula Roosevelt elk country — one of the four western District 16 units (with 602, 607 and 615) that carry the district's highest bull-elk harvests and hold large blocks of public land, much of it without restricted access. Blacktail deer are sparse (60 bucks in 2024); Goodman is an elk unit. Ownership is a mix of WDNR, Olympic National Forest, Ecotrust Forest Management (Olympic Rainforest LLC) timberland with non-motorized public access, and small private, hard against the ONP boundary and near Quileute tribal land at La Push.
Terrain
Low, wet coastal rainforest terraces and river-cut foothills between the Pacific-facing ONP coastal strip and the interior park boundary, drained by Goodman Creek, the Bogachiel and the Hoh rivers. Elevations stay low — this is bottom-heavy rainforest, not high country.
Cover: Dense temperate rainforest: towering Sitka spruce, western hemlock and redcedar over an all-but-impenetrable understory of salal, salmonberry, sword fern, vine maple and devil's club, broken by managed clearcuts and regenerating stands that supply the forage elk and bear use.
Landmarks: Goodman Creek · Hoh River · Bogachiel River · La Push Road · Quillayute / La Push (Quileute Reservation, adjacent) · Olympic National Park boundary & coastal strip
Access
WDFW rates Goodman among the district's better elk-access units — large acreages of public land, much of it without restricted access, though all these west-end GMUs include gated roads (some open to hunters, some closed). Ecotrust Forest Management, which manages Olympic Rainforest LLC holdings in GMUs 602/612/615, allows non-motorized public access on most of its properties — a notable open door here. DNR and Olympic NF ground is public. Behind locked timber and DNR gates, foot and mountain-bike access is generally allowed even where vehicles are barred. Confirm current ownership (Rayonier recently sold much of its District 16 land) and read the signs at each gate.
Managers: WDNR, USFS Olympic National Forest, Ecotrust Forest Management (Olympic Rainforest LLC), Private (Forks-area timber), Olympic National Park (boundary, closed to hunting), Quileute Tribe (La Push, adjacent)
Access points: US 101 at Forks (northeast) · La Push Road (SR 110) · Hoh River / US 101 crossing (south) · Ecotrust / Olympic Rainforest non-motorized access ground · Olympic National Forest & DNR road systems
Species notes
Roosevelt Elk
common qualityA high-harvest District 16 elk unit. State bull harvest held between 15-25 elk in 2010-16, rose through 2017-20, dropped sharply in 2022-23, and rebounded in 2024. Muzzleloader elk hunting opened here in 2015 and hunter numbers have held steady; modern firearm is the dominant method. A 2018 antlerless permit was added to manage damage complaints around Forks. General harvest is three-point-minimum, bull-only.
- →Hunt elk that leave Olympic National Park down the Goodman Creek, Bogachiel and Hoh drainages onto huntable timber
- →Work Ecotrust/Olympic Rainforest non-motorized ground and open DNR/USFS land — walk or bike in
- →Glass clearcut and regeneration edges and river bottoms at first and last light
- →Muzzleloader is a viable choice here since the 2015 opening
- →Mind three-point-minimum bull rules; antlerless is permit-only for damage control
Blacktail Deer
limited opportunityDeer are sparse across the west end and Goodman is among the district's lowest buck-harvest GMUs (60 bucks in 2024). Blacktail are present at low density in the thick rainforest — a secondary opportunity while elk hunting, not a deer destination.
- →Hunt clearcut edges and young regeneration where the few deer concentrate
- →Still-hunt slow through riparian brush along Goodman Creek and the Bogachiel
- →Stay on open DNR/USFS and Ecotrust access ground
- →Expect low sightings — glass openings and hunt cover slowly
Black Bear
common opportunityCoastal BBMU black bear are common in this productive managed forest. 2024 harvest was 8 bears from 84 hunters (about 10% success). Neighboring Clearwater (615) holds one of the state's highest measured bear densities, and Goodman shares similar rainforest habitat. Most bears are taken opportunistically during deer and elk seasons.
- →Glass regenerating clearcuts for bears feeding on salmonberry, salal, cascara and huckleberry
- →Sit fresh feed sign in cut units in the last hours of light
- →Hike or bike behind gates to reach less-pressured berry ground
- →No hounds or bait (statewide ban); mandatory premolar-tooth submission after harvest
Cougar
common opportunityCougars range throughout Goodman following the elk and deer. Managed under the Cougar Hunt Management Unit structure with a harvest cap that can close the unit mid-season.
- →Hunt incidentally while elk or deer hunting; no hounds allowed in Washington
- →Call the cougar hotline (1-866-364-4868, updated Thursdays) to confirm the unit is still open
- →Cut river-bottom and timber-edge corridors where prey concentrate
Pro tips
- →Goodman is elk-first: for a public-access Roosevelt bull hunt it's one of District 16's best; for blacktail, look elsewhere in the region
- →Ecotrust Forest Management (Olympic Rainforest LLC) allows non-motorized public access on most of its 612 ground — a genuine open door; walk or bike it
- →Key on elk leaving Olympic National Park: scout Goodman Creek, the Bogachiel and the Hoh where animals cross onto huntable timber
- →Muzzleloader elk has been a legit option here since the 2015 season opening
- →Behind gated DNR and timber roads, foot and bike access is usually legal even where vehicles are barred — use it to beat pressure
Watch out for
- !The Olympic National Park boundary and coastal strip form the west and east edges — hunting in ONP is unlawful; know the line
- !Quileute tribal land at La Push is separate jurisdiction, not open to general WDFW hunting — know the reservation boundary
- !Rayonier sold most of its District 16 holdings to new managers whose access plans aren't all public — verify ownership and read gate signs
- !Gated roads: some open to hunters, some closed — an open gate is not permission to drive in
- !Constant rain and mud can strand vehicles on backcountry timber roads; carry recovery gear
- !Antlerless elk is permit-only for damage management; general season is three-point-minimum bull
Logistics
Forks, at the unit's northeast corner, is the base — fuel, groceries, lodging, gear. US 101 and La Push Road (SR 110) provide the main access; the Hoh River corridor bounds the south. Cell coverage is limited off the highway. Dispersed camping is on Olympic NF and DNR ground — not on the Quileute Reservation or private timberland.
Nearest towns: Forks, La Push, Beaver, Port Angeles
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW 2025 District 16 Hunting Prospects (Region 6) · WDFW GMU 612 (Goodman) boundary map · WA Admin Code 220-410-060 — Region 6 GMU boundary descriptions · WDFW Game Management Units
FAQ
- How big is GMU 612 in Washington?
- GMU 612 (Goodman) covers about 117 square miles, ranging from roughly 50 to 2,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 612?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: WDNR, USFS Olympic National Forest, Ecotrust Forest Management (Olympic Rainforest LLC), Private (Forks-area timber), Olympic National Park (boundary, closed to hunting), Quileute Tribe (La Push, adjacent). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 612?
- 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 612 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.