How big is GMU 618 in Washington?

GMU 618 (Matheny) covers about 100 square miles, ranging from roughly 200 to 4,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.

What species does the catalog list for GMU 618?

Roosevelt Elk, Black Bear, Blacktail Deer, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

GMU 618 Matheny

A tiny, near-all-public mature-bull elk unit wedged against Olympic National Park.

WDFW Region 6 — Olympic Peninsula (District 17) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12

Bull elk standing at the edge of dark timber

Area

100

sq mi

Public land

90%

approx.

Elevation

200–4,200

feet

Motorized

moderate

access

Overview

GMU 618 "Matheny" is a small (~100-square-mile) mountainous unit on the southwestern flank of the Olympics in WDFW District 17, draining Matheny Creek and the Sams River toward the Queets. Unlike most of the timber-company-dominated Olympic Peninsula, it is overwhelmingly public — dominated by Olympic National Forest with the remainder in DNR state forest — earning a WDFW access rating of 'Excellent.' It is part of the Olympic elk herd and one of the three GMUs (with Quinault Ridge 638 and Clearwater 615) WDFW steers mature-bull hunters toward; the September rifle permit hunts here produce the district's best odds at a five-point-or-better bull. It is rugged, physical country hemmed by Olympic National Park and the Quinault Reservation.

Terrain

Small but very steep and physically demanding — the Matheny Creek and Sams River drainages fall away with elevation changes of roughly 2,200 ft in well under a mile in places. The eastern point of the unit (state land) is much more mellow and holds some clearcuts that ease access; the rest is rough, rainforest-slope country climbing toward the Olympic National Park boundary.

Cover: Wet Olympic rainforest slopes of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce with heavy moss, ferns, and dense understory; red alder in the bottoms and scattered clearcut/regen openings on the eastern DNR ground that provide forage and glassing.

Landmarks: Matheny Creek · Sams River · Queets River corridor (north/west) · Olympic National Park boundary (surrounds much of the unit) · Quinault Indian Reservation boundary (south) · Eastern DNR state-land point (clearcuts)

Access

WDFW rates GMU 618 access as 'Excellent' — the unit is dominated by Olympic National Forest, with the minority of non-USFS land under DNR management, so this is one of the peninsula's most genuinely open public units. USFS access is generally allowed year-round. The catch is the terrain and boundaries, not the ownership: the unit is small, extremely steep, and hemmed in by Olympic National Park (closed to all hunting) and the Quinault Reservation (tribal land — not open to state hunters), so knowing exactly where the huntable USFS/DNR ground ends is essential. The eastern DNR point is the more forgiving ground with clearcuts.

Managers: USFS Olympic National Forest, WDNR (Olympic Region state forest), Olympic National Park (boundary — closed to hunting), Quinault Indian Nation (reservation — south boundary)

Access points: Olympic National Forest roads up the Matheny Creek / Sams River drainages · Queets River corridor access from the west · DNR state-land roads on the eastern point (clearcut access) · US 101 to the west, then forest-road network inland

Species notes

Roosevelt Elk

common trophy

The reason to hunt 618. Part of the Olympic elk herd and one of only three District 17 GMUs (with 638 and 615) WDFW directs mature-bull hunters to — all three border Olympic National Park and have a reputation for producing some very nice bulls. The best odds at a five-point-or-better bull in the district come from the September rifle permit hunts in Matheny (618) or Quinault Ridge (638). Three-point-minimum bull country.

→Apply for and build points toward the September rifle permit hunt — that's the tag that produces the district's best mature bulls here.
→Hunt elk as they move off Olympic National Park; glass the eastern DNR clearcuts and Matheny/Sams openings at first and last light.
→Be ready for brutal terrain — 2,000+ ft of relief in under a mile; plan routes and a realistic pack-out before you commit.
→Still-hunt the timber/clearcut edges and old logging benches where bulls hold in the wet closed-canopy cover by day.
→Learn the ONP and Quinault Reservation boundaries cold — the best bulls live right on the park line where you cannot legally follow.

Black Bear

common opportunity

Black bears are present throughout District 17 and 618 is among the GMUs WDFW lists as 'worth mentioning' for bear. Harvest is modest here (a handful of bears a year given the small hunter numbers), and most are taken opportunistically during elk and deer seasons, but the mix of public rainforest and eastern clearcuts holds bears on berry feed.

→Glass the eastern DNR clearcuts and regen openings for bears feeding on salmonberry, huckleberry, and salal at dawn and dusk.
→Work higher-elevation huckleberry patches in early fall as low berries fade.
→Cut fresh sign in a berry-rich opening, then sit long watches; bears are hard to spot in the dense rainforest cover.
→Carry a bear tag on your elk hunt — most 618 bears fall opportunistically.

Blacktail Deer

limited opportunity

Columbian blacktail are the only deer here, but as across the west Olympic Peninsula, densities are modest and this small, steep, forest-dominated unit is a secondary deer destination behind elk. Scouting is everything for these secretive deer in dense rainforest cover.

→Focus on the eastern clearcut/regen edges where the little available forage concentrates deer.
→Still-hunt slowly and glass openings at first/last light; blacktails here stay tight to heavy cover.
→Hunt the late-October/early-November rut for your best shot at a mature buck moving.
→Treat deer as a bonus to an elk hunt rather than the trip's purpose.

Cougar

limited opportunity

Cougars occur throughout the Olympic forestlands; 618 sits in cougar hunt area CHMU 50 (with 607 and 615). Numbers taken are low given the small hunter base, and cats are almost always incidental to deer and elk hunts. Cap-managed — verify status.

→Carry the tag as an opportunistic add-on while glassing for elk and bear.
→Hunt where deer and elk concentrate — cougars follow the prey.
→Cut fresh snow tracks on the forest roads at the higher end to follow up.
→Check the CHMU 50 harvest-cap status before and during your hunt.

Pro tips

→This is a permit-driven mature-bull elk unit — apply/build points for the September rifle hunt, the district's best five-point-plus odds (with Quinault Ridge 638).
→Enjoy the rare 'Excellent' public access, but respect the terrain: 2,000+ ft of relief in under a mile makes it a physical, plan-your-pack-out hunt.
→The eastern DNR point with its clearcuts is the friendliest ground for access and glassing — start there.
→Know exactly where Olympic National Park and the Quinault Reservation boundaries run; the best bulls live right on lines you can't cross.
→Preload offline maps — no cell service, and USFS roads can be washed out after heavy rain.
→Take bear and cougar tags along; both are opportunistic bonuses while you're chasing elk.

Watch out for

!Olympic National Park surrounds much of the unit and is closed to all hunting — the single biggest boundary trap here.
!The Quinault Indian Reservation on the south boundary is tribal land, not open to state hunters.
!Terrain is severe and physical (2,200-ft drops in under a mile) — the challenge is the ground, not the ownership.
!Elk hunting is largely permit-driven for the best (September rifle) opportunity; general-season expectations should be modest.
!No cell service and remote roads that can wash out — go prepared and self-sufficient.
!Cougar hunt area CHMU 50 is harvest-cap managed and can close mid-season.

Logistics

This is a remote corner of the peninsula — base out of Amanda Park/Lake Quinault to the south or Forks to the north along US 101, both with limited fuel, lodging, and groceries; Aberdeen is the nearest larger town well to the south. Access is via Olympic National Forest and DNR roads up the Matheny Creek and Sams River drainages off US 101. Developed camping is available in the Lake Quinault/Olympic National Forest area. Expect steep gravel forest roads, very heavy rainforest precipitation, no cell service, and demanding pack-outs — carry a USFS/DNR ownership map and preload offline navigation, and study the ONP and reservation boundaries before you go.

Nearest towns: Amanda Park, Quinault, Forks, Queets

Nearby units

GMU 24 · Quinault Indian Reservation GMU 638 · Quinault Ridge GMU 615 · Clearwater GMU 642 · Copalis

Seasons & regulations

This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:

Research sources: WDFW 2025 District 17 Hunting Prospects — GMU 618 Matheny access rating 'Excellent' (Olympic NF dominated, DNR minority), mature-bull elk direction (with 638/615), September rifle permit five-point-plus odds, bear, public land · WDFW 2025 District 16 Hunting Prospects — GMU 618 within cougar hunt area CHMU 50 (607/615/618), bear harvest table · GoHunt — Washington Unit 618 Matheny unit profile (Matheny Creek/Sams River, 2,200-ft relief, ONP/Quinault Reservation surround, eastern state-land point) · WDFW Game Management Units (GMU boundaries & maps)

FAQ

How big is GMU 618 in Washington?: GMU 618 (Matheny) covers about 100 square miles, ranging from roughly 200 to 4,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
How much public land is in GMU 618?: Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Olympic National Forest, WDNR (Olympic Region state forest), Olympic National Park (boundary — closed to hunting), Quinault Indian Nation (reservation — south boundary). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
What species does the catalog list for GMU 618?: Roosevelt Elk, Black Bear, Blacktail Deer, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

Put GMU 618 on your map.

Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.

Get Baseline Maps What is a GMU?