GMU 655 Anderson Island
A ferry-access island of private woodlots: high blacktail success, tiny harvest, permission required.
WDFW Region 6 — South Puget Sound (District 11) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
6
sq mi
Public land
5%
approx.
Elevation
0–300
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
GMU 655 "Anderson Island" is a 5.9-square-mile island in south Puget Sound off Steilacoom, in WDFW District 11, and it is one of the smallest and most unusual deer units in the state. The island is almost entirely private residential and woodlot property — the only public ground is a handful of small parks owned by the Anderson Island Park & Recreation District and Pierce County, all of which are closed to hunting and trapping. There are no elk, and while black bear hunting is technically legal, bears have never been reported harvested or even hunted here. This is a Columbian blacktail unit: it posts District 11's highest hunter-success rate (around 50%) but its lowest total harvest, because ferry logistics and the need to secure private permission keep hunter numbers very low.
Terrain
A low, rolling wooded island surrounded by Puget Sound, dotted with residential parcels, small woodlots, ponds, and a few public parks. Relief is gentle and elevations stay under a few hundred feet.
Cover: Second-growth Douglas-fir and mixed conifer with maple and alder, dense understory brush, small wetlands and lakes, and landscaped residential edges — good low-density deer cover interwoven with homes.
Landmarks: Puget Sound (surrounds the unit) · Anderson Island (Pierce County) · Pierce County ferry landing (Steilacoom–Anderson Island) · Florence and Josephine lakes · Anderson Island Park & Rec District parks (closed to hunting)
Access
This is a hunt-by-permission unit. The island is almost entirely privately owned; the only public land is small parks owned by the Anderson Island Park & Recreation District and Pierce County, and hunting and trapping are prohibited on all of them. The island is reachable only by the Pierce County ferry from Steilacoom or by private boat, and there is no public hunting land to walk onto — every legal hunt requires advance permission from a private landowner. Be mindful of Pierce County firearm-restriction and no-shooting zones, which can apply on a residential island like this. Because pressure is so low, hunters who do secure permission see excellent success.
Managers: Private residential / woodlot owners, Anderson Island Park & Recreation District (parks — closed to hunting), Pierce County (parks — closed to hunting)
Access points: Pierce County ferry from Steilacoom to Anderson Island · Private boat landing · Private-property access by advance landowner permission only
Species notes
Blacktail Deer
common opportunityAnderson Island is a Columbian blacktail unit with plentiful deer and District 11's highest hunter-success rate — around 50% — but also its lowest total harvest, because so few hunters make the trip and secure access. The island was Deer Area 6014 (antlerless permit only) until it became GMU 655 in 2013 and now offers both a general (either-sex) season and antlerless permits. The catch is entirely logistical: ferry access plus private permission, not deer availability.
- →Line up private-landowner permission weeks in advance — this is the single factor that determines whether you can hunt here at all.
- →Plan around the Pierce County ferry schedule and consider a private boat for flexibility; logistics, not deer, limit success.
- →Once on permitted ground, still-hunt woodlot edges, wetland margins, and the cover between residences at first and last light.
- →Expect deer to hold small home ranges in island cover; patient stand-hunting over a permitted parcel pays off.
- →Know and respect Pierce County firearm-restriction / no-shooting zones on this residential island.
Pro tips
- →Secure written private-landowner permission well before the season — with no huntable public land, that permission is the whole hunt.
- →This unit's ~50% success is real but rests on very few hunters; treat a permitted parcel as a genuine opportunity, not a numbers game.
- →Sort out ferry or boat logistics early; a missed ferry can cost you a hunting day.
- →Respect the closed island and county parks and any Pierce County no-shooting zones — a residential island leaves no margin for error.
- →Don't plan on elk or bear here: there are no elk, and bears are effectively never hunted or harvested on the island.
Watch out for
- !There is no public hunting land — every hunt requires advance private permission; the island/county parks are closed to hunting and trapping.
- !Access is only by Pierce County ferry or private boat; missing the ferry or losing permission ends the hunt.
- !Pierce County firearm-restriction and no-shooting zones can apply on this developed residential island.
- !Total harvest is very low despite high success — opportunities are scarce because access, not deer, is the bottleneck.
- !No elk exist in the unit, and black bear are effectively not a huntable resource here despite being legal.
Logistics
Access is by the Pierce County ferry from Steilacoom (foot or vehicle) or by private boat; there is no camping infrastructure aimed at hunters and no public hunting land, so day-hunting a permitted private parcel is the realistic model. Base on the mainland around Steilacoom, DuPont, or Lakewood for lodging, fuel, and groceries. Confirm your landowner permission and the ferry timetable before committing to a trip.
Nearest towns: Steilacoom, DuPont, Lakewood, Tacoma
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW 2023 District 11 Hunting Prospects — GMU 655 Anderson Island: no elk, ferry/private access, ~50% deer success / lowest harvest, bear never reported · WDFW Game Management Units (GMU boundaries & maps)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 655 in Washington?
- GMU 655 (Anderson Island) covers about 6 square miles, ranging from roughly 0 to 300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 655?
- Approximately 5% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Private residential / woodlot owners, Anderson Island Park & Recreation District (parks — closed to hunting), Pierce County (parks — closed to hunting). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 655?
- Blacktail Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 655 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.