GMU 672 Fall River
Weyerhaeuser's Pe Ell permit country — a top-tier Willapa blacktail unit with a productive Roosevelt elk herd, if you buy the limited permit.
WDFW Region 6 — Coastal / Willapa Hills (District 17) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
251
sq mi
Public land
20%
approx.
Elevation
200–2,200
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 672 "Fall River" sits in the Willapa Hills of District 17 (Pacific and Lewis counties), draining the Fall River and upper Willapa River watersheds around the town of Pe Ell. It is classic western-Washington industrial timber country — the primary owners are Weyerhaeuser and WDNR, with Campbell Global also holding managed ground. WDFW ranks 672 among the very best black-tailed deer units in District 17 (the district's top deer opportunities are 663, 648, 672, and 660) and among the strongest Roosevelt elk producers of the highly productive Willapa Hills herd (658, 672, 673, 681). The catch is access: Weyerhaeuser folds its ground here into the Pe Ell Unit permit-limited program (shared with GMU 506), so getting one of a capped number of permits is the price of admission to the best hunting.
Terrain
Low-relief Willapa Hills coast-range timber country — a patchwork of clearcuts, replants, and second- and third-growth stands cut by the Fall River and upper Willapa River drainages. Elevations rise from valley bottoms around Pe Ell into rolling forested ridges, generally staying under about 2,200 ft.
Cover: Intensely managed Douglas-fir and western hemlock forest with pockets of red alder in the bottoms; regenerating 3- to 9-year-old clearcuts choked with salmonberry, huckleberry, blackberry, and salal provide prime blacktail forage and bear feed, while elk work the cut/timber edges.
Landmarks: Fall River · Upper Willapa River · Pe Ell (town) · Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell Unit timberlands · WDNR tracts (southern GMU / Willapa River Valley)
Access
WDFW rates GMU 672 motorized access as 'Good' — a mix of open mainlines and closed spurs. The primary owners are Weyerhaeuser and DNR. All Weyerhaeuser lands in this GMU are accessible only to permit holders: Weyerhaeuser runs 672 as part of its Pe Ell Unit (with GMU 506) under a Permit-Limited program — a capped number of permits sold first-come, first-served, historically running several hundred dollars, and the same permit covers hiking, camping, and fishing. Campbell Global uses the colored 'dot' system posted at gates and typically opens some roads to motorized access for the seasons once fire danger drops. Large DNR tracts, concentrated toward the southern end and the Willapa River Valley, provide the public-access backbone. Under the dot system, red = no motorized, yellow = weekends only, green = open licensed vehicles on maintained roads; access is daylight-only and gate closures apply to all motorized vehicles. Archery and muzzleloader hunters often get less vehicle access than modern-firearm hunters.
Managers: Weyerhaeuser (Pe Ell Unit), WDNR, Campbell Global, Private timber (smaller owners)
Access points: SR 6 corridor through Pe Ell (Chehalis to Raymond) · Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell Unit gates (Permit-Limited) · WDNR road network in the southern GMU / Willapa River Valley · Campbell Global dot-system gated mainlines
Species notes
Blacktail Deer
abundant qualityOne of District 17's top blacktail units — WDFW lists the best opportunities to harvest a black-tailed deer in the district as GMUs 663, 648, 672, and 660. In the five-year rank-sum analysis 672 posted among the highest deer harvest per square mile in the district (around 0.6 deer/mi²) with success in the low 20% range. High deer numbers, but the Weyerhaeuser permit keeps hunter pressure in check.
- →Buy the Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell Unit permit early — it's Permit-Limited and first-come, and it unlocks the unit's best deer ground.
- →Key on 3- to 9-year-old clearcuts, which hold the highest deer densities for both forage and cover.
- →Glass cuts and landings at first and last light, then still-hunt the timber/clearcut edge as deer move to bed.
- →Work DNR ground toward the south end and Willapa River Valley if you don't hold a Weyerhaeuser permit.
- →Hunt the early-November rut hard for mature bucks, when they move most and drop their guard.
Roosevelt Elk
common qualityGMU 672 is part of the highly productive Willapa Hills Roosevelt elk herd and ranks among the district's strongest elk producers (658, 672, 673, and 681 offer the greatest harvest opportunities). Calf-to-cow and bull-to-cow ratios for the herd are exceptionally robust. This is an opportunity unit for a good elk, not a trophy-bull unit — WDFW points hunters seeking mature bulls to the Olympic (638/618) or St. Helens herds instead.
- →Hunt the edges of clearcuts at first and last light, where elk forage and are visible — but expect the cuts to draw crowds fast.
- →By day, still-hunt closed-canopy timber, swamps, and regeneration stands adjacent to cuts, especially in warm early seasons.
- →Get a Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell permit for interior access, or work the DNR tracts where public hunters concentrate.
- →Manage expectations toward a raghorn or cow; the Willapa herd is productive but not known for big mature bulls.
- →Scout pre-season to find elk away from the obvious road-hunted cuts, since high elk density here pulls high hunter density.
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common across the Willapa Hills and occur at high densities in some locales, but are seldom seen in the thick timber. District 17 is a solid bear district (top producer is neighboring 658), and 672's regenerating clearcuts hold good berry feed. Success leans entirely on scouting sign and patient watching.
- →Glass open clearcuts and regen units with berry shrubs — elderberry, salmonberry, huckleberry, blackberry, salal — at dawn and dusk.
- →Hunt the open ground so you spot the bear before it scents you; in dense cover it smells you first.
- →Find fresh sign in a berry-rich cut, then sit it for extended watches rather than covering ground.
- →Target bears on ripe berry feed early in the fall before deer and elk pressure scatters them.
Cougar
common opportunityCougars range throughout the Willapa Hills timber, following the abundant deer and elk. District 17 cougar harvest is modest and most cats are taken opportunistically by big-game hunters. WDFW manages cougar with harvest caps by PMU, so a unit can close mid-season.
- →Carry the tag as an add-on while glassing cuts for deer, elk, and bear.
- →Hunt where prey concentrates — regen stands and river bottoms — since cougars follow the deer and elk.
- →Check the cougar hunt-area status (1-866-364-4868) before and during your hunt in case the cap is met.
- →After fresh snow, cut roads and landings for tracks to follow up.
Pro tips
- →The Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell Unit permit is Permit-Limited and first-come — buy it early or you're locked out of the best ground in 672.
- →672 is a rare Willapa unit that's strong for BOTH blacktail and Roosevelt elk — plan a combo hunt.
- →Lean on the DNR tracts toward the south end and Willapa River Valley if you don't hold a Weyerhaeuser permit.
- →Focus on 3- to 9-year-old clearcuts for deer density and elk forage; glass the edges at first and last light.
- →Read the dot colors at Campbell Global gates and respect daylight-only motorized access.
- →Don't come expecting a giant bull — the Willapa herd is productive but WDFW sends trophy-bull hunters to the Olympic or St. Helens herds.
Watch out for
- !All Weyerhaeuser ground in 672 is permit-holder-only under the Permit-Limited Pe Ell Unit program (shared with GMU 506); permits are capped and sell first-come.
- !Historically free-access timber has shifted to fee/permit here — verify the current policy directly with each landowner before you go.
- !Campbell Global and other dot-system roads are daylight-only, and an open gate does not mean the road is open to motorized use.
- !Archery and muzzleloader hunters frequently get less vehicle access than modern-firearm hunters.
- !High elk and deer density pulls high hunter density onto the productive cuts — scout for pockets off the road-hunted openings.
- !Trespass or ignoring posted signs/dot colors can bring prosecution and a permanent ban from the landowner.
Logistics
Pe Ell is the hub, sitting on SR 6 between Chehalis (full services, fuel, lodging on I-5) and Raymond on the coast. Base out of Chehalis or Raymond and run SR 6 into the unit. Buy the Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell Unit permit before the season — it's capped and first-come — and carry a current ownership/access map, since the productive ground is a mix of permit-gated Weyerhaeuser timber, DNR tracts, and Campbell Global dot-system roads. Developed public camping is limited; most hunters day-trip or camp on DNR ground where permitted.
Nearest towns: Pe Ell, Chehalis, Raymond, Menlo, Doty
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW District 17 Hunting Prospects — GMU 672 deer, Willapa Hills elk, bear, access (Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell Permit-Limited, Campbell Global dot system, DNR) · WDFW 2024 District 17 Hunting Prospects (Pacific & Grays Harbor counties) · WDFW Game Management Units (GMU boundaries & maps)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 672 in Washington?
- GMU 672 (Fall River) covers about 251 square miles, ranging from roughly 200 to 2,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 672?
- Approximately 20% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Weyerhaeuser (Pe Ell Unit), WDNR, Campbell Global, Private timber (smaller owners). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 672?
- 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 672 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.