GMU 356 - Bumping, Washington

Significantly roadless high Cascade unit covering 286 square miles in Yakima, Pierce, and Lewis counties. Elevation ranges from approximately 2,600 feet in the Bumping River valley to 7,700 feet on the craggy ridgelines and peaks along the southeastern and western borders. Topography is relatively gentle for roadless country through the middle drainages but becomes rugged near the crest. The western border abuts Mount Rainier National Park. The 2017 American Fire burned portions of the northern unit, creating early-successional browse habitat. The William O. Douglas Wilderness occupies the core backcountry.

Primary vehicle access is via US-12 and WA-410 along the northern boundary (Bumping Lake Road, FS Road 1800), which penetrates the northern third of the unit to Bumping Lake and its trailheads. Deep Creek Road (FS-1808) is essentially the only interior road, running south through the unit and separating the Bumping River drainage from the craggy peaks to the southeast. Key trailheads include Bumping Lake Trailhead, Swamp Lake Trailhead, and American Ridge Trail. Unit is almost entirely Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest with no significant BLM or state wildlife area parcels.

Mixed conifer forest dominated by Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce, transitioning to true fir and whitebark pine near the crest. Open subalpine meadows and huckleberry fields provide critical summer forage for elk and deer. Post-fire areas from the 2017 American Fire in the northern portion have produced brushy early-successional growth (ceanothus, willow, elderberry) that concentrates deer during early archery season. Riparian corridors along the Bumping River and tributaries hold resident deer year-round.

GMU 356 functions as high-elevation summer range for the Yakima Elk Herd. Elk and deer concentrate in subalpine meadows and parks near the wilderness core through September and October. After significant early snows — typically late October onward — animals migrate east and downslope toward lower-elevation winter range in the Yakima and Naches drainages. The elk rut runs roughly the first week of September through mid-October. Outfitter camps concentrate in large meadow parks and near backcountry lakes; independent hunters find better success hunting steep, off-trail country over back ridges away from pressure.

Unit is within the Yakima Elk Hunt Area — all elk hunters must carry a valid Eastern Washington elk tag. Elk general seasons are spike-bull only across all weapon types (archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader) per WAC 220-415-050. Deer hunters must observe a 3-point minimum (one side) for mule deer per WAC 220-415-020. No modern firearm deer season appears in the 2024-2026 WAC tables for this unit — archery and early muzzleloader are the confirmed deer seasons. The western unit boundary borders Mount Rainier National Park (no hunting in park). Road-based hunting pressure along Bumping Lake Road is moderate to high; backcountry wilderness pressure is lighter. Yakima Elk Herd total population exceeds 8,000 animals across approximately 900,000 acres of public land.