GMU 417 - Cypress, Washington

Cypress Island rises steeply from the Salish Sea shoreline to a high point of 1,525 ft over a land area of roughly 8.6 square miles. Captain Vancouver described it as 'principally composed of high rocky mountains and steep perpendicular cliffs' with low marshy pockets. The geology is notable for ultramafic serpentinite bedrock in areas, supporting rare plant communities. Much of the terrain is moderate-to-steep forested hillside with very few natural openings or clearings. Small wetland areas and a 7-acre central lake add habitat diversity. The island's eastern shoreline has sheltered coves (Eagle Harbor, Pelican Beach, Strawberry Bay, Smugglers Cove) serving as the primary landing zones for hunters.

The island is accessible by private boat or kayak only — no ferry service. DNR maintains several low-impact moorage and camping areas: Cypress Head Campground (north end, views of Mt. Baker), Pelican Beach Campground (east side), Strawberry Bay, Secret Harbor, Eagle Harbor, and Smugglers Cove. A trail network links most of the island and can be used for hunting access, though the Eagle Cliff Trail is closed February 1–July 15 for wildlife protection. Approximately 91% of the island (roughly 5,100 acres) is managed by the Washington DNR as the Cypress Island Natural Resources Conservation Area; 1,072 acres within that are further designated as Natural Area Preserve. A small number of private parcels (primarily in the southeastern corner around an aquaculture operation) are not open to hunting.

Heavily forested with Douglas fir as the dominant canopy species, mixed with western red cedar, western hemlock, grand fir, Pacific madrone, red alder, bigleaf maple, and Douglas maple. Shore pine and seaside juniper are notable on serpentine soils. The understory is extremely dense with salal, sword fern, and other Pacific Northwest shrubs, which severely limits visibility and shot opportunities. The 1,072-acre Natural Area Preserve protects the only low-elevation serpentine forest in Washington alongside rare basalt-underlain grassland patches — these grassland remnants represent some of the best hunting habitat on the island. Wetland areas and the central lake create additional edge habitat.

Black-tailed deer are the only big game present. No elk inhabit Cypress Island — elk are absent from all San Juan Islands-area island GMUs. Deer move through the dense forest understory and tend to concentrate in the limited openings, edges near the shoreline, and areas with lower vegetation density. The rut typically begins in late October and can run through late December, which coincides with general and late archery seasons. Black bear are not established on the island. Cougar are absent. Waterfowl use the surrounding marine waters and the island's wetlands, but big game hunting is limited to deer.

Cypress Island is one of the most logistically demanding hunts in Region 4 — hunters must own or charter a boat capable of crossing open Salish Sea water, and must pack out all harvested meat via boat. Despite the high public-land percentage, WDFW harvest data shows extremely low participation: the 2024 season recorded only 2 hunters and 0 successful harvests for the Cypress deer hunt (permit code 1457). GOHUNT lists 1 hunter discussing this unit. Dense vegetation is cited consistently across WDFW district prospects as the primary limiting factor. Deer that are taken are described as excellent table fare. The island has no road access, no utilities, and no garbage service — pack-in/pack-out rules apply. Hunting is permitted only on DNR-managed land; private parcels are not open. Firearms are permitted (Cypress Island is NOT in the firearm restriction area that applies to other Skagit County island units). Hunter orange/pink is required during modern firearm seasons.