GMU 504 - Stella, Washington

Lowland and transitional terrain entirely within Cowlitz County, west of I-5. Elevations are low, featuring Columbia River floodplain and tidally influenced bottomlands near the river, rising into rolling forested hills and industrial timber cuts inland. Key geographic features include the Columbia River, Coal Creek drainage, and the Fisher Island Unit of the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area. No significant mountain terrain — this is a valley-floor and lower-foothill unit distinct from the volcanic Cascade landscape to the east.

Approximately 5% public land. Primary public access is the Fisher Island Unit of the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area (WDFW). Industrial forestlands (~40% of unit) are owned predominantly by Weyerhaeuser and other timber companies; access to these requires landowner permits or pre-arranged permission. Urban and suburban areas (~35%) are closed to hunting. Primary road access is via State Route 4 and Coal Creek Road. No Forest Service roads within the unit itself. Unit is a WDFW Firearm Restriction Area — modern firearms prohibited; archery and muzzleloader only for big game.

Mixed industrial second-growth Douglas-fir and western red cedar plantations dominate the forested portions. Riparian corridors along Coal Creek and Columbia River tributaries contain alder, cottonwood, and willow. Low-elevation floodplain areas include agricultural fields and pasture. Urban/suburban development occupies a substantial portion of the unit around Longview. Edge habitat between timber cuts and mature second-growth provides the best deer habitat.

Black-tailed deer use the industrial forestland edge habitat and riparian corridors along Coal Creek and Columbia River tributaries. Elk are present in low numbers; the unit is not a significant elk production area and most elk movement is transient or tied to adjacent GMUs to the east. Columbian white-tailed deer occupy low-elevation areas near the Columbia River but have no open season. Black bear are present in forested portions classified under the Urban Black Bear Management Unit.

GMU 504 is a Firearm Restriction Area (FRA) — modern firearms are NOT allowed for big game hunting anywhere in the unit; archery and muzzleloader equipment only. The unit contains a small population of Columbian white-tailed deer near the Columbia River, but these are a state-listed sensitive species with no open hunting season. The Fisher Island Unit of the Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area is the primary public hunting land. Private timber access requires permits from Weyerhaeuser and other landowners. Black bear fall under the Urban BBMU with season Aug. 1–Nov. 15 and a 2-bear annual bag limit. Elk hunting is limited (5-year avg of 5 elk harvested, 6.2% success, 77 hunters). This unit is better suited to archery deer and bear hunters comfortable navigating a heavily privatized, semi-urban landscape. Waterfowl hunting along the Columbia River and Columbia sloughs is reportedly good.