GMU 524 - Margaret, Washington

Small unit (96 sq mi) spanning elevations from ~800 ft at the confluence of the Green River and North Fork Toutle River up to 5,850 ft at Mount Margaret summit. The eastern third is dominated by steep, roadless subalpine terrain within the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument — jagged ridgelines, numerous high-elevation lakes (Shovel, Panhandle, Obscurity, Holmstedt, Boot, Grizzly, Venus, Island), and blast-zone regeneration from the 1980 eruption. The western two-thirds are classic southwest Washington industrial timber country: dense second-growth Douglas fir and western hemlock, active and older clearcuts, logging road networks, and river-bottom riparian corridors along the Green River.

Approximately 75% Weyerhaeuser Saint Helens Tree Farm (paid access permit required — motorized $250-$400/season, non-motorized $75-$125/season; free access only on PLAP-enrolled parcels). Approximately 20% public land: U.S. Forest Service Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in the east (roadless, permit required for Mt. Margaret Backcountry overnight camping June-Oct via Recreation.gov). Small portion of WDFW St. Helens Wildlife Area. Primary road access: State Route 504 along the southern boundary; Weyerhaeuser Road 1100 into the western industrial timber; FR 26 and FR 99 (open end-of-June through November) to Norway Pass Trailhead for eastern backcountry access. Elk Area 5066 (Norway Pass area) boundary follows USFS Trail 211 and Trail 230 — no motorized access in this zone.

Western lowlands: dense Douglas fir / western hemlock second-growth (30-50 yr rotation), active clearcuts, alder riparian corridors, salal and sword fern understory. Eastern highlands (Mt. Margaret Backcountry): subalpine meadows, huckleberry fields, mountain hemlock, silver fir, open rocky ridges, and regenerating blast-zone forest of young fir and alder. Clearcut edges and early successional areas are the highest-value elk and deer feeding habitat. Huckleberry patches in the backcountry are prime black bear habitat in late summer and fall.

Roosevelt elk from the Mount St. Helens herd use GMU 524 as part of their core range. The MSH herd was estimated at ~1,250 adult females in spring 2024, a slight increase from ~1,000 in 2017-2022, but remains well below mid-2000s highs. Elk move between lowland industrial timber clearcuts and upper-elevation monument meadows seasonally. Treponeme-Associated Hoof Disease (TAHD) is common in District 10 elk — hunters should watch for limping animals; WDFW incentive permit program rewards harvest and hoof submission. Black-tailed deer occupy small home ranges in dense cover; rut runs late October through late December. Black bears concentrate on huckleberry slopes and clearcut berry patches Aug-Nov.

Elk Area 5066 (eastern GMU, Norway Pass / Mt. Margaret Backcountry) is CLOSED to general season elk hunting — permit-only hunts available in that sub-area.,All general elk seasons in GMU 524 require a 3-point minimum bull (except Elk Area 5066 which is closed to general season).,Weyerhaeuser access permit is required for ~75% of the unit. Purchase at weyerhaeuser.com or call hotline 866-636-6531.,Mt. Margaret Backcountry overnight camping requires a Recreation.gov permit (June-October).,MSH elk herd carries high TAHD (hoof disease) prevalence — WDFW incentive permits available for hunters who harvest and submit hooves of limping elk.,Unit is in WDFW Region 5, District 10, primarily Cowlitz and Skamania counties.,Neighboring GMUs: 522 (Loo-Wit, permit-only elk), 520 (Winston), 550 (Coweeman).,Small game: Good for ruffed grouse; poor for waterfowl.