GMU 568 - Washougal, Washington

Steep to moderately steep Cascade foothills rising from the Columbia River (elevation ~20 ft) to 4,377 ft at the unit's northeastern edge. Terrain is heavily dissected by the Washougal River and its tributaries (North Fork Washougal, Dougan Creek) plus the Lewis and Wind river drainages on the unit fringes. Slopes average 31 degrees or less across 80% of the unit. Ridgelines run east-west, funneling deer and elk movement between riparian bottoms and upper-elevation bedding areas.

Public land is approximately 51% of the unit: 34% Washington DNR (dominated by Yacolt Burn State Forest, ~90,000 acres, requiring a Discover Pass), 15% USFS Gifford Pinchot National Forest, 2% other state/NPS. The remaining 49% is private — predominantly Weyerhaeuser Company timberlands in the northern section and residential parcels near the Columbia. Weyerhaeuser land requires a paid recreational permit or enrollment in the WDFW Private Lands Access Program; some blocks (6,500+ acres) have been opened via WDFW partnership. Walking or biking behind locked Weyerhaeuser gates is a viable strategy to reduce competition. DNR forest roads L-1000, L-1200, L-1400, L-1500, and L-1600 provide primary vehicle access through Yacolt Burn. USFS roads in the Gifford Pinchot section access the upper Washougal drainages.

Mixed conifer forest dominates — Douglas-fir, western red cedar, and big-leaf maple at lower elevations transitioning to silver fir and noble fir above 3,000 ft. The Yacolt Burn legacy (a massive 1902 wildfire covering 238,000 acres) created a patchwork of regenerating second-growth timber, clear-cuts of varying ages, brush fields, and alder-choked drainages. Active timber harvest on DNR and Weyerhaeuser lands continues to generate fresh clear-cuts that function as key black-tailed deer feeding and rutting habitat. Brushy clear-cuts 5-15 years post-harvest hold the highest deer densities.

Black-tailed deer move between lower clear-cut feeding areas and upper-elevation bedding timber on a daily pattern. Bucks become progressively more vulnerable as the rut advances from late October through December, leaving heavy timber to chase does through open clear-cuts and brushy hillsides. Elk herds associated with the Mount St. Helens Herd use the unit but concentrate more heavily in adjacent GMU 560 (Lewis River) to the north; GMU 568 elk hunting is a secondary opportunity relative to deer. Black bear activity peaks in late summer near berry patches and clear-cut edges, and again in September-October as bears hyperphagia before denning.

GMU 568 is among the more accessible western Washington units due to proximity to the Portland-Vancouver metro area, meaning hunting pressure near road-accessible areas is significant. Hunting pressure drops sharply beyond locked gates and above 2,500 ft. The Yacolt Burn State Forest is particularly popular with Clark County residents. No spring black bear season in District 9. Elk hunting is general season (not draw-only for bulls) but antlerless elk tags are limited-entry with ~5 permits per season and high point requirements (~7 average points). Deer general season requires 'any buck' (no point restriction) during modern firearm. The late archery deer season allows 'any deer' including does. Cougar hunting opportunity exists but is rarely targeted.