GMU 574 - Wind River, Washington

The Wind River corridor runs south to north from WA-14 at Carson through the heart of the unit to the Swift Reservoir area near Mt. St. Helens. Elevation ranges from roughly 200 feet at the Columbia River confluence to over 3,400 feet on upper forest roads, with portions of the landscape approaching the flanks of Mt. Adams (12,276 ft). Terrain is steep and heavily dissected with mixed-age conifer forest dominated by Douglas fir and western hemlock at middle elevations. The northwest portion of the basin is the most rugged; the southern and eastern margins transition to lower, more accessible slopes where clearcuts and recent thinning units create huntable edge habitat.

Approximately 74% public land. Primary public managers are the Gifford Pinchot National Forest (Mt. Adams Ranger District, Cowlitz Valley Ranger District) and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area; a large DNR block covers the western quarter. Private industrial timber landowners — Broughton Lumber Company (American Forest Management) and TCT Columbia Holdings (Green Diamond Resource Company) — own the southwestern quarter and participate in WDFW's Private Lands Access Program, allowing free walk-in hunting. Motorized vehicle access is typically not allowed on private timber lands enrolled in the access program. NF Road 65 (along the Wind River to Panther Creek), NF Road 68, and NF Road 60 form the primary motorized arterials into the unit. The Mt. Adams Ranger Station (Trout Lake) is a key access and information point for the eastern side.

Mixed conifer forest is the dominant cover type throughout — old-growth and second-growth stands of Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar. Lower-elevation southern and eastern portions of the unit support Oregon white oak stands and riparian galleries along the Wind River and its tributaries. Active and recent clearcuts and forest thinning units are the most productive hunting areas; elk and deer concentrate in these openings for forage, especially during the rifle season. Berry fields (huckleberry, blackberry, salmonberry) in mid-elevation clearcuts attract black bears in late summer. Turkeys occur in the lower-elevation oak and mixed zones between Wind River and Underwood, below 1,000 feet. Forest grouse (sooty/blue) are found throughout the unit on USFS and DNR lands.

Elk in GMU 574 are part of the Mount St. Helens (MSH) Herd managed by WDFW. The MSH herd declined 30-35% from mid-2000s historic highs following liberal antlerless hunting and severe winters (notably 2016-17); populations stabilized at a lower level by 2018-2022, then showed a notable 38% increase in the spring 2024 survey, indicating herd recovery. Elk are more abundant and visible near clearcuts and recent thinning units. The elk rut runs from roughly the first week of September through mid-October. Black-tailed deer populations in GMU 574 are described by WDFW as generally low (consistent with other Cascade Mountain units), though the 2024 season recorded the highest deer harvest since 2015 across District 9. Buck deer become more mobile and vulnerable during the late-October rut. Treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD) has been confirmed in elk throughout Skamania County and District 9 since 2018 — hunters are encouraged to submit hooves for TAHD research.

Western Washington elk tag required (not Eastern). General elk season requires 3-point minimum antlers on all weapons. Two limited-entry antlerless special elk permits exist: Hunt 2292 (5 permits, muzzleloader, Nov. 25-Dec. 8, 222 applicants, ~6 avg points drawn in 2025) and Hunt 2426 (youth antlerless, 5 permits, firearms, Nov. 7-18, 66 applicants, ~3 avg points). Some private timberland owners in the hunt area are limiting access or charging fees — verify access before applying. TAHD hoof disease is confirmed in the unit; hunters encouraged to turn in elk hooves at Trout Lake (Mt. Adams Ranger Station) or Buck Creek collection barrels. Early-season snow levels can affect hunter access during modern firearm seasons. Deer season is any-buck only (no antler restriction). Black bear season Aug. 1-Nov. 15 under South Cascades West BBMU, bag limit two bears per license year; mandatory premolar tooth submission by Dec. 1, 2025. Forest grouse season Sept. 15-Jan. 15. Turkey populations in Skamania County occur primarily between Wind River and Underwood below 1,000 ft elevation.