GMU 612 - Goodman, Washington

Rolling coastal hills draining west toward the Pacific, with elevations mostly a few hundred feet above sea level — this is not steep terrain. Temperate rainforest dominates: Sitka spruce, western red cedar, bigleaf maple, and dense understory. River flats along Hoh and Goodman Creek drainages hold elk year-round. Tidal flats and marshland exist near the coast. Glassing points are limited but available on Rayonier clearcuts and ridge edges. The unit sits south of the Hoh River valley and west of Highway 101 near Forks, WA. Olympic National Park borders the unit to the east at higher elevations; ONP elk regularly migrate out of the park into GMU 612 habitat corridors during hunting season.

Approximately 39% public land (38% state DNR, 1% other federal/USFS); 61% private. Major private landowner is Rayonier Timberlands (largest), plus Ecotrust Forest Management (EFM)/Olympic Rainforest LLC which allows non-motorized public access in GMUs 602, 612, and 615. The Nature Conservancy (Hoh River Trust) allows non-motorized seasonal access. Campbell Global and Bloedel Timberlands have holdings — check posted signs for current access rules as fee-access programs are expanding. State DNR blocks in the center of the unit are easily accessible. Gated logging roads are common; some are open to hunters on foot or by mountain bike. No ferry or boat access required — US-101 and associated spur roads provide primary vehicle access. Check with landowners annually as policies change.

Temperate rainforest: old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock in ONP-adjacent areas, second-growth mixed conifer on private and DNR timberlands, active clearcuts providing critical forage and edge habitat for elk. Rayonier clearcut rotations provide the best age-class diversity and glassing opportunities. Understory includes sword fern, oxalis, and dense salal. Annual precipitation on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula exceeds 100-140 inches, producing lush forage but extremely challenging travel conditions. Alder riparian strips follow creek drainages.

Roosevelt elk herds are broadly distributed west of the Elwha River with year-round lowland resident herds plus seasonal migration from Olympic National Park alpine meadows to lowland winter range during fall hunting season. Hunters regularly intercept elk moving along major river drainages (Hoh corridor) as they leave ONP. The west District 16 GMUs including 612 hold the bulk of elk in the district. Deer are sparse in the western Olympic Peninsula GMUs including 612 — black-tailed deer densities are low compared to eastern GMUs. Black bear activity is moderate, with bears following berry crops and early-season salmon carcasses along river drainages.

GMU 612 is a general-season over-the-counter elk unit — no draw required for bulls. A 3-point minimum antler restriction applies to all hunters during all open seasons. In 2018 WDFW added an antlerless elk permit opportunity to manage damage-complaint herds near Forks; these are limited permits separate from the general season. Muzzleloader season was initiated in 2015. Bull harvest ranged 15-25 animals from 2010-2016, increased through 2017-2020, dropped significantly 2022-2023, then rebounded in 2024. The unit is in WDFW Cougar Hunt Management Unit (CHMU) 49 covering GMUs 601, 602, 603, and 612 with a harvest cap of 7 cougars. Several private timber companies are shifting to fee-access programs — always verify current access policies before hunting. Olympic National Park borders are strictly off-limits to hunting. Elk hoof disease (Treponeme-associated hoof disease) is present in District 16; report limping elk to WDFW.