GMU 618 - Matheny, Washington

Sub-alpine to temperate rainforest terrain on the southwestern slope of the Olympic Mountains. Elevations range from near sea level along the Queets River corridor to sub-alpine ridges approaching Olympic National Park. Landscape is dominated by second- and third-growth Douglas fir, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and western red cedar with dense understory. River bottoms along the Queets and North Fork Quinault drainages provide travel corridors. Steep, rugged topography with benches in upper elevations; lower terrain features swamps, creek bottoms, and regeneration clearcuts. The unit is bounded on the north and east by Olympic National Park, west by the Quinault Indian Reservation, and south toward Lake Quinault.

GMU 618 is dominated by federal lands managed by the USFS (Olympic National Forest), with the minority of non-USFS acreage under Washington DNR management. There is essentially no private industrial timberland, which is unusual for District 17. Access Rating is Excellent — the best in the Olympic herd GMUs. Dense logging and forest road networks provide good motorized access throughout much of the unit. Some areas may be gated; non-motorized access is typically permitted beyond locked gates. E-bikes are frequently restricted on USFS roads. Access is constrained on the north and east by ONP boundaries and on the west by the closed Quinault Indian Reservation.

Temperate rainforest dominated by old-growth and second-growth conifers: Douglas fir, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, western red cedar. Dense shrub layer of salmonberry, elderberry, huckleberry, salal, and oxalis on the forest floor. Timber harvest regeneration units (clearcuts 3-9 years old) provide the highest quality forage and visibility for deer and elk. Swamps, alder-lined creek bottoms, and riparian zones serve as thermal refuges for elk in warm early seasons. Sub-alpine meadow habitat near the ONP boundary supports summer elk concentration.

Roosevelt elk in GMU 618 are part of the Olympic elk herd and do not interchange significantly with adjacent herds. Bulls in particular are concentrated near the ONP boundary where hunting pressure is minimal inside the park — bulls move out into the GMU during rut and hunting seasons. Elk do not tend to travel far; if pushed, they typically relocate within 1-2 miles. During early warm-weather seasons, elk concentrate in swamps, creek bottoms, and riparian areas. As temperatures drop, elk move to benches in steep terrain with thick cover to bed. Deer home ranges are small (average 86 acres in comparable District 17 GMUs). Black bear are opportunistic and tied to berry-producing clearcuts and riparian zones.

GMU 618 is one of three units in Washington where WDFW specifically directs hunters seeking mature trophy bulls (alongside GMU 638 Quinault Ridge and GMU 615 Clearwater). Adjacency to ONP creates a bull sanctuary effect — mature bulls that grow large inside the park periodically move into the GMU. The best opportunity for 5-point-or-better bulls is the September rifle special permit season. Treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD) is present in the Olympic herd area; hunters are encouraged to report limping elk and may participate in the TAHD Incentive Program for a chance at a special any-bull permit. GMU 618 falls within Elk Area 6064 (Quinault Valley) — during general modern firearm, archery, and muzzleloader seasons within this elk area, only Master Hunters are permitted. GMU 618 is also part of the cougar hunt area (607/615/618) with a 13% harvest cap of 6 animals. The unit is excluded from the Willapa Hills formal elk survey program; Olympic herd monitoring relies on harvest trends and hunter effort data. 2024 saw the lowest district-wide elk harvest since 2008, which biologists suggest may indicate increased elk availability for 2025.