GMU 636 - Skokomish, Washington

Heavily forested unit spanning 377 square miles (241,229 acres) in Mason, Jefferson, and Grays Harbor counties. Terrain ranges from near sea-level river valley bottoms to alpine ridgelines. The Mount Skokomish Wilderness (13,015 acres, part of Olympic NF) encompasses the unit's highest elevations, with peaks including Mt. Stone (6,612 ft), Mt. Skokomish (6,434 ft), Henderson (6,000 ft), Pershing (6,154 ft), and Washington (6,255 ft). Capitol, Chapel, Lightning, Rock, Discovery, and Three Peaks in the southern portion all exceed 4,000 ft. Lower elevation terrain consists of river valleys — South Fork Skokomish, North Fork Skokomish, and upper Wynoochee — with associated floodplain benches. Mid-elevations are characterized by steep forested slopes with logging history on private timberlands. Barren ridges and rock outcrops exist in the high-elevation wilderness portion.

USFS (Olympic National Forest) covers the upper elevations and the Wynoochee/Skokomish river valley headwaters — roughly 55-56% of the unit is public land. Green Diamond Resource Company is the dominant private timberland owner, particularly in lower-elevation areas around Matlock and the lower South Fork Skokomish; a Green Diamond access permit is required for hunting those sections and is strongly recommended for hunting near Matlock. Green Diamond opens some areas to motorized access September through December; some areas are non-motorized only. The company has been expanding permit requirements — hunters should check the Green Diamond website before each trip. Fire danger and active logging operations can delay gate openings. USFS areas are generally open for vehicle access year-round, though USFS prohibits motorized access in some areas during winter to reduce wildlife disturbance. DNR manages scattered parcels. Lake Cushman (North Fork Skokomish arm) provides a major access point on the east side of the unit. Lake Wynoochee provides access to the western Wynoochee valley. Trailheads into the Mount Skokomish Wilderness include Mildred Lakes Trail #822 (4.5 mi, 2,100-ft gain), Mt. Rose Trail #814 (4.8 mi), Putvin Trail #813 (3.0 mi to park boundary), and Mt. Ellinor Trail #812 (3.1 mi). Highway 101 forms the eastern and southern corridor; FR roads off Skokomish Valley Road and Wynoochee Valley Road penetrate the interior.

The most hunted landscape is industrial timberland — multi-aged forests of Douglas-fir and red alder in various clearcut regeneration stages. Habitat value for deer and elk is highest in stands 5-10 years post-clearcut (abundant forage, good visibility), declines in mid-seral 20-40 year-old stands (closed canopy, low forage), and recovers in stands >50 years old with improved understory. Old-growth Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar dominate USFS lower slopes; subalpine fir and western white pine appear at upper elevations; alpine vegetation occupies the highest terrain in the Mount Skokomish Wilderness. Riparian corridors along the South Fork Skokomish and Wynoochee rivers provide year-round forage and movement corridors. Private Green Diamond lands are heavily clearcut and in multiple regeneration stages. The Olympic National Forest foothill zone is noted for huckleberry patches at higher elevations that attract bears in late summer and early fall.

Roosevelt elk in GMU 636 concentrate in three primary areas: (1) the upper Wynoochee River valley around Lake Wynoochee — this group migrates to higher elevations in summer and may be inaccessible during early-season archery hunts; (2) the South Fork Skokomish River valley; and (3) near Matlock on private timberlands. Elk around Matlock and the lower South Fork Skokomish are primarily non-migratory year-round residents. The Wynoochee group has documented seasonal movements into Olympic National Park. WDFW has also recorded cross-drainage movements from the upper Wynoochee as far south as WDFW forage fields along the Wynoochee River in GMU 648. Elk from adjacent GMU 621 occasionally winter in the North or South Fork Skokomish valleys. Tribal hunting occurs throughout the unit and often accounts for 50%+ of total elk harvest in District 15 (averaging approximately 4 elk per year from GMU 636 tribally); state hunters may encounter tribal hunters in the field. Non-hunting recreation pressure around Lake Wynoochee and the South Fork Skokomish can disturb elk during early archery seasons. Black bear densities in the USFS foothill portion of GMU 636 were measured at 12 bears per 100 sq km in a 2023 WDFW density survey; hunting higher-elevation huckleberry patches is recommended as a bear strategy.

Elk hunting is by special bull permit draw only — no general elk season exists for state hunters. Elk population is estimated at approximately 200 animals (2023 WDFW data), below management objectives. Treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD) is confirmed present in GMU 636's elk herd, causing above-average cow mortality, reduced calf productivity (averaging ~25 calves per 100 cows in recent springs), and a reduction in harvestable bulls in recent years. Tribal hunting under treaty rights occurs throughout the unit and adds significantly to total harvest pressure beyond what state permit numbers suggest — actual hunting competition is higher than the small state permit quota implies. Non-hunting recreation (hiking, camping around Lake Wynoochee and South Fork Skokomish) can displace elk during early archery seasons. The 2025 District 15 Hunting Prospects notes that bear BBMUs were reorganized statewide in 2025 though no changes were made to District 15 bear seasons. Mountain goat hunts in the Olympic Mountains have ended; WDFW removal programs have largely succeeded and no goat hunts are planned.