States / WA / GMU 658 - North River

GMU 658 - North River, Washington

Game found here

Black-tailed DeerRoosevelt ElkBlack Bear

Region 6See on map →0 questions

Unit info

Game species: Black-tailed Deer, Roosevelt Elk, Black Bear
Group: Region 6
Area: N/A
Public land: 5%

Black Bear — season & harvest

Tag type: Over-the-counter — no special permit required for GMU 658
Reported harvest: Not separately reported for GMU 658
General season: August 15 - November 15, 2026

Hunting notes

Focus on late-summer clearcut berry patches (August-September) where bears concentrate on blackberries, salmonberries, and huckleberries. Spot-and-stalk in early morning on clearcut openings. October bear hunting coincides with deer/elk seasons offering combo opportunity. Bait and hounds are prohibited statewide.

Draw odds for Black Beararen't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.

Roosevelt Elk — season & harvest

Tag type: General over-the-counter (3-point minimum bull); Limited entry antlerless — Hunt 2296 (muzzleloader); Limited entry youth antlerless — Hunt 2434 (rifle)
Reported harvest: ~46 bulls reported in 2021
Archery season: September 12-24, 2026 (3-point minimum)
General season: November 7-18, 2026 (3-point minimum)
Muzzleloader season: October 3-9, 2026 (3-point minimum); also November 25 - December 15 late season

Hunting notes

Elk hunting here is almost entirely a private-land access game. Elk utilize clearcut feeding areas and move through drainages connecting timber blocks. Bugling during rut (early September) can locate bulls but dense cover makes calling difficult. November general season aligns with post-rut elk regrouping on lower-elevation timbered flats. The antlerless special permit hunt (late November muzzleloader) offers a guaranteed draw pathway if drawn.

Draw odds for Roosevelt Elkaren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.

Black-tailed Deer — season & harvest

Tag type: General over-the-counter tag (any buck); antlerless by special permit only
Reported harvest: Moderate; harvest rates described as not extremely high
Archery season: September 1-25, 2026 (any buck)
General season: October 17 - November 1, 2026 (any buck)
Muzzleloader season: September 26 - October 4, 2026 (any buck)

Hunting notes

Hunt clearcut edges and old-growth pockets in ravines at dawn and dusk. Secure private timber company land access before season opens — the vast majority of the unit is private. Still-hunting through dense brush corridors connecting clearcut blocks is productive during the rut (October-November). Focus on transition zones between young (<5 year) clearcuts and adjacent 10-15 year timber.

Draw odds for Black-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.

About this unit

AI-compiled · sourced

GMU 658 (North River) is a 263-square-mile coastal unit in Pacific and Grays Harbor counties, bounded by Grays Harbor to the north, Willapa Bay and the Pacific Ocean to the west, and US-101/Raymond to the south. The unit is dominated by private timber company land (~86-95% private), producing modest but consistent black-tailed deer and Roosevelt elk hunting in heavily logged, regenerating conifer forest interspersed with wet drainages. Securing private land permission is the single greatest factor determining hunting success here, as public access is extremely limited.

Terrain & elevation

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Access & public land

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Vegetation & habitat

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Notes

This is a predominantly private-land unit where hunter success hinges almost entirely on securing permission from timber companies or private landowners. The unit is not a high-draw or trophy-quality destination — it is a numbers unit for hunters willing to work the private land puzzle. HuntScore rates opportunity at 2/100 and draw difficulty at 10/100, reflecting the limited access and limited-entry tag scarcity. Elk harvest in 2021 was approximately 46 bulls reported for the unit. The Grays Harbor and Pacific County coastal firearm restriction zones require hunters to use bows, muzzleloaders, or shotguns in those specific corridors even during modern firearm seasons.

Sources

Species guides

Black Bear →

Questions, tips & discussion

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Boundaries: WDFW official Game Management Units. Community info last updated 24d ago.