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GMU 501 Lincoln Hunting, Washington

GMU 501 (Lincoln): 22% public land, habitat grade B, deer ★★★★☆, 235 mi².

DeerElkLimited Public Land
A+
Best public habitat: 73 / 100 Top public open-access cell in the unit
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HuntVantage habitat grade

B
Grade B — mean HuntScore 55/100 averaged across public open-access land · 924 habitat cells · 235 mi²
A+ 0%A 4%B+ 12%B 47%C+ 36%

Grade distribution of the habitat cells inside the unit — higher-scoring cells are the pockets worth scouting first. HuntVantage weighs cover, water, food, hunting pressure, and habitat diversity from public land-cover and land-ownership data.

Per-species ratings

Overall grade measures general habitat; these species ratings re-weight the same factors for each animal’s needs — the number that matters for a species-specific hunt.

Deer
★★★★☆
59/100 habitat
Elk
★★★★☆
74/100 habitat
Waterfowl
★★☆☆☆
36/100 habitat
Turkey
★★★☆☆
54/100 habitat
Black Bear
★★★★☆
76/100 habitat
Wild Boar
★★★☆☆
54/100 habitat

Public land & access

22% of GMU 501 is public land; 22% is public and open-access.

Mostly private timberland with the public ground in scattered WA DNR blocks — only about a fifth of the unit is public, so this is an access-first hunt in the Willapa-Hills country.

WA DNR 198 cellsCity 3 cellsState Parks 2 cells
unknown access: 721open access: 203

Ownership from PAD-US; a cell is one ~0.46 km habitat hexagon. Verify boundaries and access on the ground — inholdings and seasonal closures aren’t shown here.

Hunting prospects

General season

GMU 501 (Lincoln) covers the Lincoln Creek country between Rochester and Oakville in southwest Washington — low, timbered Willapa-Hills ground that holds strong black-tailed deer numbers and some elk, but much of it is private industrial timber. Focus scouting on the DNR blocks and any timber-company ground open under permit, and hunt the cut-and-timber edges. Sort access first, then confirm seasons with WDFW.

Scout the best spots in this unit

The highest-scoring public open-access habitat cells in GMU 501. Open any one in HuntVantage to see its live score and per-species breakdown.

A+
Score 73/10046.7075, -123.1552
A
Score 70/10046.7832, -123.0610
A
Score 70/10046.7504, -123.1163
A
Score 68/10046.7983, -123.1779
A
Score 68/10046.8033, -123.1860

Nearby units & guides

Sources: wdfw.wa.gov · wdfw.wa.gov · geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov. HuntVantage habitat grades are independent of WDFW.

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Frequently asked questions

How much of GMU 501 (Lincoln) is public land?
About 22% of GMU 501 is public land, and 22% is public and open-access, managed mainly by the WA DNR.
What can you hunt in GMU 501?
By habitat, the unit rates best for deer (4/5), elk (4/5). Its overall habitat grade is B (mean HuntScore 55/100 across public open-access land).
Is GMU 501 good for deer hunting?
HuntVantage rates deer habitat in GMU 501 at 4/5 (59/100). That's a habitat model — scout the higher-scoring cells and verify seasons with WDFW.
What season is GMU 501?
General season. Always confirm current seasons, weapon choices, and permit requirements in the WDFW regulations before hunting.