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GMU 513 South Rainier Hunting, Washington

GMU 513 (South Rainier): 93% public land, habitat grade C+, elk ★★★★☆, 241 mi².

ElkDeerPublic Land
A+
Best public habitat: 74 / 100 Top public open-access cell in the unit
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Tap anywhere on the map to move the pin, then hit Analyze to open that exact spot in HuntVantage for a live 0–100 score with per-species ratings.

HuntVantage habitat grade

C+
Grade C+ — mean HuntScore 51/100 averaged across public open-access land · 933 habitat cells · 241 mi²
A+ 1%A 2%B+ 4%B 9%C+ 84%C 0%

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
★★★☆☆
54/100 habitat
Elk
★★★★☆
74/100 habitat
Waterfowl
★★☆☆☆
29/100 habitat
Turkey
★★★☆☆
48/100 habitat
Black Bear
★★★★☆
75/100 habitat
Wild Boar
★★★☆☆
51/100 habitat

Public land & access

93% of GMU 513 is public land; 93% is public and open-access.

Almost entirely national forest — Gifford Pinchot National Forest on the south and east flanks of Mount Rainier.

US Forest Service 858 cellsWA DNR 6 cellsCity 3 cellsState Parks 1 cells
open access: 868unknown access: 65

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 + draw permits

GMU 513 (South Rainier) covers Gifford Pinchot National Forest country south of Mount Rainier — high, timbered Cascades holding elk and black-tailed deer. Hunt the timber-and-meadow edges and old burns and get off the roads into the basins and roadless benches. Elk mix general spike with permit hunts — confirm current WDFW seasons before hunting.

Scout the best spots in this unit

The highest-scoring public open-access habitat cells in GMU 513. Open any one in HuntVantage to see its live score and per-species breakdown.

A+
Score 74/10046.7451, -121.9719
A+
Score 74/10046.7475, -121.9604
A+
Score 74/10046.7261, -121.4390
A+
Score 73/10046.7324, -121.9672
A+
Score 73/10046.7500, -121.9490

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 513 (South Rainier) is public land?
About 93% of GMU 513 is public land, and 93% is public and open-access, managed mainly by the US Forest Service.
What can you hunt in GMU 513?
By habitat, the unit rates best for elk (4/5), deer (3/5). Its overall habitat grade is C+ (mean HuntScore 51/100 across public open-access land).
Is GMU 513 good for elk hunting?
HuntVantage rates elk habitat in GMU 513 at 4/5 (74/100). That's a habitat model — scout the higher-scoring cells and verify seasons with WDFW.
What season is GMU 513?
General + draw permits. Always confirm current seasons, weapon choices, and permit requirements in the WDFW regulations before hunting.