GMU 516 Packwood Hunting, Washington
GMU 516 (Packwood): 93% public land, habitat grade C+, elk ★★★★☆, 537 mi².
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
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.
Public land & access
93% of GMU 516 is public land; 93% is public and open-access.
Entirely national forest — Gifford Pinchot National Forest in the Cowlitz River country between Mount Rainier and the Goat Rocks.
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 516 (Packwood) surrounds Packwood and the upper Cowlitz between Rainier and the Goat Rocks Wilderness — all national forest, high and heavily timbered. It's backcountry elk and blacktail country: hunt the timber edges, old cuts, and the benches below the wilderness, and work well off the road system. Confirm general spike and any permit seasons with WDFW.
Scout the best spots in this unit
The highest-scoring public open-access habitat cells in GMU 516. Open any one in HuntVantage to see its live score and per-species breakdown.
Nearby units & guides
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov · wdfw.wa.gov · geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov. HuntVantage habitat grades are independent of WDFW.