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GMU 568 Washougal Hunting, Washington

GMU 568 (Washougal): 60% public land, habitat grade C+, elk ★★★★☆, 420 mi².

ElkDeerPublic Land
A
Best public habitat: 71 / 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 52/100 averaged across public open-access land · 1605 habitat cells · 420 mi²
A 1%B+ 2%B 30%C+ 64%C 1%D 1%

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
★★★☆☆
55/100 habitat
Elk
★★★★☆
73/100 habitat
Waterfowl
★★☆☆☆
30/100 habitat
Turkey
★★★☆☆
51/100 habitat
Black Bear
★★★★☆
74/100 habitat
Wild Boar
★★★☆☆
52/100 habitat

Public land & access

60% of GMU 568 is public land; 50% is public and open-access.

A roughly even split of WA DNR (the Yacolt Burn state forest) and Gifford Pinchot National Forest — mostly public, but check ownership near the private-timber edges.

WA DNR 532 cellsUS Forest Service 389 cellsState Parks 26 cellsUS Army Corps of Engineers 12 cellsUS Fish & Wildlife 7 cells
open access: 797unknown access: 637restricted access: 171

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 568 (Washougal) covers the Washougal River and Yacolt Burn state-forest country northeast of Vancouver — DNR and national-forest land holding elk and black-tailed deer in a cut-and-regrowth mosaic. Hunt the edges between recent cuts and standing timber and the river benches. Confirm general spike and permit seasons, and any DNR access rules, with WDFW.

Scout the best spots in this unit

The highest-scoring public open-access habitat cells in GMU 568. Open any one in HuntVantage to see its live score and per-species breakdown.

A
Score 71/10045.6046, -122.1118
A
Score 71/10045.6293, -122.0293
A
Score 70/10045.6317, -122.0180
A
Score 70/10045.6071, -122.1005
A
Score 70/10045.5998, -122.1344

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 568 (Washougal) is public land?
About 60% of GMU 568 is public land, and 50% is public and open-access, managed mainly by the WA DNR.
What can you hunt in GMU 568?
By habitat, the unit rates best for elk (4/5), deer (3/5). Its overall habitat grade is C+ (mean HuntScore 52/100 across public open-access land).
Is GMU 568 good for elk hunting?
HuntVantage rates elk habitat in GMU 568 at 4/5 (73/100). That's a habitat model — scout the higher-scoring cells and verify seasons with WDFW.
What season is GMU 568?
General + draw permits. Always confirm current seasons, weapon choices, and permit requirements in the WDFW regulations before hunting.