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GMU 574 Wind River Hunting, Washington

GMU 574 (Wind River): 82% public land, habitat grade C+, elk ★★★★☆, 279 mi².

ElkDeerPublic Land
A+
Best public habitat: 73 / 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 50/100 averaged across public open-access land · 1065 habitat cells · 279 mi²
A+ 1%A 0%B+ 2%B 8%C+ 88%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
★★★☆☆
53/100 habitat
Elk
★★★★☆
70/100 habitat
Waterfowl
★★☆☆☆
29/100 habitat
Turkey
★★★☆☆
48/100 habitat
Black Bear
★★★★☆
72/100 habitat
Wild Boar
★★★☆☆
50/100 habitat

Public land & access

82% of GMU 574 is public land; 75% is public and open-access.

Largely public — Gifford Pinchot National Forest with WA DNR blocks — up the Wind River drainage north of the Columbia Gorge.

US Forest Service 672 cellsWA DNR 174 cellsUS Army Corps of Engineers 22 cellsUS Fish & Wildlife 4 cellsCounty 1 cells
open access: 794unknown access: 192restricted access: 79

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 574 (Wind River) follows the Wind River north from Carson and the Columbia Gorge into the Gifford Pinchot — national forest and DNR country carrying elk and black-tailed deer. Hunt the timber-and-opening edges and the benches above the river, and work quieter ground as pressure builds. Verify current seasons with WDFW.

Scout the best spots in this unit

The highest-scoring public open-access habitat cells in GMU 574. Open any one in HuntVantage to see its live score and per-species breakdown.

A+
Score 73/10045.7140, -121.6631
A+
Score 73/10045.7092, -121.6858
A+
Score 72/10045.7020, -121.7199
A+
Score 72/10045.7077, -121.7586
A+
Score 72/10045.7068, -121.6972

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 574 (Wind River) is public land?
About 82% of GMU 574 is public land, and 75% is public and open-access, managed mainly by the US Forest Service.
What can you hunt in GMU 574?
By habitat, the unit rates best for elk (4/5), deer (3/5). Its overall habitat grade is C+ (mean HuntScore 50/100 across public open-access land).
Is GMU 574 good for elk hunting?
HuntVantage rates elk habitat in GMU 574 at 4/5 (70/100). That's a habitat model — scout the higher-scoring cells and verify seasons with WDFW.
What season is GMU 574?
General + draw permits. Always confirm current seasons, weapon choices, and permit requirements in the WDFW regulations before hunting.