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GMU 615 Clearwater Hunting, Washington

GMU 615 (Clearwater): 78% public land, habitat grade C+, elk ★★★★☆, 321 mi².

ElkDeerPublic Land
A+
Best public habitat: 76 / 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 · 1301 habitat cells · 321 mi²
A+ 2%A 3%B+ 6%B 19%C+ 70%C 0%D 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
★★★☆☆
55/100 habitat
Elk
★★★★☆
73/100 habitat
Waterfowl
★★☆☆☆
32/100 habitat
Turkey
★★★☆☆
50/100 habitat
Black Bear
★★★★☆
74/100 habitat
Wild Boar
★★★☆☆
52/100 habitat

Public land & access

78% of GMU 615 is public land; 70% is public and open-access.

Mostly DNR ground — the Olympic Experimental State Forest — with a conservation (NGO) block and small national-forest and Park Service edges; largely public but working timberland.

WA DNR 909 cellsPrivate conservation 87 cellsUS Forest Service 16 cellsNational Park Service (no hunting) 1 cells
open access: 913unknown access: 288restricted access: 75no public access: 25

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 615 (Clearwater) covers the Clearwater/Queets country on the west Olympic Peninsula — DNR state forest and timberland that carries Roosevelt elk in the cut-and-rainforest mosaic. Hunt the edges of recent cuts against standing timber and the river benches. Roosevelt elk here mix general spike with permit hunts — verify current 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 615. Open any one in HuntVantage to see its live score and per-species breakdown.

A+
Score 76/10047.8786, -124.2475
A+
Score 76/10047.8025, -123.9918
A+
Score 76/10047.8156, -124.1406
A+
Score 75/10047.8100, -124.1944
A+
Score 75/10047.8751, -124.3208

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 615 (Clearwater) is public land?
About 78% of GMU 615 is public land, and 70% is public and open-access, managed mainly by the WA DNR.
What can you hunt in GMU 615?
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 615 good for elk hunting?
HuntVantage rates elk habitat in GMU 615 at 4/5 (73/100). That's a habitat model — scout the higher-scoring cells and verify seasons with WDFW.
What season is GMU 615?
General + draw permits. Always confirm current seasons, weapon choices, and permit requirements in the WDFW regulations before hunting.