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GMU 618 Matheny Hunting, Washington

GMU 618 (Matheny): 99% public land, habitat grade C+, elk ★★★★☆, 97 mi².

ElkDeerPublic Land
A+
Best public habitat: 75 / 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 · 390 habitat cells · 97 mi²
A+ 0%A 0%B+ 3%B 8%C+ 88%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
★★★☆☆
53/100 habitat
Elk
★★★★☆
72/100 habitat
Waterfowl
★★☆☆☆
27/100 habitat
Turkey
★★★☆☆
48/100 habitat
Black Bear
★★★★☆
74/100 habitat
Wild Boar
★★★☆☆
50/100 habitat

Public land & access

99% of GMU 618 is public land; 99% is public and open-access.

Nearly all public — Olympic National Forest with WA DNR ground — in the Matheny Creek country of the west Olympics.

US Forest Service 311 cellsWA DNR 74 cellsNational Park Service (no hunting) 1 cells
open access: 386unknown access: 4

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 618 (Matheny) is a compact, almost entirely public unit up Matheny Creek on the west side of the Olympics near the Queets — Olympic National Forest and DNR timberland holding Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer. Hunt the cut-and-rainforest edges and the creek benches. Roosevelt elk mix general spike with permits — verify current seasons with WDFW.

Scout the best spots in this unit

The highest-scoring public open-access habitat cells in GMU 618. Open any one in HuntVantage to see its live score and per-species breakdown.

A+
Score 75/10047.5628, -124.1247
A+
Score 73/10047.5707, -124.0906
A
Score 68/10047.5651, -124.1442
B+
Score 65/10047.5580, -124.1165
B+
Score 64/10047.5681, -124.1019

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 618 (Matheny) is public land?
About 99% of GMU 618 is public land, and 99% is public and open-access, managed mainly by the US Forest Service.
What can you hunt in GMU 618?
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 618 good for elk hunting?
HuntVantage rates elk habitat in GMU 618 at 4/5 (72/100). That's a habitat model — scout the higher-scoring cells and verify seasons with WDFW.
What season is GMU 618?
General + draw permits. Always confirm current seasons, weapon choices, and permit requirements in the WDFW regulations before hunting.