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GMU 663 Capitol Peak Hunting, Washington

GMU 663 (Capitol Peak): 71% public land, habitat grade B, elk ★★★★☆, 209 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

B
Grade B — mean HuntScore 53/100 averaged across public open-access land · 826 habitat cells · 209 mi²
A+ 1%A 0%B+ 3%B 38%C+ 57%

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
★★★☆☆
56/100 habitat
Elk
★★★★☆
73/100 habitat
Waterfowl
★★☆☆☆
31/100 habitat
Turkey
★★★☆☆
52/100 habitat
Black Bear
★★★★☆
74/100 habitat
Wild Boar
★★★☆☆
52/100 habitat

Public land & access

71% of GMU 663 is public land; 68% is public and open-access.

Almost entirely WA DNR ground — the Capitol State Forest — an unusually accessible, close-to-town public unit southwest of Olympia.

WA DNR 567 cellsCounty 7 cellsUS Fish & Wildlife 5 cellsWDFW 2 cellsPrivate conservation 2 cells
open access: 563unknown access: 249restricted access: 12no public access: 2

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 663 (Capitol Peak) is the Capitol State Forest southwest of Olympia — a large, almost entirely DNR-managed working forest that's popular precisely because it's public and close to I-5. It holds Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer in a cut-and-timber mosaic; hunt the regrowth edges against standing timber and expect company near the road system. Confirm general spike and permit seasons, and DNR access rules, with WDFW.

Scout the best spots in this unit

The highest-scoring public open-access habitat cells in GMU 663. Open any one in HuntVantage to see its live score and per-species breakdown.

A+
Score 76/10047.0018, -123.2755
A+
Score 75/10046.8512, -123.0626
A+
Score 72/10046.8636, -123.2526
A+
Score 72/10046.9213, -123.2997
A+
Score 72/10046.8686, -123.2607

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 663 (Capitol Peak) is public land?
About 71% of GMU 663 is public land, and 68% is public and open-access, managed mainly by the WA DNR.
What can you hunt in GMU 663?
By habitat, the unit rates best for elk (4/5), deer (3/5). Its overall habitat grade is B (mean HuntScore 53/100 across public open-access land).
Is GMU 663 good for elk hunting?
HuntVantage rates elk habitat in GMU 663 at 4/5 (73/100). That's a habitat model — scout the higher-scoring cells and verify seasons with WDFW.
What season is GMU 663?
General + draw permits. Always confirm current seasons, weapon choices, and permit requirements in the WDFW regulations before hunting.