Significant Game Management Unit (GMU) Boundary Changes for 2003

There are 137 Game Management Units (GMUs) described in the Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules Pamphlet for 2003. The 2003 pamphlet shows that all the GMUs were changed because of they are all shown in red. Not so!

Changes were made in 2003 to aid the hunter in locating GMU boundaries by using physical characteristics that area more easily identifiable such as rivers, roads, trails, etc. rather than unmarked political boundaries. In most cases the boundary descriptions were corrected or modified to accurately describe the outer boundaries of the GMU but did not significantly change the size or shape of the unit. However, there are a few exceptions that hunters need to be aware of as follows.

GMUs 108 (Douglas) and 111 (Aladdin) are two new units created from the larger unit described as GMU 109 (Three Forks) in previous years.

The common boundary between GMU 121 (Huckleberry) and GMU 117 (49 Degrees North) was changed to US Hwy 395 between Chewelah and Loon Lake.

The following GMUs in eastern Washington have changed because the county line is no longer used as the boundary; 127 (Mica Peak), 139 (Cheney), 136 (Harrington), 178 (Wahluke), 284 (Ritzville formerly Kahlotus), 139 (Whitman), and 382 (East Klickitat).

The boundary between GMU 340 (Menastash) and 371 (Alkali) was changed from the Yakima River to Interstate Highway 82.

GMUs 245 (Chiwawa) southern boundary was changed to follow US Highway 2 between Leavenworth and SR 207. This area was formerly in GMU 250.

GMU 250 (Swakane) was significantly reduced in size when the west boundary was relocated on SR 209 (Chumstick Hwy) from Ellensburg north to Eagle Creek Road.

In GMU 251 (Mission) the north boundary was changed to US Highway 2 from the US Forest Service Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest Trail) to the Columbia River, which added lands previously described as part of GMU 250 (Swakane).

GMU 503 (Randle) is a new unit created from GMU 505 (Mossyrock).

The GMU 530 (Ryderwood) was expanded to include lands south and west of SR4, Risk Rd and Foster Rd between the Skamokawa and Elochoman rivers.

GMU 516 (Packwood) was significantly enlarged with the entire southern and western boundary description changed.

GMUs 558 (Marble) and 560 (Lewis River) northern boundaries were changed to form the new GMU 516 (Packwood) unit.

The common boundary between GMU 520 (Winston) and 556 (Toutle) was moved south from SR 504 to the Weyerhaeuser 2400, 2421, 4400 lines and Johnson Creek.

GMU 550 (Coweeman) western boundary from Ariel on the Lewis River to Ostrander now follows the Northwest Natural Gas Pipeline and the power transmission line from the Lewis River to Section 4, T5N, R2E.

A slight change was made in GMU 504 (Stella) extending the boundary north of Dellameter Road and east of the power line west of the town of Castle Rock.

The southern boundary of GMU 554 (Yale) was changed to include Green Mountain south of Lake Merwin.

The common boundary between GMU 564 (Battle Ground) and 568 (Washougal) has changed significantly to address the urban/suburban interface.