WDFW clarifies elk-hunt boundaries in Olympic area

OLYMPIA - Hunters who plan to apply for a special elk-hunting permit in the Olympic Game Management Unit (GMU) on the east side of Olympic National Park should be aware of an error in the state big game hunting rules pamphlet that could affect their decision.

Jack Smith, regional wildlife manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said the boundary description for the "Olympic A" modern-firearms elk hunt in GMU 621 omits an important caveat: Permits for that area do not allow hunting in Elk Area 6071.

Hunting in Elk Area 6071, which is contained within GMU 621 near Sequim, requires a different special permit, Smith said.

"We want to make sure people understand that if they want to hunt in Elk Area 6071, they should apply for a permit for that area, not GMU 621," Smith said. "Hunters who receive a permit for the `Olympic A' elk hunt will be notified that it does not apply in Elk Area 6071. Meanwhile, we want to let people know now what their options are."

Boundary descriptions for other elk hunts in GMU 621 are correctly stated in WDFW's Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet, and the omission in the "Olympic A" hunt has been corrected on the department's website, Smith said.

WDFW is accepting applications for all special big-game hunting permits for the 2004-05 season through June 20.