Washington Unit 117 Elk Hunting Guide

Washington Unit 117 is a general-season elk unit spanning 610,318 acres, with hunters pursuing both antlered and either-sex animals without needing to draw a limited-entry tag. For elk hunters researching this unit, the combination of general-season access and supplemental limited-quota opportunities makes Unit 117 worth a close look — but understanding exactly how the hunt structure works, and what the harvest numbers actually say about success, is critical before committing a season to this ground.

This is not a draw-only unit. General season hunts here cover antlered and either-sex elk, meaning hunters don't need to beat long odds just to get a tag in hand. On top of that baseline opportunity, Unit 117 also offers limited-quota draw hunts, though the sex designation for those specific permits isn't specified in the available data. That dual structure — broad general access layered with a smaller draw component — shapes nearly everything about how hunters should approach this unit.

Unit Overview: Terrain and Access

Unit 117 covers a wide elevation range, from 1,562 feet up to 6,839 feet, which tells hunters this is a unit with real vertical relief — from lower-elevation river and valley bottoms up into higher timbered and subalpine country. That kind of spread typically means elk have room to move seasonally within the unit itself, shifting between lower benches early and climbing into higher basins as conditions change through the fall.

Public land makes up 44% of the unit's 610,318 acres. That's just under half, which means the majority of this unit is privately held. Hunters planning a DIY approach need to recognize this up front: with public land sitting under the 45% threshold, access will be a real constraint, not a minor inconvenience. Scouting public parcels carefully, identifying legal access points onto public ground, and potentially pursuing permission on adjacent private land are all going to matter more here than in units with majority public ownership. There is no designated wilderness in Unit 117 (0%), so hunters won't be dealing with wilderness-specific access rules or pack-in-only terrain — most of the public ground here should be reachable without the logistical complexity that wilderness designations impose elsewhere.

Forum discussion around eastern Washington elk country consistently notes that terrain varies enormously across the region, and that generalizing about "eastern Washington elk hunting" without reference to a specific unit is of limited use. That's a fair caution — hunters should rely on the unit-specific numbers here rather than broad regional assumptions, and should expect a mix of accessible lower country and steeper, more demanding higher terrain within the same unit boundary.

Harvest Success Rates

Harvest data for Unit 117 is available across five recent seasons, and the pattern is consistent: this is a unit with moderate, fairly stable hunting pressure and modest success rates.

• 2025: 1,061 hunters, 66 harvested, 6% success
• 2024: 1,084 hunters, 85 harvested, 8% success
• 2023: 1,082 hunters, 65 harvested, 6% success
• 2022: 1,236 hunters, 90 harvested, 7% success
• 2021: 1,258 hunters, 80 harvested, 6% success

Across these five years, success rates have held in a narrow band between 6% and 8%, with hunter numbers gradually trending downward — from over 1,250 hunters afield in 2021 and 2022 to just over 1,000 in 2023 through 2025. Harvest totals have moved in step, ranging from 65 to 90 animals per year. This is a unit where success is earned, not handed out — a single-digit success rate year after year tells hunters this is pressured, general-season-style hunting where elk have learned to avoid easy encounters, and where putting in scouting time and understanding travel patterns matters more than simply showing up during the season.

It's worth noting this harvest data reflects unit totals rather than being broken out by specific hunt type, so hunters can't isolate how the limited-quota draw hunts performed versus the general season component. Still, the multi-year consistency — success rates clustering tightly around 6-8% — gives a realistic baseline for what to expect heading into this unit regardless of which path a hunter takes in.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 117 Worth Applying For?

Unit 117 occupies a reasonable middle ground for elk hunters. The presence of general-season opportunity means hunters aren't locked out of the unit by draw odds — residents and nonresidents alike can plan a hunt here without first winning a lottery, which is a meaningful advantage over many Western elk units that require years of point accumulation just to get a tag. For a hunter who wants a general-season option with a legitimate shot at an antlered or either-sex elk, Unit 117 delivers that access.

The tradeoff is pressure and success rate. A 6-8% success rate over five consecutive years is firmly in management-hunt territory rather than trophy-unit territory — this is a unit where most hunters who put in the time can expect a tough hunt with no guarantee of a harvest, and where the number of hunters afield (over 1,000 each year) signals real competition for elk and for access to the better pockets of public ground.

The land ownership picture reinforces that caution. With only 44% public land, DIY hunters are working with less than half the unit's acreage as a guaranteed access base. That's not a dealbreaker, but it does mean success in Unit 117 depends heavily on identifying which public parcels hold elk, securing any private-land access a hunter can arrange, and being realistic about how much of the unit is actually off-limits without permission.

Trophy data is not available for this unit, so no qualitative trophy assessment can be made. Hunters focused primarily on trophy potential should treat that as an open question rather than assume either strong or weak antler quality — the data simply isn't there to support a claim either way.

Taken together, Unit 117 is best suited to hunters who value general-season accessibility and are willing to put in real scouting and access-finding effort, rather than hunters chasing a sure thing or a trophy-caliber bull. It's a legitimate option worth considering, particularly for residents who can scout repeatedly across seasons, but it should be approached with realistic expectations set by the harvest numbers above.

How to Apply

Washington's elk hunting structure in Unit 117 combines two distinct paths, and hunters need to understand which one applies to their goals.

General season hunts in Unit 117 are available without a draw — hunters purchase the appropriate license and tag and can hunt antlered or either-sex elk during the general season framework. This is the primary access route for most hunters and does not require winning a lottery.

Limited-quota hunts in Unit 117 operate through Washington's draw system and require a separate application. The sex designation for these specific permits isn't detailed in the available data, so hunters interested in this option should confirm current details before applying.

Washington's draw system does not use the preference-point or bonus-point mechanics found in many other Western states — there are no points to accumulate or bank in advance. Residents and nonresidents apply under the same general lottery-style framework for limited-quota hunts, though nonresidents should note that Washington requires purchasing the appropriate tag in order to apply for special permit hunts, which is a cost consideration distinct from the application itself.

Because application structures, license requirements, and any quota details can shift between cycles, hunters should not rely on secondhand or outdated information when planning. For current application details, structure, and any quota information specific to Unit 117, see HuntPilot's Washington state page at /states/WA, which reflects the live, current-cycle information rather than historical assumptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Washington Unit 117? Unit 117 spans a wide elevation range from 1,562 feet to 6,839 feet, indicating significant vertical relief within the unit — likely encompassing lower valley and foothill terrain up through higher timbered and subalpine country. Beyond elevation, specific terrain features (drainages, vegetation types, slope character) aren't detailed in the available data, so hunters should use mapping tools to study the public-land parcels directly before heading out.

What is harvest success in Unit 117? Harvest success has ranged from 6% to 8% over the five most recent reported seasons (2021-2025), with annual harvest totals between 65 and 90 elk and hunter participation between roughly 1,060 and 1,260 hunters per year. This is a consistently modest success rate typical of a pressured general-season unit, not a unit where elk are easy to come by.

How big are the elk in Unit 117? Trophy data is not available for this unit. There's no record-book entry information in the available data to support a qualitative assessment of antler size or trophy potential, so hunters shouldn't assume either strong or weak trophy quality based on unverified claims — plan around the harvest and access data that does exist instead.

Is Unit 117 worth applying for? It depends on what a hunter is after. For elk hunters who want general-season access without needing to win a draw, Unit 117 offers that directly, backed by five years of consistent (if modest) harvest data. For hunters specifically chasing high success rates or proven trophy quality, the data here doesn't support strong claims in either direction — success rates sit in the single digits, and trophy information simply isn't available. It's a reasonable unit for hunters willing to scout hard and work the 44% public land base, but not a unit to bank a once-in-a-lifetime trophy hunt on without more information.

Is Unit 117 mostly public or private land? Public land makes up 44% of the unit's 610,318 total acres, meaning the majority of Unit 117 is privately owned. DIY hunters should plan around limited public access, prioritize identifying legal entry points onto the public parcels that do exist, and consider private-land permission as part of a realistic access strategy rather than relying solely on public ground.