Washington Unit 328 Mule Deer Hunting Guide
Washington Unit 328 sits in the mule deer country of the state's eastern region, spanning 169,159 acres with an elevation range of 1,636 to 6,860 feet. For hunters researching mule deer opportunities in this part of Washington, Unit 328 offers a general season structure combined with limited-quota draw options, backed by a public land base that covers 73% of the unit — a significant advantage for hunters planning a do-it-yourself hunt. This article breaks down what the data actually shows about harvest trends, tag quotas, and access, so hunters can make an informed call on whether this unit deserves a spot on their season plan.
Unit 328 is not a draw-only proposition. General season hunts here include antlered and either-sex opportunities, meaning hunters don't need to win a lottery just to get a crack at a buck. Layered on top of that general framework are several limited-quota draw hunts, which typically offer a different experience — often less pressure, sometimes extended opportunity — for those who want to apply and are willing to compete for a more controlled tag. Understanding which path leads to which opportunity is the first step in deciding how to hunt this unit.
HuntPilot Analysis
Is Unit 328 worth hunting? The honest answer, based on the data pulled together on HuntPilot, is that it's a solid general-season option for hunters who value access and consistency over trophy potential or inflated success rates.
Harvest numbers from 2021 through 2025 show remarkable consistency. Success rates have held in a narrow band — 9% in 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2021, with a dip to 6% in 2022. Hunter numbers have ranged from 929 to 1,165 annually, and harvest totals have tracked right alongside, from 62 animals in 2022 up to 108 in 2021. This is not a unit defined by wild swings; it's a unit that produces a steady, modest success rate year after year. That consistency is valuable information in itself — hunters can walk in with realistic expectations rather than guessing based on a single good or bad year.
The limited-quota hunts tell a more nuanced story. SP-1038 has held fairly steady, moving from 15 tags in 2024 and 2025 up to 16 in 2026 — a modest 7% increase that suggests stable management rather than a unit under either expansion or contraction pressure. SP-1082, on the other hand, saw a 20% cut, dropping from 5 tags in 2024 to 4 in 2025, which hunters applying for that specific hunt should note as a sign of tightening opportunity. SP-1096 has remained flat at a single tag across both years recorded — an extremely limited draw that functions essentially as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for whoever draws it.
With 73% of the unit in public ownership, access is not the limiting factor here that it is in many Washington units with heavier private land concentrations. That public land base, combined with a wide elevation spread from valley floor to over 6,800 feet, gives hunters room to work through different terrain types and elevation bands as the season progresses and conditions change.
Where this unit does not stand out is trophy potential. The counties overlapping Unit 328 carry a limited history of trophy-class record entries, and that should factor into expectations. This is a unit better suited to hunters prioritizing opportunity, access, and a fair shot at harvesting a mule deer — not a destination for hunters specifically chasing record-book genetics.
Harvest Success Rates
The five-year harvest record for Unit 328 is one of the most consistent data sets a hunter will find in this region. Here's the breakdown:
- 2025: 1,056 hunters, 90 harvested, 9% success
- 2024: 929 hunters, 88 harvested, 9% success
- 2023: 993 hunters, 92 harvested, 9% success
- 2022: 960 hunters, 62 harvested, 6% success
- 2021: 1,165 hunters, 108 harvested, 9% success
Four of the last five years have landed at exactly 9% success, with only 2022 breaking the pattern at 6%. That dip coincided with a drop in harvest numbers (62 animals) despite hunter effort staying within the normal range (960 hunters), suggesting a tougher year for deer movement, weather, or herd conditions rather than a collapse in hunter participation.
For context, hunter numbers have fluctuated between roughly 930 and 1,165 across the five-year window, without a clear upward or downward trend. This tells hunters two things: first, that Unit 328 maintains a stable and sizable hunter base year after year, and second, that success rates in the single digits are the norm here, not the exception. Hunters should plan accordingly — this is a unit where effort, scouting, and persistence matter more than luck on a crowded opening weekend.
Trophy Quality
Trophy data for the counties overlapping Unit 328 shows a limited history of record-book entries. This points to limited trophy potential in the traditional sense — hunters should not expect this unit to be a producer of record-class bucks with any regularity.
That said, a thin trophy record doesn't mean the unit lacks mature deer; record-book entries represent a very small slice of the animals actually harvested in any given area, and plenty of solid, mature bucks are taken every year without ever being scored or entered into any record system. For hunters whose primary goal is filling a tag with a representative Washington mule deer rather than chasing a wall-hanger, the thin trophy record shouldn't be a deal-breaker. For hunters specifically hunting for score, Unit 328 is not the unit the data supports prioritizing.
Access & Terrain
Unit 328 covers 169,159 acres with an elevation range running from 1,636 feet up to 6,860 feet — a substantial vertical spread that gives hunters options depending on season timing, weather, and deer movement patterns. Lower elevations likely hold deer earlier and later in the season, while the higher country above 6,000 feet offers classic mule deer summer and early-fall habitat before animals begin shifting with weather changes.
Public land makes up 73% of the unit, which is a strong number for DIY-minded hunters. With no wilderness acreage recorded in this unit, hunters won't face the additional complexity of wilderness travel restrictions — road and trail access into the general public land base should be more straightforward than in units with significant wilderness designations. That combination — majority public ownership and zero wilderness acreage — makes Unit 328 a relatively approachable unit logistically, even for hunters unfamiliar with the area.
Hunters researching this unit should use mapping tools to identify public land boundaries and elevation bands before the season, since the terrain spread from valley bottom to subalpine ridge means scouting one elevation zone won't tell the whole story. HuntPilot's public land overlays and terrain tools are built for exactly this kind of pre-season homework — identifying where public access intersects with the elevation and terrain features worth glassing.
How to Apply
Unit 328 operates on a dual structure: a general season that covers antlered and either-sex mule deer, meaning hunters can participate without needing to draw a special tag, and a set of limited-quota draw hunts (SP-1038, SP-1082, SP-1096) layered on top for those seeking a more controlled-tag experience.
For the general season, eligible hunters — resident or nonresident — typically purchase an over-the-counter license and applicable tags directly, without entering a draw. This is the most accessible path into Unit 328 and the one most hunters will use.
For the limited-quota hunts, hunters must apply through Washington's draw system during the designated application period. These hunts carry far smaller tag allocations — as few as a single tag in the case of SP-1096 — making them considerably more competitive than the general season path. Residency may affect application pools and odds, so hunters should check the current structure on the state's application portal.
Application windows, fees, and current draw odds change from year to year and are not included here to keep this information accurate over time. For up-to-date deadlines, costs, and draw odds specific to Unit 328's hunt codes, hunters should check HuntPilot's Washington state page at /states/wa or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's current regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Unit 328 worth applying for? For hunters focused on mule deer opportunity and access, yes — the general season structure means hunters don't have to win a draw just to hunt, and 73% public land gives DIY hunters real room to work. For hunters chasing trophy-class bucks, the limited trophy record in the surrounding counties suggests this isn't the unit to prioritize for that goal.
What is harvest success like in Unit 328? Success has held remarkably steady, landing at 9% in 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2021, with a lower 6% mark in 2022. Hunter numbers have ranged from roughly 930 to 1,165 per year over that span, and this is a unit where single-digit success rates are the consistent norm rather than a fluke.
What is the terrain like in Unit 328? The unit spans a wide elevation range from 1,636 feet up to 6,860 feet across 169,159 acres, giving hunters a mix of lower-elevation and higher subalpine terrain to work depending on the time of season. There is no wilderness acreage in this unit, which generally simplifies access compared to units with significant wilderness designations.
How big are the mule deer in Unit 328? Trophy records from the counties overlapping this unit show a limited history of record-book entries, pointing to limited trophy potential. Hunters can still find mature, representative bucks, but this unit isn't one the data supports recommending specifically for trophy-caliber mule deer.
Are there draw-only tags in Unit 328, or can anyone hunt here? Both. Unit 328 has a general season covering antlered and either-sex mule deer that doesn't require a draw, plus limited-quota draw hunts (SP-1038, SP-1082, and SP-1096) with much smaller tag numbers for hunters who want to apply for a more controlled-tag hunt. Check HuntPilot's Washington page for current tag counts and application details.