Washington Unit 568 Elk Hunting Guide

Washington Unit 568 is a general-season elk unit covering 269,654 acres, with 62% of that acreage in public ownership. For hunters researching eastern Washington elk opportunities, this unit offers both general-season access to antlered and either-sex animals as well as limited-quota draw hunts, making it a unit worth understanding in detail before committing a season to it.

Elevations in Unit 568 range from 12 to 4,332 feet, indicating a unit that spans low-lying river bottoms and benches up through moderate mountain terrain. There is no designated wilderness acreage in this unit, which generally means road and trail access is more straightforward than in wilderness-heavy units elsewhere in the state. With public land making up nearly two-thirds of the total acreage, DIY hunters have a legitimate footprint to work with, though the remaining 38% in private ownership means careful attention to land boundaries is still necessary when planning routes and glassing points.

This is a general unit, not a draw-only unit — a critical distinction for hunters comparing Washington elk options. Antlered and either-sex elk are available through general-season hunting here, while the limited-quota draw hunts layered on top of the general structure provide additional, more controlled opportunity. Hunters should not assume they need to draw a special permit just to pursue a bull in Unit 568; the general season is the primary access point for most hunters who end up afield here.

Herd Health & Harvest Trends

Harvest data for Unit 568 spans five recent seasons and shows a stable, if modest, elk population being hunted at consistent effort levels. In 2025, 566 hunters pursued elk in this unit and harvested 38 animals, a 7% success rate. That follows a similar pattern in prior years: 2024 saw 582 hunters harvest 37 elk (6% success), 2023 had 612 hunters take 34 elk (6% success), 2022 produced 30 harvested elk from 537 hunters (6% success), and 2021 saw 562 hunters harvest 39 elk for a 7% success rate.

Hunter effort has held in a fairly narrow band — roughly 537 to 612 hunters per year over this five-year stretch — while harvest numbers have moved only slightly, between 30 and 39 animals annually. Success rates have been remarkably consistent, hovering between 6% and 7% every single year with no major spikes or crashes. That consistency is itself informative: it suggests a stable elk population and a hunter base that is neither growing dramatically nor declining, with pressure and harvest trending together rather than one overwhelming the other.

For hunters evaluating whether this unit's elk herd is trending up or down, the five-year harvest record doesn't show a clear directional trend in either success rate or total harvest. This points to a herd and hunting pressure dynamic that has reached something of an equilibrium rather than one undergoing rapid change in either direction.

Harvest Success Rates

Success rates in Unit 568 have ranged from 6% to 7% across the last five seasons (2021–2025), which places this firmly in the category of a challenging general-season elk hunt. These are not inflated, easy-access numbers — they reflect the reality of hunting elk in a general unit with real hunting pressure (500+ hunters annually) spread across a large acreage. Hunters should plan for a hunt that demands scouting, mobility, and patience rather than one where tags are a formality toward a near-guaranteed harvest.

The flat trend across five years — no single season standing out as dramatically better or worse — means hunters can use recent averages as a reasonably reliable planning baseline rather than worrying that they're walking into either an unusually good or unusually bad year.

Trophy Quality

Trophy record data for the counties overlapping Unit 568 shows a limited history of entries. This doesn't mean trophy-class bulls have never come from this area, but it does mean that hunters should not count on this unit as a bull-of-a-lifetime destination. Trophy potential here should be considered limited based on available records, and hunters chasing a record-book bull are better served looking at units with a deeper and more consistent trophy pedigree.

That said, a limited trophy record doesn't equate to a lack of elk — it simply reflects fewer exceptional bulls reaching record-book minimum thresholds. Given the modest harvest success rates in this unit, most hunters here are hunting for the experience and the opportunity to fill a general tag rather than targeting trophy genetics specifically.

Access & Terrain

Unit 568 covers 269,654 acres with 62% public land, giving DIY hunters a solid base of accessible ground relative to many Washington units. The elevation range of 12 to 4,332 feet suggests this unit includes lower-elevation terrain — possibly river corridors or valley floors — climbing into moderate foothill or low-mountain country. This is a meaningful elevation span for elk, as it allows animals to move seasonally between lower and higher ground depending on weather, forage, and pressure, without the unit containing true high-alpine terrain.

With no wilderness acreage in this unit, access is generally more road-dependent than hike-in dependent compared to wilderness-designated units elsewhere in the state. That typically means more motorized access options for scouting and retrieval, though it also means hunters may face more competition near easily reached public ground. Given the mix of public and private land (62% vs. 38%), hunters should expect checkerboard-style ownership patterns in places, making it important to confirm boundaries carefully — public access parcels can butt directly against private ground with different rules.

Hunters planning to scout Unit 568 should use mapping tools to identify exactly where public land blocks sit relative to roads, water, and elevation changes, since general terrain descriptions alone won't substitute for boundary-level detail on the ground.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 568 Worth Applying For?

Unit 568 is a reasonable option for hunters who prioritize access and consistent opportunity over trophy potential. The general-season structure means hunters aren't locked out of pursuing antlered elk without first winning a draw — that alone makes this unit more approachable than many limited-entry-only options. The 62% public land figure supports legitimate DIY access, and the lack of wilderness designation means hunters can typically get into the unit without the logistical demands of wilderness travel.

On the other hand, the harvest data is honest about what hunters should expect: success rates in the 6-7% range across five consecutive seasons indicate this is hard hunting. Elk aren't falling into laps here, and the limited trophy record history means hunters shouldn't treat this as a destination unit for chasing record-book bulls. This is a unit for hunters who want a general-season opportunity with real public access, who are prepared to put in scouting time and hunt hard for a modest but tangible chance at success.

For hunters building a multi-unit Washington strategy, Unit 568 is best viewed as a solid, accessible general-season option — not a bucket-list trophy unit. Those seeking better odds or stronger trophy potential should compare this unit's data directly against other eastern Washington units using HuntPilot's unit-level data before settling on an application strategy.

How to Apply

Washington's elk hunting structure separates general-season opportunity from limited-quota special permit hunts. In Unit 568, general-season hunting is the primary path to pursuing antlered and either-sex elk, and it does not require winning a special draw — hunters typically need only the appropriate general elk tag/license to participate, available to both residents and nonresidents under Washington's licensing system.

Layered on top of that general opportunity, Unit 568 also offers limited-quota draw hunts. These special permit hunts are competitive, application-based opportunities that require hunters to apply during Washington's designated application period. As is standard with Washington's special permit system, hunters typically need to already hold a valid elk tag in order to apply for these special draw hunts, and bonus points may factor into the odds of drawing one of these limited permits.

Residents and nonresidents both apply through the same general special permit drawing system in Washington, though nonresidents should expect different tag costs and should confirm current license requirements before applying. Because application structures, point systems, and permit categories can shift from year to year, hunters should not rely on secondhand or outdated information when planning an application.

Application dates and fees change every cycle. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds, see HuntPilot's Washington page at /states/wa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Washington Unit 568 a draw-only elk unit? No. Unit 568 is a general-season unit, meaning antlered and either-sex elk can be pursued without first winning a special draw. Limited-quota draw hunts also exist in this unit as an additional, more competitive opportunity layered on top of the general season, but the general season itself is the primary access point for most hunters.

What is harvest success like in Unit 568? Success rates have been consistent but modest, ranging from 6% to 7% over the five most recent seasons on record (2021–2025). In 2025, 566 hunters harvested 38 elk for a 7% success rate, closely matching the pattern seen in 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021. Hunters should expect a challenging general-season hunt rather than a high-probability tag.

How big are the elk in Unit 568? Trophy record data for the counties overlapping this unit shows a limited history of record-book entries, suggesting trophy potential here is limited compared to units with deeper trophy pedigrees. Hunters primarily focused on trophy-class bulls should weigh this against units with stronger documented trophy histories before choosing where to apply or hunt.

What is the terrain like in Unit 568? The unit spans a wide elevation range from 12 to 4,332 feet across 269,654 total acres, with no designated wilderness acreage. This points to a mix of lower-elevation terrain climbing into moderate foothill country, generally more road-accessible than wilderness-heavy units elsewhere in the state. Public land covers 62% of the unit, giving DIY hunters a workable base, though the remaining 38% private ownership means boundary awareness is essential.

Is Unit 568 worth applying for? It depends on the hunter's goals. For hunters who want general-season access to elk with solid public land availability (62%) and straightforward, non-wilderness terrain, Unit 568 is a reasonable choice. For hunters specifically chasing record-book trophy potential, the limited trophy record history in surrounding counties suggests looking elsewhere may be more productive. Hunters should weigh the consistent but modest 6-7% success rates against their own goals for the season.