Washington Unit 673 Elk Hunting Guide

Washington Unit 673 is a general-season elk unit that also offers limited-quota draw hunts, making it a practical option for hunters who want a tag they can buy over the counter rather than waiting on a draw result. Spanning 168,955 acres with elevations ranging from near sea level up to 2,152 feet, this is low-elevation country by western standards — a different animal entirely than the high-alpine basins hunters associate with Rocky Mountain elk units. For hunters researching Washington Unit 673 elk hunting opportunities, understanding the general-season structure, the modest public land base, and recent harvest trends is the starting point before committing time and money to this unit.

Because general-season hunts exist here — including hunts for antlered and either-sex animals — Unit 673 is not a draw-only unit. Hunters can purchase an elk tag and hunt the general season without needing to win a limited-entry permit first. There are also limited-quota draw hunts layered on top of the general season, though the sex designation for those specific draw tags isn't broken out in the available data. That combination gives hunters two distinct paths into this unit, and it's worth understanding both before deciding how to hunt it.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 673 Worth Applying For?

The honest answer depends heavily on what a hunter is looking for. Unit 673 is not a trophy destination in the way that limited-entry, high-elevation western units can be. It's a general-season unit with modest public land access and harvest success rates that have hovered in the single digits to mid-teens over the past five years. That profile points toward an opportunity-and-experience unit rather than a big-bull unit.

Looking at the harvest data compiled through HuntPilot, success rates have ranged from a low of 9% in 2024 to a high of 15% in 2021, with hunter numbers staying relatively stable — between roughly 1,380 and 1,630 hunters per year. The 2025 season saw 1,421 hunters harvest 164 elk for a 12% success rate, a modest uptick from 2024's 127 harvested animals and 9% success. That five-year trend shows a unit with consistent pressure and middling-to-fair returns, not a unit trending sharply in either direction.

With only 25% public land, the majority of Unit 673 sits in private ownership. That's the single most important access fact for any hunter evaluating this unit. DIY hunters relying exclusively on public ground will be working a relatively small footprint within a much larger unit boundary, and competition for that public acreage should be expected given the hunter volumes noted above. This is not a unit where hunters can assume broad, unrestricted access simply because a general season exists — the general-season structure controls who can buy a tag, not how much huntable ground is actually open to the public.

Trophy potential is best described as moderate. The counties overlapping Unit 673 carry a moderate history of trophy-class entries, which suggests mature bulls are present in the area but that this is not a unit with a deep or consistent record of producing elite-class animals. Hunters chasing a genuine trophy bull should treat Unit 673 as a longshot rather than a primary target, while hunters focused on filling a tag and gaining experience in a general-season setting will find more to like here.

Given the combination of accessible general-season tags, below-average public land percentage, and single-digit-to-mid-teens success rates, Unit 673 is best suited to hunters who prioritize opportunity over trophy odds — particularly those willing to do the legwork to secure private-land access or hunt the limited public ground hard and early.

Harvest Success Rates

The five-year harvest record for Unit 673 shows a unit with relatively stable hunter participation and success rates that fluctuate in a fairly narrow band:

• 2025: 1,421 hunters, 164 harvested, 12% success
• 2024: 1,439 hunters, 127 harvested, 9% success
• 2023: 1,383 hunters, 149 harvested, 11% success
• 2022: 1,410 hunters, 189 harvested, 13% success
• 2021: 1,633 hunters, 250 harvested, 15% success

The high-water mark in this stretch was 2021, when 250 elk were harvested out of 1,633 hunters for a 15% success rate — the best showing in the five-year window both in raw harvest numbers and in percentage terms. Since then, both hunter numbers and harvest totals have trended downward, bottoming out in 2024 with just 127 elk taken and a 9% success rate before rebounding somewhat in 2025. This pattern suggests some year-to-year variability tied to herd conditions, weather, or hunting pressure, but nothing in the data points to a unit in freefall or a unit on a dramatic upswing. Hunters should plan around a realistic expectation in the 9–15% success range rather than anchoring to any single standout year.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for the counties overlapping Unit 673 reflects a moderate trophy history — meaning there is some track record of trophy-class bulls coming from this general area, but it is not among the units with a deep or frequent pedigree of record-book entries. Hunters should recognize that record-book entries are logged by county rather than by unit, so any trophy history attributed to this area is shared with neighboring units that overlap the same counties, not generated exclusively within Unit 673's boundaries.

Practically speaking, this means mature bulls are present and have been taken in the broader area historically, but hunters shouldn't expect Unit 673 to be a unit that regularly produces elite-class trophies. Combined with the general-season hunting structure — which typically sees more hunting pressure than limited-entry units — the realistic expectation for most hunters here should be a solid, representative bull rather than a once-in-a-lifetime trophy. Hunters specifically chasing record-class animals should weigh this moderate trophy history against units with a more consistent or heavier trophy production record before investing significant time scouting Unit 673 for that purpose.

Access & Terrain

Unit 673 covers 168,955 acres with an elevation range from near sea level up to 2,152 feet — low-relief country compared to many western elk units, which often push well above 7,000 or 8,000 feet. This lower elevation profile typically translates into denser vegetation, more timber and brush cover, and terrain that rewards still-hunting and careful, methodical movement over long-distance glassing common in more open, high-elevation units. There is no wilderness acreage in this unit (0%), so hunters won't encounter wilderness-area travel restrictions or need to plan around non-motorized zones here.

The defining access challenge is the public land percentage: just 25% of Unit 673 is public ground, meaning the majority of the unit — roughly three-quarters — sits in private ownership. This is a critical planning point. Hunters relying solely on public land access will be working within a meaningfully reduced footprint relative to the unit's total acreage, and that public ground will likely see concentrated pressure given the hunter volumes recorded in recent seasons (consistently over 1,300 hunters per year). Hunters should not assume broad DIY access is available simply because the unit allows general-season tags; scouting public parcels early, understanding boundary lines carefully, and considering private-land access arrangements are all worth factoring into a hunt plan for this unit.

Forum discussion around eastern Washington elk hunting broadly echoes this reality — terrain and access vary enormously across the region, and hunters are consistently advised to narrow their scouting to the specific unit rather than assuming conditions are uniform across a wide geographic area. For Unit 673 specifically, hunters should use mapping tools to identify exactly where public parcels sit relative to private boundaries before setting foot in the field.

How to Apply

Unit 673's general-season structure means hunters don't have to win a draw to hunt elk here — a general elk tag purchased for the appropriate season covers hunting in this unit for antlered and either-sex animals, depending on the specific general-season option selected. This is the most straightforward path into Unit 673 and the reason the unit draws steady hunter participation year after year.

Layered on top of the general season are limited-quota draw hunts, which require a separate application through Washington's draw system. The specific sex designation for these limited-quota tags in Unit 673 isn't broken out in the available data, so hunters interested in those options should verify current details directly.

For residency: Washington's draw system treats resident and nonresident applicants differently, and nonresident hunters should note that in Washington, purchasing an elk tag is typically required before applying for special permit hunts — a structural detail that distinguishes Washington's system from some neighboring states. Washington does not use a preference-point-only system in the way some western states do; applicants accumulate chances in the draw pool based on points held, but the mechanics and current odds should be verified directly rather than assumed.

Application dates, fees, and current draw odds change every cycle and are not reproduced here. For the most current deadlines, license costs, and draw statistics for Unit 673, hunters should check HuntPilot's Washington state page or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's current regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Washington Unit 673 a draw-only unit, or can hunters buy a tag over the counter? Unit 673 has general-season hunts, including options for antlered and either-sex elk, which means it is not a draw-only unit. Hunters can purchase a general elk tag to hunt here without needing to win a limited-entry draw. There are also limited-quota draw hunts available in addition to the general season, but the general season is the primary access point for most hunters.

What is harvest success like in Unit 673? Over the past five years, harvest success in Unit 673 has ranged from 9% to 15%, with 2025 posting a 12% success rate (164 elk harvested among 1,421 hunters). Success rates have fluctuated year to year without a strong long-term upward or downward trend, so hunters should plan around something in that 9-15% range rather than expecting a dramatically better or worse outcome.

How big are the elk in Unit 673, and is this a trophy unit? The counties overlapping Unit 673 show a moderate history of trophy-class entries, meaning mature bulls are present but this is not an area known for consistently producing elite, record-class animals. Hunters focused specifically on trophy potential should treat Unit 673 as a secondary option rather than a primary trophy destination, while hunters prioritizing opportunity and experience will find the unit more aligned with their goals.

What is the terrain like in Unit 673, and how much public land is available? Unit 673 is low-elevation country, ranging from near sea level up to 2,152 feet, with no wilderness acreage. Only 25% of the unit's 168,955 acres is public land, meaning the majority is privately owned. Hunters relying on public access should expect a reduced footprint and higher relative pressure on that available public ground, and should scout carefully to identify exact public-private boundaries before hunting.

Is Unit 673 worth applying for? For hunters who want a general-season elk tag with a realistic shot at filling a tag — evidenced by success rates between 9% and 15% over the past five seasons — Unit 673 is a reasonable option, particularly for hunters focused on opportunity rather than trophy size. Hunters should factor in the unit's limited 25% public land base when planning access, and should temper trophy expectations given the area's moderate trophy history. Those specifically chasing record-class bulls may want to compare Unit 673 against units with stronger documented trophy production before committing.