game management unit · Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

GMU 278 Wahluke

Washington, United States

The map opens on this unit. Turn on Hunting units in Layers to see its boundary with public land, your pins and the forecast.

About GMU 278 Wahluke

GMU 278 Wahluke is a game management unit in Washington, United States, set by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. It covers about 2,193 km² (847 mi²). Towns inside it include Othello, Mattawa and Warden.

HuntGrid draws its boundary from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's data for the 2026 season. The agency's regulations say which species and seasons use it.

Unit code: 278
Area: 2,193 km²
Area (miles): 847 mi²
Boundaries: 2026

Public and protected land mapped inside it

HuntGrid's public land layers map about 427 km² of public or protected land inside it, 19% of the unit. Some protected land is privately owned (a conservation group's, for one). By manager, as the source names it:

Manager	km²	Share
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife	149	7%
Unknown	130	6%
Bureau of Land Management	109	5%
Columbia National Wildlife Refuge	109	5%
COLUMBIA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE	109	5%
Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife	6.6	under 1%
Department of Energy (DOE)	4.1	under 1%
City of Othello	0.3	under 1%
Other or unnamed managers	0.2	under 1%

Boundaries are approximate and aren't legal descriptions. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there: check your local regulations and posted signs.

Public land: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1

Seasons and regulations

Seasons for this unit that a person has checked against Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's regulations:

Species	Dates	Details
Cougar (mountain lion)	Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027	source
Wild turkey	Sep 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026	source
Elk (wapiti)	Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026	muzzleloader source
Elk (wapiti)	Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026	archery source
Elk (wapiti)	Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026	source
Mule deer	Nov 20, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026	antlered, archery source
White-tailed deer	Nov 20, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026	antlered, archery source

The official regulations have the final word: check them before you hunt.

Official regulations: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Units around it

Next to it in the same unit system

Other hunting units that cover part of it

What HuntGrid shows for GMU 278 Wahluke

Its boundary on the map; tap inside it for the unit's card with the agency's regulations link.
Public land and the other hunting units in the same view, each with its source.
Season dates once a person has checked them, and legal shooting hours where the rule is checked.
Hourly wind with a scent cone for every stand, and official weather alerts.
Offline maps: download the area and use the map, your pins and the forecast with no signal.

Open in HuntGrid

Questions

How big is GMU 278 Wahluke (game management unit)?

About 2,193 km² (847 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's boundary.

How much public or protected land is in GMU 278 Wahluke?

HuntGrid's public land layers map about 427 km² of public or protected land, 19% of the unit; the largest share is managed by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.

Where are the season dates for GMU 278 Wahluke?

This page lists 7 seasons a person has checked against Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's regulations; the official regulations have the final word.

Which units are next to GMU 278 Wahluke?

In the same unit system: GMU 272 Beezley, GMU 284 Ritzville, GMU 290 Desert, GMU 329 Quilomene, GMU 371 Alkali, GMU 372 Rattlesnake Hills, GMU 379 Ringold and GMU 381 Kahlotus.

Sources

Unit boundary: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Boundaries for the 2026 season.

HuntGrid isn't affiliated with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The official regulations and maps have the final word.