This very large unit is formed by the North Fork Toutle River in the north down to just short of Yale Lake and Lake Merin in the south. The largest portion of public land is state land which lies between the north and south forks of the Toutle River. There are a few smaller tracts of state land in the very southern portion of the GMU as well; the 14 miles in between is all privately owned almost exclusively by Weyerhaeuser Company. The entire GMU has been heavily logged and there is a vast network of roads, although most are behind locked gates and closed private roads.

The price to hunt Weyerhaeuser ground is always going up.

Along the eastern border, Big Bull is the modest high-point at 4,108-ft with O’Neil Peak topping out at 3,038-ft five miles to the west. Although the terrain can be steep with unending draws and cuts, this GMU has fairly easy rolling mountains, however, the entire unit has been heavily logged. Three rivers drain the unit with the north and south forks of the Toutle in the north and Lewis River valley in the south.

Old growth forests with many decades of logging creating a patchwork of timber in all stages of regrowth. Within these areas there are grassy open slopes with young buckbrush yielding excellent browse and graze for the wildlife.

This GMU has a vast network of roads, although they are mostly on private land with many locked gates and road closures. The limited access to public land may involve a bit of extra effort.

There is limited primitive camping here seeing as the unit is basically all private land. Seasonal fire bans and road closures may happen, so double check any restrictions or permits necessary prior to your trip. If you prefer a bed and a shower and being closer to gas stations, restaurants, and a grocery store your best options will be local B&B’s.