Disclosed is an improved axial flow unitary filter element for filtering a fluid stream, examples including a gaseous or an air stream. The filter element includes a primary filter portion and a pre-separation filter portion. The portions of said filter element are permanently integrated such that the portions form said unitary or one-piece filter element. The pre-separation portion is permanently secured and fully peripherally sealed about its peripheral portions to the primary filter such that a gaseous stream entering said inlet face of the primary filter must first pass through the pre-separation filter portion of the filter element. The pre-separation portion protects the primary filter portion from becoming water logged due to the presence of water droplets or snow in the fluid stream.