PDFWAC 220-415-090

Fall black bear hunting seasons and regulations.

It is unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions below.
Black Bear Management Unit (BBMU)
Hunt Area (GMU)
Season Dates
Bag Limit
1 - Northeast
105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 121, 124
August 1 - November 15
2
2 - Columbia Basin
127, 130, 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284, 290, 371, 372, 373, 379, 381
August 1 - November 15
2
3 - Southeast
145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 169, 172, 175, 178, 181, 186
August 1 - November 15
2
4 - Okanogan Highlands
101, 204
August 1 - November 15
2
5 - Okanogan
203, 209, 215, 218, 224, 231, 233, 239, 242, 243
August 15 - November 15
1
6 - Central Cascades East
244, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 328, 329, 330, 334, 335
August 1 - November 15
2
7 - South Cascades East
336, 340, 342, 346, 352, 356, 360, 364, 368, 382, 388, 578
August 1 - November 15
2
8 - North Cascades West
418, 426, 437, 448, 450, 460
August 1 - November 15
2
9 - South Cascades West
466, 485, 503, 510, 513, 516, 560, 568, 572, 574, 653, 654
August 1 - November 15
2
10 - Urban
407, 454, 504, 564, 624, 627, 633, 652, 666, 684
August 1 - November 15
2
11 - Mount St. Helens
505, 520, 524, 550, 554, 556, 667
August 1 - November 15
2
12 - Olympic Peninsula East
603, 607, 618, 621, 636, 638
August 1 - November 15
2
13 - Olympic Peninsula West
601, 602, 612, 615, 642, 648, 651
August 1 - November 15
2
14 - Willapa Hills
501, 506, 530, 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681, 699
August 15 - November 15
1
Area Restrictions: GMUs 157, 410-417, 419-424, 490, 522, and 655 are closed to fall bear hunting. A special permit to hunt deer or elk in GMU 485 is required to hunt black bear in GMU 485.
License Required: A valid big game hunting license, which includes black bear as a species option, is required to hunt black bear. One black bear transport tag is included with a big game hunting license that has black bear as a species option. A second black bear transport tag must be purchased to take a second bear.
Hunting Method: Hunters may use any lawful big game modern firearm, archery, or muzzleloader equipment for hunting black bear. The use of hounds and bait to hunt black bear is prohibited statewide. It is unlawful to kill or possess a cub (less than one year old) or a female bear accompanied by cub(s).
Area Requirements: Hunters that choose to hunt black bear in GMUs 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 121, 203, 204, 209, 215, 218, 224, 231, 242, 243, 244, 418, 426, 437, and 450 must successfully complete the annual WDFW online bear identification test with a passing score (80% or higher) and carry proof of successful completion or carry proof that they have passed an equivalent test from another state while hunting black bear in those GMUs. The WDFW test may be taken repeatedly until a passing score is achieved.
Submitting Biological Samples and Bear Teeth: Successful bear hunters must comply with harvest reporting and submission of biological samples including the black bear premolar tooth located behind the canine tooth of the upper jaw by December 1st of the current hunt season. Failure to comply with the submission of biological samples is a misdemeanor pursuant to RCW 77.15.280.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 25-17-008 (Order 25-12), s 220-415-090, filed 8/7/25, effective 9/7/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.08.030, 77.12.047, 77.15.245, 77.15.280, and 77.15.410. WSR 25-09-098 (Order 24-16B), s 220-415-090, filed 4/18/25, effective 5/19/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, and 77.12.240. WSR 21-14-022 (Order 21-61), § 220-415-090, filed 6/28/21, effective 7/29/21. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.090, 77.06.130, 77.15.568, 77.08.010, 77.65.510, 88.65.515, and 77.65.520. WSR 19-15-028 (Order 19-148), § 220-415-090, filed 7/10/19, effective 8/10/19. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.020, 77.12.040, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, 77.12.210, 77.12.240, 77.12.320, 77.12.570, 77.12.800, 77.15.245, 77.32.007, 77.32.050, 77.32.070, 77.32.090, 77.32.370, and 77.32.530. WSR 18-11-061 (Order 18-76), § 220-415-090, filed 5/11/18, effective 6/11/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-415-090, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, and 77.12.240. WSR 15-10-066 (Order 15-99), § 232-28-288, filed 5/1/15, effective 6/1/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 12-12-006 (Order 12-90), § 232-28-288, filed 5/23/12, effective 6/23/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.020, 77.12.570, 77.12.210, 77.12.150, 77.12.240, 77.32.070, 77.32.530. WSR 10-10-061 (Order 10-94), § 232-28-288, filed 4/30/10, effective 5/31/10.]