It is unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions of this section. A violation of this section is punishable under RCW
77.15.410,
77.15.245, or
77.15.280, depending on the circumstances of the violation.
Who May Apply: Anyone with a valid Washington big game license, which includes black bear as a species option.
Hunt Areas, Permit Levels, and Season Dates for Each License Year:
Hunt Name | Hunt Area | Permits | Season Dates |
Sherman | GMU 101 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required. | 50 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Kelly Hill | GMU 105 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required. | 50 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Douglas | GMU 108 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required. | 40 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Aladdin | GMU 111 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required. | 50 | | April 15 - June 15 |
49 Degrees North | GMU 117 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required. | 100 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Huckleberry | GMU 121 | 100 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Blue Creek | GMU 154 | 18 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Dayton | GMU 162 | 18 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Tucannon | GMU 166 | 5 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Wenaha | GMU 169 | 60 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Mt. View | GMU 172 | 24 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Lick Creek | GMU 175 | 18 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Peola | GMU 178 | 5 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Couse | GMU 181 | 5 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Grande Ronde | GMU 186 | 5 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Kitsap | GMU 627 | 5 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Mason | GMU 633 | 5 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Bear River | GMU 681 | 20 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Long Beach | GMU 684 | 10 | | April 15 - June 15 |
North Skagit | That portion of GMU 418 that is designated as the hunt area by DNR, Sierra Pacific, and Grandy Lake Timber company. Note: Mandatory bear identification test required. | 30 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Copalis | GMU 642, 648, and 638 (excluding U.S. Forest Service lands). | 50 | | April 15 - June 15 |
Bag Limit: One black bear per black bear special permit season.
License Required: A valid big game hunting license, which includes black bear as a species option, is required to apply for a spring black bear special permit. One black bear transport tag is included with a big game hunting license that has black bear as a species option.
Hunting Method: Hunters may use any lawful big game modern firearm, archery, or muzzleloader equipment for hunting black bear. The use of dogs or bait to hunt black bear is prohibited statewide.
Other Requirements: Hunters that are selected to hunt in GMUs located in grizzly bear recovery areas, as identified by the department, must successfully complete the annual WDFW online bear identification test with a passing score (80% or higher) or carry proof that they have passed an equivalent test from another state. The WDFW test may be taken repeatedly until a passing score is achieved. All hunters must carry proof of passing a bear identification test while hunting in the GMUs identified by the department.
Harvest Check, Submitting Biological Samples and Bear Teeth: All successful bear hunters must validate (notch) their bear tag consistent with WAC
220-413-020, notify the department within 72 hours of kill (excluding legal state holidays), provide the hunter's name, date and location of kill, and sex of animal. The unfrozen raw pelt, with evidence of sex attached, and the first premolar must be presented to an authorized department employee for inspection within 5 days of notification of kill. All permit hunters must comply with harvest reporting and submission of biological samples as described above. 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
77.12.020. WSR 21-02-015 (Order 20-270), § 220-415-080, filed 12/28/20, effective 1/28/21. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.012,
77.04.055,
77.12.047, and
77.12.240. WSR 19-22-061 (Order 19-275), § 220-415-080, filed 11/5/19, effective 12/6/19. 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), § 220-415-080, filed 5/11/18, effective 6/11/18. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.012,
77.12.240,
77.04.055,
77.12.047,
77.12.150, and
77.32.070. WSR 17-19-088 (Order 17-253), § 220-415-080, filed 9/19/17, effective 10/20/17. 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 § 220-415-080, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.012,
77.04.020,
77.04.055,
77.12.047,
77.12.150,
77.12.240,
77.12.800,
77.32.090, and
77.32.155. WSR 16-12-087, § 232-28-286, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16. 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), § 232-28-286, filed 5/1/15, effective 6/1/15. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.12.047,
77.12.240, and
77.32.070. WSR 13-11-078 (Order 13-94), § 232-28-286, filed 5/16/13, effective 6/16/13. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.12.047. WSR 12-12-006 (Order 12-90), § 232-28-286, filed 5/23/12, effective 6/23/12; WSR 11-16-015 (Order 11-167), § 232-28-286, filed 7/22/11, effective 8/22/11. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.12.047,
77.12.020,
77.12.570,
77.12.210,
77.12.150,
77.12.240,
77.32.070, and
77.32.530. WSR 10-10-061 and 11-02-044 (Orders 10-94 and 10-94A), § 232-28-286, filed 4/30/10 and 12/30/10, effective 5/31/10 and 1/30/11. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.12.047,
77.12.020. WSR 09-09-082 (Order 09-52), § 232-28-286, filed 4/15/09, effective 6/16/09; WSR 08-01-052 (Order 07-292), § 232-28-286, filed 12/13/07, effective 1/13/08. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.12.047. WSR 07-01-049 (Order 06-300), § 232-28-286, filed 12/14/06, effective 1/14/07; WSR 06-11-030 (Order 06-90), § 232-28-286, filed 5/8/06, effective 6/16/06.]