Kelly Hill GMU 105 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 9 black bears taken in GMU 105 Kelly Hill in 2025. 177 bear hunters reported 1,285 days here, a success rate of 5% by WDFW's count. GMU 105 is 47.5% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (54,782 acres), measured from WA DNR's public land maps.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WDFW reports for 1997 to 2025. Seasons and permits: WDFW's 2026 pamphlet with its April 2026 corrections. Land: WA DNR, 2026-10.
National forestBLMDNR state trust landNational recreation areaGMU 105Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 1, Eastern Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 189,555 acres (296 square miles) |
| Counties | Stevens |
| Public land open to hunting | 47.5% (90,034 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 9 (27 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 177 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 1, Northeast) |
| Towns in and near it | Marcus, Northport and Kettle Falls |
Also for GMU 105: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 105?
WDFW reports 9 black bears taken in GMU 105 in 2025, against 27 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 48, in 2012. WDFW's figures average 19 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 26 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 177 | 1,285 | 5% |
| 2024 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 194 | 1,214 | 14% |
| 2023 | 23 | 18 | 5 | 174 | 1,115 | 13.2% |
| 2022 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 201 | 1,394 | 8% |
| 2021 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 207 | 1,530 | 10.6% |
| 2020 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 174 | 1,300 | 11% |
| 2019 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 234 | 1,394 | 11.2% |
| 2018 | 21 | 17 | 4 | 251 | 1,719 | 8.4% |
| 2017 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 250 | 1,396 | 10% |
| 2016 | 41 | 33 | 8 | 310 | 1,837 | 13.2% |
| 2015 | 35 | 21 | 14 | 284 | 1,530 | 12.3% |
| 2014 | 40 | 27 | 13 | 264 | 1,391 | 15.2% |
| 2013 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 270 | 1,482 | 10% |
| 2012 | 48 | 34 | 14 | 258 | 1,281 | 18.6% |
| 2011 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 292 | 1,665 | 10.3% |
| 2010 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 275 | 1,792 | 10.5% |
| 2009 | 26 | 22 | 4 | 287 | 1,673 | 9% |
| 2008 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 286 | 1,910 | 8% |
| 2007 | 37 | 22 | 15 | 266 | 1,410 | 13.9% |
| 2006 | 43 | 29 | 14 | 259 | 1,449 | 16.6% |
| 2005 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 232 | 1,200 | 11.6% |
| 2004 | 27 | 15 | 12 | 316 | 1,593 | 8.5% |
| 2003 | 38 | 28 | 10 | 299 | 1,719 | 12.7% |
| 2002 | 36 | 23 | 13 | 307 | 1,723 | 11.7% |
| 2001 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 305 | 2,061 | 6.2% |
| 2000 | 25 | 18 | 7 | 664 | 2,990 | 4% |
| 1999 | 36 | 31 | 5 | 784 | 3,770 | 5% |
| 1998 | 44 | 25 | 19 | 496 | 2,450 | 9% |
| 1997 | 28 | 20 | 8 | 223 | 1,032 | 13% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 105, 1997 to 2025), read through WDFW's Hunt Planner harvest table. Success is WDFW's own figure. The averages above are of WDFW's yearly figures.
When is bear season in GMU 105 in 2026?
GMU 105 is in Bear Management Unit 1, Northeast, which also takes in GMUs 108, 111, 113, 117, 121 and 124. The 2026 fall general season there runs August 1-November 15, and the bag limit is 2. It is illegal to shoot a cub or a female with cubs, and every successful bear hunter must send WDFW the bear's first premolar tooth.
Source: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, page 68.
How much public land is in GMU 105?
47.5% of GMU 105 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 90,034 of its 189,555 acres. The largest share is national forest, 54,782 acres or 28.9% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 20,029 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 105 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 54,782 | 28.9% |
| DNR state trust land | 20,029 | 10.6% |
| National recreation area | 11,714 | 6.2% |
| BLM | 3,509 | 1.9% |
Measured by FilledTag inside WDFW's GMU boundary (WDFW game management units, in effect April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027) from WA DNR Major Public Lands (non-DNR) and WA DNR Managed Land Parcels, read 2026-10. Tribal land is not counted as public. National wildlife refuges, military land and "other public" land (state parks, county, city and other agencies) are not counted as open to hunting: each sets its own rules.
How do you get to GMU 105?
No numbered highway crosses the unit. Nearby: Marcus (on the line), Northport (on the line), Kettle Falls (on the line) and Colville (9 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 105?
GMU 105 touches 4 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 black bear numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Black bears taken, 2025 | Bear hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 101 | Sherman | 72.8% | 42 | 649 |
| GMU 108 | Douglas | 24.3% | 13 | 131 |
| GMU 111 | Aladdin | 65.7% | 13 | 207 |
| GMU 121 | Huckleberry | 19.7% | 25 | 526 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 105 in 2026?
GMU 105 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 1 (Northeast), where the 2026 fall general season runs August 1-November 15 with a bag limit of 2, by the pamphlet's table on page 68. It is illegal to shoot a cub or a female with cubs.
How many bears are taken in GMU 105?
WDFW reports 9 black bears taken in GMU 105 in 2025 (9 males, 0 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 48, in 2012.
How much public land is in GMU 105?
47.5% of GMU 105, 90,034 of its 189,555 acres, is national forest, BLM, DNR trust, WDFW, Reclamation or national recreation area land; the largest share is national forest. Measured by FilledTag from WA DNR's public land maps.
What town is closest to GMU 105?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Marcus (on the line), Northport (on the line) and Kettle Falls (on the line).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 105
Beginning at the Kettle River (Ferry-Stevens county line) and the US-Canadian border east of the town of Laurier; E on the US-Canadian border to Lake Roosevelt (Columbia River); SW along the eastern shore of Lake Roosevelt to the US Hwy (US) 395 bridge; W on US 395 over the bridge to the western shore of Lake Roosevelt; N on the western shore of Lake Roosevelt to the mouth of the Kettle River; N up the Kettle River (Ferry-Stevens county line) to the US-Canadian border east of the town of Laurier and the point of beginning.
From WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, Game Management Unit Descriptions.
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, hunters, days and success: WDFW Game Harvest Reports.
- Seasons, special permits, applicants and points: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations.
- Public land: WA DNR Major Public Lands (non-DNR) and WA DNR Managed Land Parcels, read 2026-10. GMU boundary: WDFW game management units, in effect April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Numbers are copied from WDFW and the State of Washington, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag. WDFW's regulations are the final word on every rule.
Washington hunting Washington black bear by GMU Region 1 GMU 101 GMU 108 GMU 111 GMU 121