Huckleberry GMU 121 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 25 black bears taken in GMU 121 Huckleberry in 2025. 526 bear hunters reported 3,720 days here, a success rate of 4.8% by WDFW's count. GMU 121 is 19.7% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (61,518 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 landWDFW landNational wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)National recreation areaGMU 121Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 1, Eastern Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 508,988 acres (795 square miles) |
| Counties | Stevens |
| Public land open to hunting | 19.7% (100,396 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 25 (42 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 526 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 1, Northeast) |
| Towns in and near it | Chewelah, Springdale, Kettle Falls, Colville, Marcus and Deer Park |
Also for GMU 121: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 121?
WDFW reports 25 black bears taken in GMU 121 in 2025, against 42 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 91, in 2003. WDFW's figures average 42 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 45 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 526 | 3,720 | 4.8% |
| 2024 | 42 | 27 | 15 | 627 | 4,521 | 6.6% |
| 2023 | 60 | 44 | 16 | 671 | 5,560 | 9% |
| 2022 | 54 | 35 | 19 | 659 | 4,445 | 8.2% |
| 2021 | 31 | 23 | 8 | 639 | 4,025 | 4.8% |
| 2020 | 42 | 24 | 18 | 725 | 4,549 | 5.8% |
| 2019 | 41 | 29 | 12 | 770 | 4,936 | 5.4% |
| 2018 | 30 | 19 | 11 | 685 | 4,766 | 4.4% |
| 2017 | 46 | 22 | 24 | 686 | 4,192 | 7% |
| 2016 | 68 | 47 | 21 | 664 | 4,245 | 10.2% |
| 2015 | 63 | 38 | 25 | 648 | 3,821 | 9.7% |
| 2014 | 60 | 39 | 21 | 615 | 3,763 | 9.8% |
| 2013 | 29 | 24 | 5 | 566 | 3,522 | 5.1% |
| 2012 | 51 | 36 | 15 | 600 | 3,679 | 8.5% |
| 2011 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 558 | 3,236 | 9.7% |
| 2010 | 60 | 37 | 23 | 756 | 4,449 | 7.9% |
| 2009 | 52 | 28 | 24 | 739 | 4,625 | 7% |
| 2008 | 73 | 44 | 29 | 901 | 5,816 | 8% |
| 2007 | 86 | 55 | 31 | 880 | 5,390 | 9.8% |
| 2006 | 78 | 48 | 30 | 836 | 4,804 | 9.3% |
| 2005 | 64 | 44 | 20 | 780 | 4,368 | 8.2% |
| 2004 | 52 | 32 | 20 | 769 | 4,154 | 6.8% |
| 2003 | 91 | 51 | 40 | 902 | 5,509 | 10.1% |
| 2002 | 90 | 47 | 43 | 950 | 5,282 | 9.5% |
| 2001 | 61 | 41 | 20 | 901 | 5,808 | 6.8% |
| 2000 | 60 | 46 | 14 | 2,488 | 11,429 | 2% |
| 1999 | 41 | 29 | 12 | 2,353 | 17,716 | 2% |
| 1998 | 37 | 14 | 23 | 1,230 | 7,410 | 3% |
| 1997 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 388 | 2,089 | 7% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 121, 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 121 in 2026?
GMU 121 is in Bear Management Unit 1, Northeast, which also takes in GMUs 105, 108, 111, 113, 117 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 121?
19.7% of GMU 121 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 100,396 of its 508,988 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 61,518 acres or 12.1% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 61,518 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 121 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 61,518 | 12.1% |
| National recreation area | 24,176 | 4.7% |
| BLM | 14,692 | 2.9% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 55 | under 0.1% |
| National forest | 6 | under 0.1% |
| WDFW land | 4 | under 0.1% |
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 121?
Highways through the unit: SR 25 (about 49 miles inside it), US 395 (about 14 miles inside it), SR 231 (about 13 miles inside it) and SR 20 (about 6 miles inside it). Towns inside: Chewelah, Springdale, Kettle Falls, Loon Lake, Valley and Addy. Nearby: Colville (on the line), Marcus (4 miles), Deer Park (11 miles) and Creston (18 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 121?
GMU 121 touches 5 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 105 | Kelly Hill | 47.5% | 9 | 177 |
| GMU 108 | Douglas | 24.3% | 13 | 131 |
| GMU 117 | 49 Degrees North | 34.6% | 20 | 518 |
| GMU 124 | Mount Spokane | 4.6% | 8 | 280 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 121 in 2026?
GMU 121 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 121?
WDFW reports 25 black bears taken in GMU 121 in 2025 (17 males, 8 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 91, in 2003.
How much public land is in GMU 121?
19.7% of GMU 121, 100,396 of its 508,988 acres, is national forest, BLM, DNR trust, WDFW, Reclamation or national recreation area land; the largest share is DNR state trust land. Measured by FilledTag from WA DNR's public land maps.
What town is closest to GMU 121?
Chewelah, Springdale and Kettle Falls are inside the unit. Just outside: Colville (on the line), Marcus (4 miles) and Deer Park (11 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 121
Beginning at the US Hwy (US) 395 bridge over Lake Roosevelt (Columbia River) NW of the town of Kettle Falls; SE on US 395 through Colville and Chewelah to State Route (SR) 292 at Loon Lake; W on SR 292 to SR 231 at the town of Springdale; S on SR 231 to the first tributary of Chamokane Creek intersecting SR 231 south of the northeast corner of the Spokane Indian reservation; SW on the said tributary to Chamokane Creek, the northern boundary of the Spokane Indian reservation; W along the northern border of the Spokane Indian Reservation border to eastern boundary of the Colville Indian reservation on the Ferry-Stevens county line on Lake Roosevelt; N along the Colville Indian reservation boundary to its northern corner on Lake Roosevelt; W along Colville Indian reservation boundary to the western shore of Lake Roosevelt; N along western shore of Lake Roosevelt to the US 395 bridge over Lake Roosevelt northwest of the town of Kettle Falls 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 105 GMU 108 GMU 117 GMU 124