Dayton GMU 162 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 20 black bears taken in GMU 162 Dayton in 2025. 258 bear hunters reported 1,498 days here, a success rate of 7.8% by WDFW's count. GMU 162 is 25% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (31,757 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)GMU 162Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 1, Eastern Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 134,418 acres (210 square miles) |
| Counties | Walla Walla and Columbia |
| Public land open to hunting | 25% (33,648 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 20 (17 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 258 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 3, Southeast) |
| Towns in and near it | Dayton, Waitsburg, Pomeroy and Prescott |
Also for GMU 162: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 162?
WDFW reports 20 black bears taken in GMU 162 in 2025, against 17 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 48, in 2022. WDFW's figures average 22 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 20 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | 6 | 14 | 258 | 1,498 | 7.8% |
| 2024 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 296 | 1,913 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 295 | 1,972 | 1.4% |
| 2022 | 48 | 26 | 22 | 284 | 1,886 | 17% |
| 2021 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 246 | 1,247 | 8.2% |
| 2020 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 313 | 2,005 | 5.2% |
| 2019 | 25 | 12 | 13 | 348 | 1,934 | 7.2% |
| 2018 | 27 | 17 | 10 | 338 | 2,061 | 8% |
| 2017 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 374 | 2,391 | 3% |
| 2016 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 357 | 2,148 | 5.8% |
| 2015 | 26 | 18 | 8 | 354 | 2,253 | 7.3% |
| 2014 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 365 | 2,248 | 3.8% |
| 2013 | 25 | 20 | 5 | 374 | 2,419 | 6.7% |
| 2012 | 30 | 14 | 16 | 412 | 2,533 | 7.3% |
| 2011 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 390 | 2,420 | 4.1% |
| 2010 | 22 | 9 | 13 | 486 | 3,151 | 4.5% |
| 2009 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 448 | 2,721 | 5% |
| 2008 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 437 | 2,669 | 4% |
| 2007 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 414 | 2,530 | 2.7% |
| 2006 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 341 | 2,083 | 5.9% |
| 2005 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 376 | 2,323 | 3.7% |
| 2004 | 29 | 16 | 13 | 439 | 2,485 | 6.6% |
| 2003 | 32 | 17 | 15 | 434 | 2,613 | 7.4% |
| 2002 | 35 | 22 | 13 | 498 | 2,956 | 7% |
| 2001 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 447 | 2,715 | 4.5% |
| 2000 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1,045 | 5,036 | 1% |
| 1999 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 1,163 | 5,990 | 2% |
| 1998 | 26 | 12 | 14 | 659 | 3,346 | 4% |
| 1997 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 594 | 3,325 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 162, 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 162 in 2026?
GMU 162 is in Bear Management Unit 3, Southeast, which also takes in GMUs 145, 149, 154, 163, 166, 169, 172, 175, 178, 181 and 186. 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 162?
25% of GMU 162 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 33,648 of its 134,418 acres. The largest share is national forest, 31,757 acres or 23.6% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 1,385 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 162 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 31,757 | 23.6% |
| DNR state trust land | 1,385 | 1% |
| BLM | 407 | 0.3% |
| WDFW land | 99 | 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 3 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 162, by WDFW's own boundaries: W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area (109 acres here).
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 162?
Highways through the unit: US 12 (about 3 miles inside it). Towns inside: Dayton. Nearby: Waitsburg (6 miles), Pomeroy (10 miles), Prescott (14 miles) and Starbuck (15 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 162?
GMU 162 touches 6 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 149 | Prescott | 2.5% | 0 | 44 |
| GMU 154 | Blue Creek | 1.6% | 17 | 212 |
| GMU 157 | Mill Creek Watershed | 92.5% | 0 | |
| GMU 163 | Marengo | 4.8% | 0 | 11 |
| GMU 166 | Tucannon | 96.3% | 2 | 121 |
| GMU 169 | Wenaha | 100% | 8 | 73 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 162 in 2026?
GMU 162 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 3 (Southeast), 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 162?
WDFW reports 20 black bears taken in GMU 162 in 2025 (6 males, 14 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 48, in 2022.
How much public land is in GMU 162?
25% of GMU 162, 33,648 of its 134,418 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 162?
Dayton is inside the unit. Just outside: Waitsburg (6 miles), Pomeroy (10 miles) and Prescott (14 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 162
Beginning at the junction of US Hwy (US) 12 and Patit Rd in the town of Dayton; E on the Patit Rd to the Hartsock Grade Rd-Maloney Mountain Rd intersection; S on Maloney Mountain Rd to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 4625 (Maloney Mountain Rd); S and W on to USFS Rd 4625 to Skyline Drive Rd; SE on Skyline Drive Rd to USFS Rd 46 (Skyline Drive Rd); S on USFS Rd 46 to USFS Rd 64; S on USFS Rd 64 to USFS Trail 3211 (Mill Creek Watershed Intake Trail); W on USFS Trail 3211 to the Lewis Peak Trail; NW on the Lewis Peak Trail to Lewis Peak Rd; N on the Lewis Peak Rd to Dent Rd; N on Dent Rd to Mt. Pleasant Rd; N on the Mt. Pleasant Rd to the Jasper Mountain Rd; N on the Jasper Mountain Rd to Payne Hollow Rd; N on Payne Hollow Rd to Bowman Hill Rd; NE on Bowman Hill Rd to Lower Hogeye Rd; W on Lower Hogeye Rd to US 12 at Long Station; NE on US 12 to its junction with Patit Rd at the town of Dayton 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 154 GMU 166 GMU 169