Wenaha GMU 169 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 8 black bears taken in GMU 169 Wenaha in 2025. 73 bear hunters reported 410 days here, a success rate of 11% by WDFW's count. GMU 169 is 100% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (103,197 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 forestGMU 169Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 1, Eastern Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 103,211 acres (161 square miles) |
| Counties | Columbia, Garfield and Asotin |
| Public land open to hunting | 100% (103,197 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 8 (6 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 73 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 3, Southeast) |
| Towns in and near it | Dayton and Waitsburg |
Also for GMU 169: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 169?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 169 in 2025, against 6 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 23, in 2002. WDFW's figures average 8 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 6 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 73 | 410 | 11% |
| 2024 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 96 | 382 | 6.2% |
| 2023 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 85 | 567 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 95 | 414 | 6.4% |
| 2021 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 72 | 404 | 7% |
| 2020 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 103 | 672 | 8.8% |
| 2019 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 80 | 455 | 7.6% |
| 2018 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 89 | 591 | 7.8% |
| 2017 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 100 | 664 | 3% |
| 2016 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 100 | 534 | 6% |
| 2015 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 85 | 430 | 5.9% |
| 2014 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 121 | 624 | 5% |
| 2013 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 132 | 736 | 5.3% |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 93 | 532 | 1.1% |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 669 | 4.2% |
| 2010 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 124 | 716 | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 144 | 871 | 6% |
| 2008 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 152 | 874 | 6% |
| 2007 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 129 | 666 | 3.9% |
| 2006 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 100 | 540 | 8% |
| 2005 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 97 | 617 | 2.1% |
| 2004 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 139 | 764 | 2.9% |
| 2003 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 121 | 741 | 2.5% |
| 2002 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 149 | 787 | 15.4% |
| 2001 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 129 | 709 | 3.1% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 266 | 1,079 | 0% |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 527 | 3,297 | 0% |
| 1998 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 169 | 677 | 2% |
| 1997 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 314 | 1,398 | 1% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 169, 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 169 in 2026?
GMU 169 is in Bear Management Unit 3, Southeast, which also takes in GMUs 145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 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 169?
100% of GMU 169 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 103,197 of its 103,211 acres. The largest share is national forest, 103,197 acres or 100% of the unit.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 169 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 103,197 | 100% |
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 169?
No numbered highway crosses the unit. Nearby: Dayton (17 miles) and Waitsburg (18 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 169?
GMU 169 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 157 | Mill Creek Watershed | 92.5% | 0 | |
| GMU 162 | Dayton | 25% | 20 | 258 |
| GMU 166 | Tucannon | 96.3% | 2 | 121 |
| GMU 172 | Mountain View | 48.6% | 8 | 100 |
| GMU 175 | Lick Creek | 94.7% | 8 | 139 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 169 in 2026?
GMU 169 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 169?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 169 in 2025 (8 males, 0 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 23, in 2002.
How much public land is in GMU 169?
100% of GMU 169, 103,197 of its 103,211 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 169?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Dayton (17 miles) and Waitsburg (18 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 169
Beginning on the Washington-Oregon state line at the US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 64; N on USFS Rd 64 to USFS Rd 46 (Skyline Dr); E on USFS Rd 46 to USFS Rd 4608 (Teepee Rd) at Godman Springs; E on USFS Rd 4608 to USFS Trail 3136 (Teepee Trail) at Teepee Camp; E on the USFS Trail 3136 to USFS Trail 3113 (Oregon Butte Trail-Bullfrog Springs Trail-Diamond Peak Trail); E on USFS Trail 3113 to USFS Rd 4030 (Diamond Peak Rd) at Diamond Peak; E on USFS Rd 4030 to USFS Rd 40 (Mountain Rd); S along USFS Rd 40 to USFS Rd 4039 (South Boundary Rd); SW along USFS Rd 4039 to USFS Trail 3133 (Three Forks Trail); NW on USFS Trail 3133 to USFS Trail 3100; S on USFS Trail 3100 to the Washington-Oregon state line; due W on the Washington-Oregon state line to USFS Rd 64 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 162 GMU 166 GMU 172 GMU 175