Mountain View GMU 172 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 8 black bears taken in GMU 172 Mountain View in 2025. 100 bear hunters reported 555 days here, a success rate of 8% by WDFW's count. GMU 172 is 48.6% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (22,930 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)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 172Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 1, Eastern Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 69,235 acres (108 square miles) |
| Counties | Garfield and Asotin |
| Public land open to hunting | 48.6% (33,639 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 8 (7 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 100 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 3, Southeast) |
| Towns in and near it | Asotin and Clarkston |
Also for GMU 172: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 172?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 172 in 2025, against 7 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 18, in 2022. WDFW's figures average 8 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 7 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 100 | 555 | 8% |
| 2024 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 106 | 606 | 6.6% |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 99 | 577 | 4% |
| 2022 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 99 | 647 | 18.2% |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 99 | 576 | 4% |
| 2020 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 77 | 486 | 6.4% |
| 2019 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 140 | 887 | 5% |
| 2018 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 92 | 819 | 7.6% |
| 2017 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 88 | 564 | 9% |
| 2016 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 99 | 603 | 7% |
| 2015 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 97 | 573 | 8.2% |
| 2014 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 92 | 596 | 3.3% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 95 | 575 | 4.2% |
| 2012 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 101 | 579 | 10.9% |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 528 | 2.9% |
| 2010 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 80 | 518 | 12.5% |
| 2009 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 77 | 525 | 10% |
| 2008 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 120 | 679 | 6% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 78 | 491 | 1.3% |
| 2006 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 67 | 397 | 4.5% |
| 2005 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 76 | 426 | 6.6% |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 354 | 0% |
| 2003 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 88 | 418 | 6.8% |
| 2002 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 92 | 427 | 7.6% |
| 2001 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 89 | 450 | 4.5% |
| 2000 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 254 | 911 | 2% |
| 1999 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 163 | 809 | 3% |
| 1998 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 144 | 830 | 1% |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 469 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 172, 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 172 in 2026?
GMU 172 is in Bear Management Unit 3, Southeast, which also takes in GMUs 145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 169, 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 172?
48.6% of GMU 172 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 33,639 of its 69,235 acres. The largest share is national forest, 22,930 acres or 33.1% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 770 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 172 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 22,930 | 33.1% |
| WDFW land | 9,109 | 13.2% |
| BLM | 830 | 1.2% |
| DNR state trust land | 770 | 1.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 194 | 0.3% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 6 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 172, by WDFW's own boundaries: Chief Joseph Wildlife Area (11,096 acres here; units Grouse Flats and 4-O Ranch).
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 172?
Highways through the unit: SR 129 (about 6 miles inside it). Nearby: Asotin (15 miles) and Clarkston (20 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 172?
GMU 172 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 169 | Wenaha | 100% | 8 | 73 |
| GMU 175 | Lick Creek | 94.7% | 8 | 139 |
| GMU 181 | Couse | 13.3% | 3 | 57 |
| GMU 186 | Grande Ronde | 48.9% | 6 | 36 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 172 in 2026?
GMU 172 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 172?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 172 in 2025 (3 males, 5 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 18, in 2022.
How much public land is in GMU 172?
48.6% of GMU 172, 33,639 of its 69,235 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 172?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Asotin (15 miles) and Clarkston (20 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 172
Beginning on the Washington-Oregon state line at US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 3100; N on USFS Trail 3100 to USFS Trail 3133 (Three Forks Trail); SE on USFS Trail 3133 (Three Forks Trail) to USFS Rd 4039 (South Boundary Rd); NE on USFS Rd 4039 to USFS Rd 40 (Mountain Rd); N on USFS Rd 40 to USFS Rd 44 (Mount Misery-Big Butte Rd) at Misery junction; E on USFS Rd 44 to USFS Rd 43; E on USFS Rd 43 to USFS Rd 4304; E on USFS Rd 4304 to West Mountain Rd; NE on the West Mountain Rd to Bennett Ridge Rd; N on Bennett Ridge Rd to Mill Rd; E on Mill Rd to State Route (SR) 129 at the town of Anatone; SW on SR 129 to the Washington-Oregon state line; due W on the Washington-Oregon state line to USFS Trail 3100 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 169 GMU 175 GMU 181 GMU 186