Lick Creek GMU 175 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 8 black bears taken in GMU 175 Lick Creek in 2025. 139 bear hunters reported 805 days here, a success rate of 5.8% by WDFW's count. GMU 175 is 94.7% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (72,007 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 forestDNR state trust landWDFW landGMU 175Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 1, Eastern Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 99,807 acres (156 square miles) |
| Counties | Garfield and Asotin |
| Public land open to hunting | 94.7% (94,481 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 8 (7 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 139 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 3, Southeast) |
| Towns in and near it | Asotin, Pomeroy and Clarkston |
Also for GMU 175: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 175?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 175 in 2025, against 7 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 15, in 2020. WDFW's figures average 6 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 10 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 139 | 805 | 5.8% |
| 2024 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 118 | 673 | 6% |
| 2023 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 87 | 494 | 8% |
| 2022 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 106 | 751 | 3.8% |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 80 | 437 | 5% |
| 2020 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 168 | 906 | 9% |
| 2019 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 166 | 861 | 4.8% |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 159 | 979 | 3.8% |
| 2017 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 188 | 1,171 | 7% |
| 2016 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 155 | 883 | 4.6% |
| 2015 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 183 | 1,196 | 3.3% |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 168 | 1,027 | 2.4% |
| 2013 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 177 | 1,146 | 2.3% |
| 2012 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 181 | 1,226 | 4.4% |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 171 | 1,074 | 2.3% |
| 2010 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 163 | 1,143 | 6.7% |
| 2009 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 164 | 1,152 | 4% |
| 2008 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 138 | 881 | 2% |
| 2007 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 156 | 896 | 7.7% |
| 2006 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 97 | 628 | 8.2% |
| 2005 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 122 | 753 | 3.3% |
| 2004 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 130 | 838 | 3.1% |
| 2003 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 98 | 666 | 6.1% |
| 2002 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 104 | 635 | 2.9% |
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 101 | 694 | 1% |
| 2000 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 424 | 1,737 | 1% |
| 1999 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 458 | 2,458 | 2% |
| 1998 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 102 | 376 | 6% |
| 1997 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 70 | 201 | 6% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 175, 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 175 in 2026?
GMU 175 is in Bear Management Unit 3, Southeast, which also takes in GMUs 145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 169, 172, 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 175?
94.7% of GMU 175 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 94,481 of its 99,807 acres. The largest share is national forest, 72,007 acres or 72.1% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 6,438 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 175 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 72,007 | 72.1% |
| WDFW land | 16,036 | 16.1% |
| DNR state trust land | 6,438 | 6.5% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 175, by WDFW's own boundaries: Asotin Creek Wildlife Area (20,940 acres here; units Asotin Creek and Weatherly).
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 175?
No numbered highway crosses the unit. Nearby: Asotin (12 miles), Pomeroy (13 miles), Clarkston (14 miles) and Dayton (19 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 175?
GMU 175 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 166 | Tucannon | 96.3% | 2 | 121 |
| GMU 169 | Wenaha | 100% | 8 | 73 |
| GMU 172 | Mountain View | 48.6% | 8 | 100 |
| GMU 178 | Peola | 4.8% | 0 | 17 |
| GMU 181 | Couse | 13.3% | 3 | 57 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 175 in 2026?
GMU 175 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 175?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 175 in 2025 (4 males, 4 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 15, in 2020.
How much public land is in GMU 175?
94.7% of GMU 175, 94,481 of its 99,807 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 175?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Asotin (12 miles), Pomeroy (13 miles) and Clarkston (14 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 175
Beginning at the intersection of US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 40 (Mountain Rd) and the elk drift fence on the Umatilla National Forest's northern boundary; E along the elk drift fence to where it meets the eastern border section line of Section 2, T9N, R43E; due S on the eastern section line of Section 2, T9N, R43E to Charley Creek; E down Charley Creek to Asotin Creek; S down Asotin Creek to the South Fork Asotin Creek Rd; S up the South Fork Asotin Creek Rd to Campbell Grade Rd; E on the Campbell Grade Rd to Parsons Rd (Back Rd); S on Parsons Rd (Back Rd) to the Cloverland Rd; S on Cloverland Rd to its junction with the Umatilla National Forest's eastern boundary fence; E and S on the USFS boundary fence past Big Butte to USFS Rd 4303 (Big Butte Rd-Mount Misery Rd); W on USFS Rd 4304 to USFS Rd 43; W on USFS Rd 43 to USFS Rd 44; W on USFS Rd 44 to USFS Rd 40 (Mountain Rd) at Misery junction; NW on USFS Rd 40 (Mountain Rd) to the intersection with the elk drift fence on the Umatilla National Forest's northern boundary 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 166 GMU 169 GMU 172 GMU 181