Couse GMU 181 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 3 black bears taken in GMU 181 Couse in 2025. 57 bear hunters reported 623 days here, a success rate of 5.2% by WDFW's count. GMU 181 is 13.3% public land open to hunting, the largest share WDFW land (17,418 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 181Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 1, Eastern Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 170,249 acres (266 square miles) |
| Counties | Asotin |
| Public land open to hunting | 13.3% (22,722 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 3 (5 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 57 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 3, Southeast) |
| Towns in and near it | Asotin, Anatone, Clarkston, Uniontown and Colton |
Also for GMU 181: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 181?
WDFW reports 3 black bears taken in GMU 181 in 2025, against 5 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 15, in 2022. WDFW's figures average 6 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 2 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 57 | 623 | 5.2% |
| 2024 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40 | 328 | 12.6% |
| 2023 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 235 | 7.6% |
| 2022 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 57 | 440 | 26.4% |
| 2021 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 50 | 262 | 10% |
| 2020 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 40 | 212 | 10% |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 252 | 0% |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 52 | 307 | 3.8% |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 287 | 0% |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 65 | 319 | 7.6% |
| 2015 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 40 | 222 | 15% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 191 | 2.4% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 41 | 220 | 9.8% |
| 2012 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 225 | 4.8% |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 157 | 0% |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 241 | 0% |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 208 | 0% |
| 2008 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 69 | 294 | 10% |
| 2007 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 336 | 2.2% |
| 2006 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 37 | 205 | 16.2% |
| 2005 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33 | 163 | 9.1% |
| 2004 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 49 | 218 | 8.2% |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 306 | 0% |
| 2002 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 62 | 317 | 6.5% |
| 2001 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 78 | 382 | 9% |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 257 | 1,064 | 0% |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 251 | 1,516 | 0% |
| 1998 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 39 | 85 | 15% |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 89 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 181, 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 181 in 2026?
GMU 181 is in Bear Management Unit 3, Southeast, which also takes in GMUs 145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 169, 172, 175, 178 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 181?
13.3% of GMU 181 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 22,722 of its 170,249 acres. The largest share is WDFW land, 17,418 acres or 10.2% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 3,370 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 181 |
|---|---|---|
| WDFW land | 17,418 | 10.2% |
| DNR state trust land | 3,370 | 2% |
| BLM | 1,915 | 1.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 787 | 0.5% |
| National forest | 19 | under 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 4 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 181, by WDFW's own boundaries: Asotin Creek Wildlife Area (13,175 acres here; units Asotin Creek and George Creek) and Chief Joseph Wildlife Area (4,280 acres here; units Chief Joseph and Shumaker).
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 181?
Highways through the unit: SR 129 (about 28 miles inside it). Towns inside: Asotin and Anatone. Nearby: Clarkston (5 miles), Uniontown (14 miles), Colton (16 miles) and Pomeroy (20 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 181?
GMU 181 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 172 | Mountain View | 48.6% | 8 | 100 |
| GMU 175 | Lick Creek | 94.7% | 8 | 139 |
| GMU 178 | Peola | 4.8% | 0 | 17 |
| GMU 186 | Grande Ronde | 48.9% | 6 | 36 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 181 in 2026?
GMU 181 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 181?
WDFW reports 3 black bears taken in GMU 181 in 2025 (3 males, 0 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 15, in 2022.
How much public land is in GMU 181?
13.3% of GMU 181, 22,722 of its 170,249 acres, is national forest, BLM, DNR trust, WDFW, Reclamation or national recreation area land; the largest share is WDFW land. Measured by FilledTag from WA DNR's public land maps.
What town is closest to GMU 181?
Asotin and Anatone are inside the unit. Just outside: Clarkston (5 miles), Uniontown (14 miles) and Colton (16 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 181
Beginning at the mouth of Asotin Creek on the Snake River at the town of Asotin; S along the Snake River (Washington-Idaho state line) to the Grande Ronde River; W along the north shore of Grande Ronde River to State Route (SR) 129; NW on SR 129 to Mill Rd in the town of Anatone; W on Mill Rd to Bennett Ridge Rd; S and W on Bennett Ridge Rd to West Mountain Rd; SW on West Mountain Rd to Umatilla National Forest eastern boundary fence at Big Butte; N along the Umatilla National Forest boundary fence to Cloverland Rd; NE on Cloverland Rd to the first, southernmost intersection with Parsons Rd (Back Rd); N on Parsons Rd (Back Rd) to Campbell Grade Rd; W on the Campbell Grade Rd to South Fork Asotin Creek Rd; NE on South Fork Asotin Creek Rd to Asotin Creek; NE down Asotin Creek to the Snake River at the town of Asotin 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 172 GMU 175 GMU 186