Okanogan East GMU 204 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 42 black bears taken in GMU 204 Okanogan East in 2025. 647 bear hunters reported 4,477 days here, a success rate of 6.4% by WDFW's count. GMU 204 is 47.7% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (239,137 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)Bureau of ReclamationOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 204Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 638,769 acres (998 square miles) |
| Counties | Okanogan and Ferry |
| Public land open to hunting | 47.7% (304,441 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 42 (73 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 647 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 4, Okanogan Highlands) |
| Towns in and near it | Tonasket, Oroville, Republic and Riverside |
Also for GMU 204: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 204?
WDFW reports 42 black bears taken in GMU 204 in 2025, against 73 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 73, in 2024. WDFW's figures average 63 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 50 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 42 | 26 | 16 | 647 | 4,477 | 6.4% |
| 2024 | 73 | 49 | 24 | 631 | 4,407 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 63 | 45 | 18 | 744 | 5,419 | 8.4% |
| 2022 | 64 | 47 | 17 | 678 | 4,405 | 9.4% |
| 2021 | 73 | 44 | 29 | 703 | 4,770 | 10.4% |
| 2020 | 44 | 34 | 10 | 615 | 3,925 | 7.2% |
| 2019 | 44 | 30 | 14 | 603 | 3,816 | 7.2% |
| 2018 | 47 | 31 | 16 | 636 | 3,929 | 7.4% |
| 2017 | 47 | 30 | 17 | 665 | 4,195 | 7% |
| 2016 | 69 | 51 | 18 | 683 | 4,457 | 10.2% |
| 2015 | 48 | 33 | 15 | 626 | 3,691 | 7.7% |
| 2014 | 60 | 38 | 22 | 676 | 3,901 | 8.9% |
| 2013 | 42 | 32 | 10 | 628 | 3,583 | 6.7% |
| 2012 | 55 | 37 | 18 | 566 | 3,332 | 9.7% |
| 2011 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 575 | 3,629 | 6.8% |
| 2010 | 33 | 23 | 10 | 612 | 3,718 | 5.4% |
| 2009 | 45 | 33 | 12 | 610 | 3,600 | 7% |
| 2008 | 45 | 30 | 15 | 675 | 4,252 | 7% |
| 2007 | 39 | 26 | 13 | 663 | 3,906 | 5.9% |
| 2006 | 35 | 26 | 9 | 568 | 3,537 | 6.2% |
| 2005 | 53 | 40 | 13 | 524 | 3,362 | 10.1% |
| 2004 | 47 | 34 | 13 | 582 | 3,669 | 8.1% |
| 2003 | 58 | 40 | 18 | 607 | 4,041 | 9.6% |
| 2002 | 45 | 35 | 10 | 585 | 5,315 | 7.7% |
| 2001 | 35 | 20 | 15 | 598 | 3,606 | 5.9% |
| 2000 | 56 | 30 | 26 | 1,027 | 4,928 | 5% |
| 1999 | 33 | 24 | 9 | 933 | 6,636 | 4% |
| 1998 | 44 | 27 | 17 | 489 | 1,889 | 9% |
| 1997 | 26 | 16 | 10 | 264 | 984 | 10% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 204, 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 204 in 2026?
GMU 204 is in Bear Management Unit 4, Okanogan Highlands, which also takes in GMU 101. 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 204?
47.7% of GMU 204 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 304,441 of its 638,769 acres. The largest share is national forest, 239,137 acres or 37.4% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 45,939 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 204 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 239,137 | 37.4% |
| DNR state trust land | 45,939 | 7.2% |
| WDFW land | 12,123 | 1.9% |
| BLM | 7,141 | 1.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 110 | under 0.1% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 101 | under 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 13 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 204, by WDFW's own boundaries: Scotch Creek Wildlife Area (11,569 acres here; units Tunk Valley, Chesaw and Charles And Mary Eder), Sinlahekin Wildlife Area (253 acres here; units McLoughlin Falls, Driscoll Island and Sinlahekin) and Sherman Creek Wildlife Area (143 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 204?
Highways through the unit: SR 20 (about 34 miles inside it), US 97 (about 20 miles inside it) and SR 21 (about 7 miles inside it). Towns inside: Tonasket. Nearby: Oroville (on the line), Republic (on the line), Riverside (on the line) and Omak (5 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 204?
GMU 204 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 101 | Sherman | 72.8% | 42 | 649 |
| GMU 209 | Wannacut | 26.8% | 5 | 69 |
| GMU 215 | Sinlahekin | 72.4% | 19 | 249 |
| GMU 233 | Pogue | 45.7% | 6 | 148 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 204 in 2026?
GMU 204 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 4 (Okanogan Highlands), 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 204?
WDFW reports 42 black bears taken in GMU 204 in 2025 (26 males, 16 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 73, in 2024.
How much public land is in GMU 204?
47.7% of GMU 204, 304,441 of its 638,769 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 204?
Tonasket is inside the unit. Just outside: Oroville (on the line), Republic (on the line) and Riverside (on the line).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 204
Beginning on the eastern shore of Osoyoos Lake and the US-Canadian border; E on the US-Canadian border to the Kettle River near the Ferry Customs Office, north of the town of Toroda; S down the Kettle River to the mouth of Toroda Creek; W up Toroda Creek to Toroda Creek Rd; SW on Toroda Creek Rd to State Route (SR) 20 at the town of Wauconda; E on SR 20 to SR 21 at the town of Republic; S on SR 21 to the northern border of the Colville Indian reservation; W on the northern border of the Colville Indian reservation to the Okanogan River; N up the eastern shore of the Okanogan River and the eastern shore of Osoyoos Lake to the US-Canadian border 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 2 GMU 101 GMU 209 GMU 215 GMU 233