Wannacut GMU 209 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 5 black bears taken in GMU 209 Wannacut in 2025. 69 bear hunters reported 331 days here, a success rate of 7.2% by WDFW's count. GMU 209 is 26.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share BLM (21,758 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.
BLMDNR state trust landWDFW landNational wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Bureau of ReclamationOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 209Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 116,075 acres (181 square miles) |
| Counties | Okanogan |
| Public land open to hunting | 26.8% (31,131 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 5 (4 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 69 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan) |
| Towns in and near it | Oroville, Tonasket, Riverside and Conconully |
Also for GMU 209: deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 209?
WDFW reports 5 black bears taken in GMU 209 in 2025, against 4 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 14, in 2002. WDFW's figures average 6 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 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 69 | 331 | 7.2% |
| 2024 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 81 | 458 | 5% |
| 2023 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 59 | 298 | 8.4% |
| 2022 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 69 | 463 | 10.2% |
| 2021 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 61 | 548 | 16.4% |
| 2020 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 58 | 559 | 10.4% |
| 2019 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 75 | 491 | 12% |
| 2018 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 66 | 450 | 10.6% |
| 2017 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 58 | 348 | 10% |
| 2016 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 76 | 401 | 11.8% |
| 2015 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 72 | 360 | 5.6% |
| 2014 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 85 | 494 | 12.9% |
| 2013 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 83 | 444 | 7.2% |
| 2012 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 56 | 298 | 10.7% |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 410 | 10.1% |
| 2010 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 71 | 364 | 8.5% |
| 2009 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 65 | 343 | 8% |
| 2008 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 76 | 366 | 5% |
| 2007 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 61 | 391 | 9.8% |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 67 | 354 | 1.5% |
| 2005 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 56 | 256 | 8.9% |
| 2004 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 66 | 388 | 13.6% |
| 2003 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 59 | 354 | 6.8% |
| 2002 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 105 | 563 | 13.3% |
| 2001 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 124 | 711 | 6.5% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 198 | 521 | 1% |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 493 | 0% |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 68 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 209, 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 209 in 2026?
GMU 209 is in Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan, which also takes in GMUs 203, 215, 218, 224, 231, 233, 239, 242 and 243. The 2026 fall general season there runs August 15-November 15, and the bag limit is 1. 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 209?
26.8% of GMU 209 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 31,131 of its 116,075 acres. The largest share is BLM, 21,758 acres or 18.7% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 6,274 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 209 |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 21,758 | 18.7% |
| DNR state trust land | 6,274 | 5.4% |
| WDFW land | 2,737 | 2.4% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 362 | 0.3% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 104 | 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 22 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 209, by WDFW's own boundaries: Scotch Creek Wildlife Area (1,510 acres here) and Sinlahekin Wildlife Area (1,205 acres here; units Driscoll Island and Horse Spring Coulee).
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 209?
Highways through the unit: US 97 (about 6 miles inside it). Towns inside: Oroville. Nearby: Tonasket (on the line), Riverside (12 miles), Conconully (14 miles) and Omak (18 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 209?
GMU 209 touches 2 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 204 | Okanogan East | 47.7% | 42 | 647 |
| GMU 215 | Sinlahekin | 72.4% | 19 | 249 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 209 in 2026?
GMU 209 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 5 (Okanogan), where the 2026 fall general season runs August 15-November 15 with a bag limit of 1, 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 209?
WDFW reports 5 black bears taken in GMU 209 in 2025 (3 males, 2 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 14, in 2002.
How much public land is in GMU 209?
26.8% of GMU 209, 31,131 of its 116,075 acres, is national forest, BLM, DNR trust, WDFW, Reclamation or national recreation area land; the largest share is BLM. Measured by FilledTag from WA DNR's public land maps.
What town is closest to GMU 209?
Oroville is inside the unit. Just outside: Tonasket (on the line), Riverside (12 miles) and Conconully (14 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 209
Beginning where the Similkameen Rd crosses the US-Canadian border; E on the US-Canadian border to the eastern shore of Lake Osoyoos; S along the eastern shore of Lake Osoyoos and the eastern shore of Okanogan River to the Fourth Street Bridge at the town of Tonasket; NW on Fourth Street on the Fourth Street Bridge to County Hwy 7; S on County Hwy 7 to North Pine Creek Rd; SW on North Pine Creek Rd to the Horse Springs Coulee Rd, north of Aeneas Lake; N on Horse Springs Coulee Road to Loomis-Oroville Rd, west of Spectacle Lake; W and N on Loomis-Oroville Rd to Similkameen Rd; N on the Similkameen Rd 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 204 GMU 215