Chewuch GMU 218 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 11 black bears taken in GMU 218 Chewuch in 2025. 233 bear hunters reported 1,427 days here, a success rate of 4.8% by WDFW's count. GMU 218 is 94.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (279,907 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 landOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 218Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 301,881 acres (472 square miles) |
| Counties | Okanogan |
| Public land open to hunting | 94.8% (286,065 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 11 (24 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 233 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan) |
| Towns in and near it | Winthrop, Twisp and Conconully |
Also for GMU 218: deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 218?
WDFW reports 11 black bears taken in GMU 218 in 2025, against 24 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 36, in 2022. WDFW's figures average 19 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 17 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 233 | 1,427 | 4.8% |
| 2024 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 273 | 1,673 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 20 | 5 | 15 | 189 | 1,054 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 36 | 22 | 14 | 213 | 1,241 | 17% |
| 2021 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 159 | 897 | 3.2% |
| 2020 | 26 | 16 | 10 | 221 | 1,341 | 11.8% |
| 2019 | 26 | 15 | 11 | 265 | 1,877 | 9.8% |
| 2018 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 227 | 1,327 | 4.8% |
| 2017 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 254 | 1,704 | 4% |
| 2016 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 295 | 1,897 | 4.8% |
| 2015 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 244 | 1,465 | 4.5% |
| 2014 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 256 | 1,637 | 3.1% |
| 2013 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 233 | 1,401 | 6% |
| 2012 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 213 | 1,301 | 6.6% |
| 2011 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 231 | 1,254 | 4.8% |
| 2010 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 245 | 1,441 | 3.7% |
| 2009 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 225 | 1,331 | 5% |
| 2008 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 240 | 1,435 | 5% |
| 2007 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 263 | 1,611 | 6.5% |
| 2006 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 195 | 1,172 | 7.2% |
| 2005 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 280 | 1,775 | 3.6% |
| 2004 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 307 | 1,948 | 6.2% |
| 2003 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 298 | 2,072 | 3.7% |
| 2002 | 30 | 13 | 17 | 399 | 2,304 | 7.5% |
| 2001 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 374 | 2,335 | 5.3% |
| 2000 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 664 | 3,415 | 2% |
| 1999 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 663 | 5,109 | 1% |
| 1998 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 268 | 978 | 4% |
| 1997 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 132 | 527 | 5% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 218, 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 218 in 2026?
GMU 218 is in Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan, which also takes in GMUs 203, 209, 215, 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 218?
94.8% of GMU 218 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 286,065 of its 301,881 acres. The largest share is national forest, 279,907 acres or 92.7% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 625 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 218 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 279,907 | 92.7% |
| WDFW land | 5,491 | 1.8% |
| DNR state trust land | 625 | 0.2% |
| BLM | 42 | under 0.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 5 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 218, by WDFW's own boundaries: Methow Wildlife Area (5,653 acres here; units Methow, Rendezvous and Big Valley).
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 218?
Highways through the unit: SR 20 (about 18 miles inside it). Nearby: Winthrop (on the line), Twisp (9 miles) and Conconully (11 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 218?
GMU 218 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 203 | Pasayten | 100% | 5 | 99 |
| GMU 215 | Sinlahekin | 72.4% | 19 | 249 |
| GMU 224 | Pearrygin | 87.1% | 3 | 110 |
| GMU 231 | Gardner | 89% | 5 | 75 |
| GMU 426 | Diablo | 93.5% | 6 | 34 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 218 in 2026?
GMU 218 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 218?
WDFW reports 11 black bears taken in GMU 218 in 2025 (5 males, 6 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 36, in 2022.
How much public land is in GMU 218?
94.8% of GMU 218, 286,065 of its 301,881 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 218?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Winthrop (on the line), Twisp (9 miles) and Conconully (11 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 218
Beginning at Harts Pass on the US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail); N on the USFS Trail 2000 to USFS Trail 576 at Buffalo Pass; E on USFS Trail 576 to its junction with USFS Trail 472; SE overland from the junction of USFS Trails 576 and 472 to the junction of USFS Trails 498 and 575; NE on USFS Trail 575 to the USFS Trail 478 (Robinson Creek Trail); SE on the USFS Trail 478 to the Pasayten Wilderness Area boundary; E on the Pasayten Wilderness Area boundary to USFS Trail 342; S on USFS Trail 342 to USFS Rd 300; SE on USFS Rd 300 to the USFS Rd 39 at Long Swamp Trailhead; S on USFS Rd 39 to USFS Rd 37 (Boulder Creek Rd); SW and S on USFS Rd 37 to the Eastside Chewuch River Rd; S on the Eastside Chewuch River Rd to State Route (SR) 20 at the town of Winthrop; NW on SR 20 to the USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail); N on USFS Trail 2000 to Harts Pass 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 203 GMU 215 GMU 224 GMU 231 GMU 426