Gardner GMU 231 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 5 black bears taken in GMU 231 Gardner in 2025. 75 bear hunters reported 330 days here, a success rate of 6.6% by WDFW's count. GMU 231 is 89% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (133,212 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)National park or historic site (no hunting)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 231Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 161,324 acres (252 square miles) |
| Counties | Okanogan |
| Public land open to hunting | 89% (143,600 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 5 (9 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 75 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan) |
| Towns in and near it | Winthrop and Twisp |
Also for GMU 231: deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 231?
WDFW reports 5 black bears taken in GMU 231 in 2025, against 9 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 18, in 2019. WDFW's figures average 8 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 12 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 75 | 330 | 6.6% |
| 2024 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 113 | 629 | 8% |
| 2023 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 79 | 459 | 7.6% |
| 2022 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 82 | 389 | 11% |
| 2021 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 107 | 445 | 8.4% |
| 2020 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 94 | 448 | 10.6% |
| 2019 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 98 | 538 | 18.4% |
| 2018 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 124 | 653 | 8% |
| 2017 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 136 | 745 | 10% |
| 2016 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 110 | 505 | 7.2% |
| 2015 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 85 | 505 | 4.7% |
| 2014 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 89 | 536 | 10.1% |
| 2013 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 97 | 545 | 5.2% |
| 2012 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 94 | 602 | 8.5% |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 454 | 6.1% |
| 2010 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 115 | 716 | 3.5% |
| 2009 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 80 | 436 | 5% |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 535 | 0% |
| 2007 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 124 | 746 | 7.3% |
| 2006 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 109 | 587 | 9.2% |
| 2005 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 123 | 624 | 4.1% |
| 2004 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 129 | 750 | 7.8% |
| 2003 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 147 | 933 | 4.1% |
| 2002 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 206 | 1,493 | 6.3% |
| 2001 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 198 | 1,232 | 5.6% |
| 2000 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 469 | 2,020 | 1% |
| 1999 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 460 | 2,209 | 1% |
| 1998 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 125 | 360 | 6% |
| 1997 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 206 | 678 | 5% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 231, 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 231 in 2026?
GMU 231 is in Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan, which also takes in GMUs 203, 209, 215, 218, 224, 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 231?
89% of GMU 231 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 143,600 of its 161,324 acres. The largest share is national forest, 133,212 acres or 82.6% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 4,814 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 231 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 133,212 | 82.6% |
| WDFW land | 5,361 | 3.3% |
| DNR state trust land | 4,814 | 3% |
| BLM | 213 | 0.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 122 | 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 43 | under 0.1% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 3 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 231, by WDFW's own boundaries: Methow Wildlife Area (6,104 acres here; units Big Buck 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 231?
Highways through the unit: SR 20 (about 19 miles inside it). Towns inside: Winthrop. Nearby: Twisp (on the line).
Which GMUs border GMU 231?
GMU 231 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 218 | Chewuch | 94.8% | 11 | 233 |
| GMU 224 | Pearrygin | 87.1% | 3 | 110 |
| GMU 242 | Alta | 86.8% | 17 | 180 |
| GMU 426 | Diablo | 93.5% | 6 | 34 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 231 in 2026?
GMU 231 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 231?
WDFW reports 5 black bears taken in GMU 231 in 2025 (3 males, 2 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 18, in 2019.
How much public land is in GMU 231?
89% of GMU 231, 143,600 of its 161,324 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 231?
Winthrop is inside the unit. Just outside: Twisp (on the line).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 231
Beginning at the crossing of US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) and State Route (SR) 20; S and E on SR 20 to the Twisp River Rd at the town of Twisp; W on the Twisp River Rd (USFS Rd 44, USFS Rd 4440) to USFS Trail 432 (North Fork Twisp River Trail) at the Roads End Campground; W on USFS Trail 432 to North Cascades National Park boundary at Twisp Pass; N and W on North Cascades National Park boundary to the Skagit-Chelan county line; E on the Skagit-Chelan county line to USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail); N on USFS Trail 2000 to SR 20 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 218 GMU 224 GMU 242 GMU 426