Pogue GMU 233 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 6 black bears taken in GMU 233 Pogue in 2025. 148 bear hunters reported 1,115 days here, a success rate of 4% by WDFW's count. GMU 233 is 45.7% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (36,056 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 landBureau of ReclamationOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 233Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 145,923 acres (228 square miles) |
| Counties | Okanogan |
| Public land open to hunting | 45.7% (66,614 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 6 (15 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 148 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan) |
| Towns in and near it | Omak, Okanogan, Conconully, Riverside and Tonasket |
Also for GMU 233: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 233?
WDFW reports 6 black bears taken in GMU 233 in 2025, against 15 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 24, in 2016. WDFW's figures average 14 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 11 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 148 | 1,115 | 4% |
| 2024 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 125 | 857 | 12% |
| 2023 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 149 | 885 | 6% |
| 2022 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 135 | 945 | 15.6% |
| 2021 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 124 | 706 | 17% |
| 2020 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 118 | 616 | 6.8% |
| 2019 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 81 | 415 | 3.8% |
| 2018 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 106 | 486 | 11.4% |
| 2017 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 131 | 645 | 6% |
| 2016 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 213 | 1,209 | 11.2% |
| 2015 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 119 | 766 | 8.4% |
| 2014 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 136 | 750 | 8.8% |
| 2013 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 138 | 736 | 3.6% |
| 2012 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 130 | 884 | 3.8% |
| 2011 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 112 | 634 | 9.8% |
| 2010 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 138 | 728 | 8.7% |
| 2009 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 119 | 714 | 11% |
| 2008 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 143 | 779 | 6% |
| 2007 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 108 | 607 | 3.7% |
| 2006 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 119 | 726 | 14.3% |
| 2005 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 117 | 604 | 12.8% |
| 2004 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 106 | 578 | 6.6% |
| 2003 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 134 | 1,065 | 6% |
| 2002 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 148 | 833 | 8.8% |
| 2001 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 167 | 999 | 6% |
| 2000 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 354 | 1,403 | 2% |
| 1999 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 118 | 1,184 | 3% |
| 1998 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 118 | 234 | 3% |
| 1997 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 66 | 246 | 3% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 233, 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 233 in 2026?
GMU 233 is in Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan, which also takes in GMUs 203, 209, 215, 218, 224, 231, 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 233?
45.7% of GMU 233 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 66,614 of its 145,923 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 36,056 acres or 24.7% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 36,056 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 233 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 36,056 | 24.7% |
| WDFW land | 14,557 | 10% |
| BLM | 8,443 | 5.8% |
| National forest | 7,243 | 5% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 315 | 0.2% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 106 | 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 233, by WDFW's own boundaries: Scotch Creek Wildlife Area (11,903 acres here; units Pogue Mountain and Scotch Creek) and Sinlahekin Wildlife Area (2,584 acres here; units Buzzard Lake and Sinlahekin).
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 233?
Highways through the unit: SR 20 (about 16 miles inside it), US 97 (about 7 miles inside it) and SR 215 (about 6 miles inside it). Towns inside: Omak and Okanogan. Nearby: Conconully (on the line), Riverside (on the line), Tonasket (10 miles) and Twisp (10 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 233?
GMU 233 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 204 | Okanogan East | 47.7% | 42 | 647 |
| GMU 215 | Sinlahekin | 72.4% | 19 | 249 |
| GMU 224 | Pearrygin | 87.1% | 3 | 110 |
| GMU 239 | Chiliwist | 51.8% | 13 | 136 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 233 in 2026?
GMU 233 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 233?
WDFW reports 6 black bears taken in GMU 233 in 2025 (4 males, 2 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 24, in 2016.
How much public land is in GMU 233?
45.7% of GMU 233, 66,614 of its 145,923 acres, is national forest, BLM, DNR trust, WDFW, Reclamation or national recreation area land; the largest share is DNR state trust land. Measured by FilledTag from WA DNR's public land maps.
What town is closest to GMU 233?
Omak and Okanogan are inside the unit. Just outside: Conconully (on the line), Riverside (on the line) and Tonasket (10 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 233
Beginning at the intersection of N Main St and Broadway St W in the town of Conconully; N on Main St to Lake St E; E on Lake St E to Sinlahekin Rd; N on Sinlahekin Rd to South Fish Lake Rd; NE on South Fish Lake Rd, along the south end of Fish Lake to Fish Lake Rd; E on Fish Lake Rd to the South Pine Creek Rd; E on the South Pine Creek Rd to US Hwy (US) 97; S on US 97 to its junction with Cutoff Rd at the town of Riverside; NE on Cutoff Rd to 2nd St; E on 2nd St to State St; N on State St to Tunk Creek Rd; NE on Tunk Creek Rd to the Tunk Valley Rd bridge crossing the Okanogan River; S down the Okanogan River, through the town of Omak, to State Route (SR) 20 bridge at the town of Okanogan; W on SR 20 to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 42 (North Summit Rd), east of Loup Loup Summit; N on USFS Rd 42 to West Fork Rd; N on West Fork Rd to Broadway St W in the town of Conconully; E to Main St S 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 GMU 224 GMU 239