Chiliwist GMU 239 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 13 black bears taken in GMU 239 Chiliwist in 2025. 136 bear hunters reported 1,025 days here, a success rate of 9.6% by WDFW's count. GMU 239 is 51.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (61,491 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 landGMU 239Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 227,497 acres (355 square miles) |
| Counties | Okanogan |
| Public land open to hunting | 51.8% (117,834 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 13 (6 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 136 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan) |
| Towns in and near it | Brewster, Pateros, Malott, Okanogan, Twisp and Omak |
Also for GMU 239: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 239?
WDFW reports 13 black bears taken in GMU 239 in 2025, against 6 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 25, in 2017. WDFW's figures average 11 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 13 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 136 | 1,025 | 9.6% |
| 2024 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 140 | 978 | 4.2% |
| 2023 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 119 | 738 | 5.8% |
| 2022 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 153 | 962 | 6.6% |
| 2021 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 147 | 854 | 13% |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 131 | 797 | 6.8% |
| 2019 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 159 | 900 | 7.6% |
| 2018 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 162 | 1,220 | 5% |
| 2017 | 25 | 14 | 11 | 172 | 1,144 | 15% |
| 2016 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 160 | 897 | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 146 | 921 | 10.3% |
| 2014 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 116 | 692 | 8.6% |
| 2013 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 149 | 863 | 3.4% |
| 2012 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 135 | 854 | 4.4% |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 834 | 4.3% |
| 2010 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 146 | 985 | 12.3% |
| 2009 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 125 | 774 | 8% |
| 2008 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 165 | 903 | 6% |
| 2007 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 150 | 892 | 9.3% |
| 2006 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 154 | 982 | 9.7% |
| 2005 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 145 | 1,191 | 5.5% |
| 2004 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 149 | 942 | 3.4% |
| 2003 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 121 | 755 | 1.7% |
| 2002 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 166 | 1,273 | 6% |
| 2001 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 147 | 1,898 | 9.5% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 239 | 1,299 | 0% |
| 1999 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 230 | 2,150 | 2% |
| 1998 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 130 | 691 | 3% |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 308 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 239, 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 239 in 2026?
GMU 239 is in Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan, which also takes in GMUs 203, 209, 215, 218, 224, 231, 233, 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 239?
51.8% of GMU 239 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 117,834 of its 227,497 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 61,491 acres or 27% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 61,491 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 239 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 61,491 | 27% |
| National forest | 40,748 | 17.9% |
| WDFW land | 10,567 | 4.6% |
| BLM | 5,028 | 2.2% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 239, by WDFW's own boundaries: Wells Wildlife Area (5,195 acres here; units Indian Dan Canyon and Okanogan), Sinlahekin Wildlife Area (4,855 acres here), Methow Wildlife Area (1,504 acres here; units Texas Creek and Methow) and Chelan Wildlife Area (1,223 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 239?
Highways through the unit: SR 20 (about 20 miles inside it), SR 153 (about 17 miles inside it) and US 97 (about 11 miles inside it). Towns inside: Brewster, Pateros and Malott. Nearby: Okanogan (on the line), Twisp (2 miles), Omak (5 miles) and Bridgeport (7 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 239?
GMU 239 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 224 | Pearrygin | 87.1% | 3 | 110 |
| GMU 233 | Pogue | 45.7% | 6 | 148 |
| GMU 242 | Alta | 86.8% | 17 | 180 |
| GMU 260 | Foster Creek | 17.9% | 0 | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 239 in 2026?
GMU 239 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 239?
WDFW reports 13 black bears taken in GMU 239 in 2025 (8 males, 5 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 25, in 2017.
How much public land is in GMU 239?
51.8% of GMU 239, 117,834 of its 227,497 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 239?
Brewster, Pateros and Malott are inside the unit. Just outside: Okanogan (on the line), Twisp (2 miles) and Omak (5 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 239
Beginning at the intersection of State Route (SR) 153 and SR 20, southeast of the town of Twisp; E on SR 20, past Loup Loup Summit, to the SR 20 bridge crossing over the Okanogan River at the town of Okanogan; SE on the said bridge to the Okanogan River; S along the Okanogan River to the Columbia River (Douglas-Okanogan county line); W along the Columbia River (Douglas-Okanogan county line) to a point on the county line due east of the US Hwy (US) 97 bridge crossing the mouth of the Methow River at the town of Pateros; SE on US 97 to SR 153; NW and N on SR 153 to SR 20, southeast of the town of Twisp, 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 224 GMU 233 GMU 242