Alta GMU 242 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 17 black bears taken in GMU 242 Alta in 2025. 180 bear hunters reported 1,225 days here, a success rate of 9.4% by WDFW's count. GMU 242 is 86.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (229,838 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 recreation areaNational park or historic site (no hunting)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 242Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 278,211 acres (435 square miles) |
| Counties | Okanogan |
| Public land open to hunting | 86.8% (241,418 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 17 (14 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 180 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan) |
| Towns in and near it | Methow, Twisp, Pateros and Winthrop |
Also for GMU 242: deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 242?
WDFW reports 17 black bears taken in GMU 242 in 2025, against 14 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 38, in 2022. WDFW's figures average 20 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 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 180 | 1,225 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 137 | 944 | 10.2% |
| 2023 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 197 | 1,246 | 6.6% |
| 2022 | 38 | 17 | 21 | 208 | 1,061 | 18.2% |
| 2021 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 168 | 1,058 | 9.6% |
| 2020 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 172 | 1,000 | 8.8% |
| 2019 | 25 | 19 | 6 | 163 | 894 | 15.4% |
| 2018 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 148 | 756 | 9.4% |
| 2017 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 206 | 1,183 | 5% |
| 2016 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 228 | 1,327 | 8.4% |
| 2015 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 191 | 1,110 | 6.3% |
| 2014 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 186 | 1,011 | 8.1% |
| 2013 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 189 | 1,020 | 8.5% |
| 2012 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 225 | 1,151 | 10.7% |
| 2011 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 194 | 1,090 | 7.2% |
| 2010 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 225 | 1,310 | 8.4% |
| 2009 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 223 | 1,259 | 4% |
| 2008 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 251 | 1,364 | 11% |
| 2007 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 235 | 1,252 | 4.3% |
| 2006 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 248 | 1,417 | 5.2% |
| 2005 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 246 | 1,612 | 6.5% |
| 2004 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 233 | 2,558 | 9.4% |
| 2003 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 262 | 1,799 | 6.5% |
| 2002 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 308 | 1,621 | 7.8% |
| 2001 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 276 | 1,878 | 5.4% |
| 2000 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 499 | 2,036 | 3% |
| 1999 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 433 | 2,643 | 1% |
| 1998 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 202 | 474 | 10% |
| 1997 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 44 | 89 | 18% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 242, 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 242 in 2026?
GMU 242 is in Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan, which also takes in GMUs 203, 209, 215, 218, 224, 231, 233, 239 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 242?
86.8% of GMU 242 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 241,418 of its 278,211 acres. The largest share is national forest, 229,838 acres or 82.6% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 5,712 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 242 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 229,838 | 82.6% |
| DNR state trust land | 5,712 | 2.1% |
| BLM | 3,248 | 1.2% |
| WDFW land | 2,436 | 0.9% |
| National recreation area | 184 | 0.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 168 | 0.1% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 9 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 242, by WDFW's own boundaries: Methow Wildlife Area (3,335 acres here; units Hunter Mountain, Texas Creek and Golden Doe).
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 242?
Highways through the unit: SR 153 (about 14 miles inside it) and US 97 (about 8 miles inside it). Towns inside: Methow. Nearby: Twisp (on the line), Pateros (on the line), Winthrop (7 miles) and Brewster (7 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 242?
GMU 242 touches 7 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 231 | Gardner | 89% | 5 | 75 |
| GMU 239 | Chiliwist | 51.8% | 13 | 136 |
| GMU 243 | Manson | 72.1% | 17 | 152 |
| GMU 244 | Clark | 99.5% | 9 | 112 |
| GMU 260 | Foster Creek | 17.9% | 0 | 2 |
| GMU 262 | Withrow | 5.7% | 0 | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 242 in 2026?
GMU 242 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 242?
WDFW reports 17 black bears taken in GMU 242 in 2025 (13 males, 4 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 38, in 2022.
How much public land is in GMU 242?
86.8% of GMU 242, 241,418 of its 278,211 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 242?
Methow is inside the unit. Just outside: Twisp (on the line), Pateros (on the line) and Winthrop (7 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 242
Beginning at the junction of the Sawtooth Ridge line (Chelan-Okanogan county line) and US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 432 at Twisp Pass; E on USFS Trail 432 to Twisp River Rd at the Roads End Campground; E on the Twisp River Rd (USFS Rd 4440, USFS Rd 44,) to State Route (SR) 20 at the town of Twisp; S and E on SR 20 to SR 153; S and SE on SR 153 to US Hwy (US) 97; N on the US 97 to the bridge crossing the mouth of the Methow River at the town of Pateros; E from the US 97 bridge to the Douglas-Okanogan county line in Lake Pateros (Columbia River); S along Douglas- Okanogan county line in Lake Pateros to Wells Dam; SE from Wells Dam, along the dam's service road to Azwell Rd; NW on Azwell Rd to US 97; S on US 97 to Apple Acres Rd; W on Apple Acres Rd to Antoine Creek Rd; NW on the Antoine Creek Rd to USFS Rd 8140; NW on USFS Rd 8140 to USFS Rd 8020 (Manastash Ridge); N on USFS Rd 8020 to the Sawtooth Ridge line (Chelan-Okanogan county line) at Fox Peak; NW on the Sawtooth Ridge line to its intersection with USFS Trail 432 at Twisp 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 224 GMU 231 GMU 239 GMU 243 GMU 244