Manson GMU 243 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 17 black bears taken in GMU 243 Manson in 2025. 152 bear hunters reported 888 days here, a success rate of 11.2% by WDFW's count. GMU 243 is 72.1% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (153,565 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 areaOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 243Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 227,512 acres (355 square miles) |
| Counties | Chelan |
| Public land open to hunting | 72.1% (164,010 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 17 (6 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 152 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan) |
| Towns in and near it | Chelan, Manson, Pateros, Bridgeport and Waterville |
Also for GMU 243: deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 243?
WDFW reports 17 black bears taken in GMU 243 in 2025, against 6 in 2024. The most in one year since 2000 was 43, in 2023. WDFW's figures average 23 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 | 5 | 12 | 152 | 888 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 114 | 584 | 5.2% |
| 2023 | 43 | 27 | 16 | 179 | 1,002 | 24% |
| 2022 | 29 | 13 | 16 | 153 | 848 | 19% |
| 2021 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 155 | 849 | 14.2% |
| 2020 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 160 | 916 | 8.8% |
| 2019 | 24 | 18 | 6 | 160 | 731 | 15% |
| 2018 | 27 | 17 | 10 | 174 | 1,035 | 15.6% |
| 2017 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 143 | 691 | 9% |
| 2016 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 153 | 924 | 5.2% |
| 2015 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 139 | 782 | 5.8% |
| 2014 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 152 | 775 | 10.5% |
| 2013 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 141 | 627 | 8.5% |
| 2012 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 117 | 696 | 17.1% |
| 2011 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 683 | 11.8% |
| 2010 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 135 | 731 | 16.3% |
| 2009 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 130 | 716 | 6% |
| 2008 | 23 | 18 | 5 | 136 | 636 | 17% |
| 2007 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 90 | 465 | 13.3% |
| 2006 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 105 | 666 | 18.1% |
| 2005 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 106 | 607 | 3.8% |
| 2004 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 91 | 431 | 11% |
| 2003 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 73 | 372 | 4.1% |
| 2002 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 76 | 825 | 13.2% |
| 2001 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 118 | 541 | 9.3% |
| 2000 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 212 | 906 | 3% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 243, 2000 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 243 in 2026?
GMU 243 is in Bear Management Unit 5, Okanogan, which also takes in GMUs 203, 209, 215, 218, 224, 231, 233, 239 and 242. 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 243?
72.1% of GMU 243 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 164,010 of its 227,512 acres. The largest share is national forest, 153,565 acres or 67.5% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 2,023 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 243 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 153,565 | 67.5% |
| BLM | 5,956 | 2.6% |
| National recreation area | 2,283 | 1% |
| DNR state trust land | 2,023 | 0.9% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 252 | 0.1% |
| WDFW land | 183 | 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 243, by WDFW's own boundaries: Chelan Wildlife Area (242 acres here; units Chelan Butte and Beebe Springs).
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 243?
Highways through the unit: SR 150 (about 12 miles inside it) and US 97 (about 10 miles inside it). Towns inside: Chelan and Manson. Nearby: Pateros (6 miles), Bridgeport (10 miles), Waterville (12 miles) and Brewster (12 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 243?
GMU 243 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 242 | Alta | 86.8% | 17 | 180 |
| GMU 244 | Clark | 99.5% | 9 | 112 |
| GMU 246 | Slide Ridge | 99.4% | 0 | 33 |
| GMU 247 | Entiat | 75% | 5 | 130 |
| GMU 262 | Withrow | 5.7% | 0 | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 243 in 2026?
GMU 243 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 243?
WDFW reports 17 black bears taken in GMU 243 in 2025 (5 males, 12 females). The most in one year since 2000 was 43, in 2023.
How much public land is in GMU 243?
72.1% of GMU 243, 164,010 of its 227,512 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 243?
Chelan and Manson are inside the unit. Just outside: Pateros (6 miles), Bridgeport (10 miles) and Waterville (12 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 243
Beginning at the Chelan River in the town of Chelan, northwest to Lake Chelan; NW along the south shore of Lake Chelan to the Stehekin River; SE along the north shore of Lake Chelan to the Lake Chelan National Recreation boundary; NE along the National Recreation Area boundary to Sawtooth Ridge; SE along Sawtooth Ridge line (Chelan-Okanogan county line) to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 8020 (Cooper Mtn Rd) at Fox Peak; SE on USFS Rd 8020 to USFS Rd 8140 (Antoine Creek Rd); SE on USFS Rd 8140 to Apple Acres Rd; NE on Apple Acres Rd to US Hwy (US) 97; NE on US 97 to Azwell Rd; SE on Azwell Rd to the Wells Dam service road; NE on the said service road to Wells Dam on the Columbia River; SW down the Columbia River (Chelan-Douglas county line) to the Chelan River; NW up the Chelan River to the town of Chelan 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 242 GMU 244 GMU 247