Chiwawa GMU 245 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 25 black bears taken in GMU 245 Chiwawa in 2025. 265 bear hunters reported 1,326 days here, a success rate of 9.4% by WDFW's count. GMU 245 is 88.6% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (324,215 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 landOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 245Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 371,479 acres (580 square miles) |
| Counties | Chelan |
| Public land open to hunting | 88.6% (329,223 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 25 (20 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 265 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 6, Central Cascades East) |
| Towns in and near it | Leavenworth, Entiat and Cashmere |
Also for GMU 245: deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 245?
WDFW reports 25 black bears taken in GMU 245 in 2025, against 20 in 2024. The most in one year since 2000 was 51, in 2022. WDFW's figures average 32 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 22 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | 21 | 4 | 265 | 1,326 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 260 | 1,697 | 7.6% |
| 2023 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 325 | 1,847 | 12.6% |
| 2022 | 51 | 25 | 26 | 313 | 1,813 | 16.2% |
| 2021 | 23 | 18 | 5 | 283 | 1,898 | 8.2% |
| 2020 | 22 | 11 | 11 | 332 | 1,829 | 6.6% |
| 2019 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 278 | 1,772 | 9.8% |
| 2018 | 31 | 22 | 9 | 307 | 1,571 | 10% |
| 2017 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 289 | 1,862 | 6% |
| 2016 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 270 | 1,645 | 5.2% |
| 2015 | 25 | 20 | 5 | 299 | 1,687 | 8.4% |
| 2014 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 301 | 1,822 | 4.7% |
| 2013 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 318 | 1,865 | 4.7% |
| 2012 | 30 | 25 | 5 | 319 | 1,916 | 9.4% |
| 2011 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 338 | 1,908 | 5.6% |
| 2010 | 48 | 25 | 23 | 386 | 2,096 | 12.4% |
| 2009 | 22 | 10 | 12 | 297 | 1,844 | 7% |
| 2008 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 326 | 1,888 | 13% |
| 2007 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 277 | 1,443 | 6.5% |
| 2006 | 40 | 21 | 19 | 237 | 1,242 | 16.9% |
| 2005 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 214 | 1,132 | 8.9% |
| 2004 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 196 | 1,399 | 7.7% |
| 2003 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 218 | 1,172 | 8.7% |
| 2002 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 207 | 1,133 | 8.7% |
| 2001 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 199 | 1,160 | 8% |
| 2000 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 460 | 1,745 | 2% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 245, 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 245 in 2026?
GMU 245 is in Bear Management Unit 6, Central Cascades East, which also takes in GMUs 244, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 328, 329, 330, 334 and 335. The 2026 fall general season there runs August 1-November 15, and the bag limit is 2. 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 245?
88.6% of GMU 245 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 329,223 of its 371,479 acres. The largest share is national forest, 324,215 acres or 87.3% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 4,523 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 245 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 324,215 | 87.3% |
| DNR state trust land | 4,523 | 1.2% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 547 | 0.1% |
| WDFW land | 401 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 84 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 245, by WDFW's own boundaries: Chelan Wildlife Area (401 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 245?
Highways through the unit: US 2 (about 20 miles inside it) and SR 207 (about 4 miles inside it). Nearby: Leavenworth (on the line), Entiat (8 miles), Cashmere (10 miles) and Skykomish (12 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 245?
GMU 245 touches 8 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 244 | Clark | 99.5% | 9 | 112 |
| GMU 246 | Slide Ridge | 99.4% | 0 | 33 |
| GMU 247 | Entiat | 75% | 5 | 130 |
| GMU 250 | Swakane | 64.8% | 4 | 80 |
| GMU 251 | Mission | 58.6% | 19 | 282 |
| GMU 448 | Stillaguamish | 81.4% | 28 | 442 |
| GMU 450 | Cascade | 99.9% | 22 | 109 |
| GMU 460 | Snoqualmie | 61.3% | 20 | 350 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 245 in 2026?
GMU 245 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 6 (Central Cascades East), where the 2026 fall general season runs August 1-November 15 with a bag limit of 2, 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 245?
WDFW reports 25 black bears taken in GMU 245 in 2025 (21 males, 4 females). The most in one year since 2000 was 51, in 2022.
How much public land is in GMU 245?
88.6% of GMU 245, 329,223 of its 371,479 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 245?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Leavenworth (on the line), Entiat (8 miles) and Cashmere (10 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 245
Beginning on US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) and the Glacier Peak Wilderness boundary at Kodak Peak; SE and NE on the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area boundary to the Entiat River; SE down the Entiat River to USFS Rd 5700 (Mad River Rd) at the town of Ardenvoir; NW on USFS Rd 5700 to the USFS Rd 5800; SW on USFS Rd 5800 to USFS Rd 7520 (Eagle Creek Rd) at French Corral; SW on USFS Rd 7520 to State Route (SR) 209 (Chumstick Hwy), north of Leavenworth; S on SR 209 (Chumstick Hwy) to US Hwy (US) 2; W and N on US 2 to USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) at Stevens Pass; N on USFS Trail 2000 to Glacier Peak Wilderness boundary at Kodak Peak 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 244 GMU 247 GMU 250 GMU 251 GMU 448 GMU 450 GMU 460