Entiat GMU 247 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 5 black bears taken in GMU 247 Entiat in 2025. 130 bear hunters reported 771 days here, a success rate of 3.8% by WDFW's count. GMU 247 is 75% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (85,100 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 wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 247Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 142,387 acres (222 square miles) |
| Counties | Chelan |
| Public land open to hunting | 75% (106,858 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 5 (13 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 130 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 6, Central Cascades East) |
| Towns in and near it | Entiat, Chelan Falls, Chelan, Waterville and Cashmere |
Also for GMU 247: deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 247?
WDFW reports 5 black bears taken in GMU 247 in 2025, against 13 in 2024. The most in one year since 2000 was 24, in 2018. WDFW's figures average 14 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 15 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 130 | 771 | 3.8% |
| 2024 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 185 | 1,119 | 7% |
| 2023 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 221 | 1,453 | 7.6% |
| 2022 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 197 | 1,551 | 11.2% |
| 2021 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 235 | 1,570 | 5.6% |
| 2020 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 178 | 1,026 | 8.4% |
| 2019 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 173 | 979 | 9.8% |
| 2018 | 24 | 20 | 4 | 185 | 1,141 | 13% |
| 2017 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 219 | 1,459 | 5% |
| 2016 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 210 | 1,388 | 3.8% |
| 2015 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 164 | 1,021 | 5.5% |
| 2014 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 203 | 1,254 | 6.4% |
| 2013 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 203 | 1,132 | 3.4% |
| 2012 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 176 | 886 | 6.3% |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 187 | 1,056 | 3.2% |
| 2010 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 180 | 901 | 3.9% |
| 2009 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 192 | 993 | 6% |
| 2008 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 206 | 998 | 3% |
| 2007 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 180 | 966 | 1.7% |
| 2006 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 147 | 856 | 6.8% |
| 2005 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 138 | 726 | 10.9% |
| 2004 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 175 | 1,022 | 8% |
| 2003 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 163 | 1,056 | 4.9% |
| 2002 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 184 | 1,205 | 4.3% |
| 2001 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 178 | 1,156 | 4.5% |
| 2000 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 248 | 1,032 | 2% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 247, 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 247 in 2026?
GMU 247 is in Bear Management Unit 6, Central Cascades East, which also takes in GMUs 244, 245, 246, 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 247?
75% of GMU 247 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 106,858 of its 142,387 acres. The largest share is national forest, 85,100 acres or 59.8% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 4,475 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 247 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 85,100 | 59.8% |
| WDFW land | 11,414 | 8% |
| BLM | 5,869 | 4.1% |
| DNR state trust land | 4,475 | 3.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 401 | 0.3% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 3 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 247, by WDFW's own boundaries: Chelan Wildlife Area (18,163 acres here; units Entiat and Chelan Butte).
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 247?
Highways through the unit: SR 971 (about 15 miles inside it). Towns inside: Entiat and Chelan Falls. Nearby: Chelan (on the line), Waterville (6 miles), Cashmere (13 miles) and Pateros (15 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 247?
GMU 247 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 243 | Manson | 72.1% | 17 | 152 |
| GMU 245 | Chiwawa | 88.6% | 25 | 265 |
| GMU 246 | Slide Ridge | 99.4% | 0 | 33 |
| GMU 250 | Swakane | 64.8% | 4 | 80 |
| GMU 262 | Withrow | 5.7% | 0 | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 247 in 2026?
GMU 247 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 247?
WDFW reports 5 black bears taken in GMU 247 in 2025 (3 males, 2 females). The most in one year since 2000 was 24, in 2018.
How much public land is in GMU 247?
75% of GMU 247, 106,858 of its 142,387 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 247?
Entiat and Chelan Falls are inside the unit. Just outside: Chelan (on the line), Waterville (6 miles) and Cashmere (13 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 247
Beginning at Twenty-five Mile Creek on the south shore of Lake Chelan; SE along the south shore of Lake Chelan to the Chelan River; SE down the Chelan River to the Columbia River (Chelan-Douglas county line); SW along the Columbia River (Chelan- Douglas county line) to the mouth of the Entiat River; NW up the Entiat River to Lake Creek; NE up Lake Creek to US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 1443; E on USFS Trail 1443 to USFS Trail 1445 (Fourmile Ridge Trail); E on USFS Trail 1445 to USFS Trail 1448; SE on USFS Trail 1448 to the USFS Rd 8410 (Slide Ridge Rd) at Stormy Mountain; N on USFS Rd 8410 to Twenty-five Mile Creek; N down Twenty-five Mile Creek to the south shore of Lake 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 243 GMU 245 GMU 250