Swakane GMU 250 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 4 black bears taken in GMU 250 Swakane in 2025. 80 bear hunters reported 328 days here, a success rate of 5% by WDFW's count. GMU 250 is 64.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (69,073 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 250Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 138,758 acres (217 square miles) |
| Counties | Chelan |
| Public land open to hunting | 64.8% (89,974 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 4 (20 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 80 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 6, Central Cascades East) |
| Towns in and near it | Sunnyslope, Cashmere, Leavenworth and Entiat |
Also for GMU 250: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 250?
WDFW reports 4 black bears taken in GMU 250 in 2025, against 20 in 2024. The most in one year since 2000 was 38, in 2019. WDFW's figures average 17 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 20 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 80 | 328 | 5% |
| 2024 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 174 | 1,133 | 11.4% |
| 2023 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 177 | 1,229 | 12.4% |
| 2022 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 154 | 988 | 13.6% |
| 2021 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 164 | 929 | 12.2% |
| 2020 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 175 | 991 | 9.8% |
| 2019 | 38 | 30 | 8 | 217 | 1,527 | 17.6% |
| 2018 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 198 | 1,172 | 9% |
| 2017 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 187 | 987 | 10% |
| 2016 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 154 | 906 | 6.4% |
| 2015 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 134 | 787 | 9.7% |
| 2014 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 181 | 961 | 7.7% |
| 2013 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 142 | 823 | 13.4% |
| 2012 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 171 | 921 | 6.4% |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 152 | 891 | 3.9% |
| 2010 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 162 | 1,034 | 11.7% |
| 2009 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 134 | 984 | 6% |
| 2008 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 131 | 950 | 8% |
| 2007 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 128 | 755 | 6.3% |
| 2006 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 146 | 751 | 11% |
| 2005 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 95 | 808 | 9.5% |
| 2004 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 97 | 550 | 11.3% |
| 2003 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 106 | 622 | 5.7% |
| 2002 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 176 | 1,069 | 8% |
| 2001 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 184 | 1,071 | 7.1% |
| 2000 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 319 | 933 | 2% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 250, 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 250 in 2026?
GMU 250 is in Bear Management Unit 6, Central Cascades East, which also takes in GMUs 244, 245, 246, 247, 249, 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 250?
64.8% of GMU 250 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 89,974 of its 138,758 acres. The largest share is national forest, 69,073 acres or 49.8% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 7,820 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 250 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 69,073 | 49.8% |
| WDFW land | 8,305 | 6% |
| DNR state trust land | 7,820 | 5.6% |
| BLM | 4,776 | 3.4% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 52 | under 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 31 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 250, by WDFW's own boundaries: Chelan Wildlife Area (11,019 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 250?
Highways through the unit: US 2 (about 19 miles inside it) and US 97 (about 17 miles inside it). Towns inside: Sunnyslope. Nearby: Cashmere (on the line), Leavenworth (on the line), Entiat (on the line) and Wenatchee (2 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 250?
GMU 250 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 245 | Chiwawa | 88.6% | 25 | 265 |
| GMU 247 | Entiat | 75% | 5 | 130 |
| GMU 251 | Mission | 58.6% | 19 | 282 |
| GMU 262 | Withrow | 5.7% | 0 | 2 |
| GMU 266 | Badger | 7.7% | 0 | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 250 in 2026?
GMU 250 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 250?
WDFW reports 4 black bears taken in GMU 250 in 2025 (4 males, 0 females). The most in one year since 2000 was 38, in 2019.
How much public land is in GMU 250?
64.8% of GMU 250, 89,974 of its 138,758 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 250?
Sunnyslope is inside the unit. Just outside: Cashmere (on the line), Leavenworth (on the line) and Entiat (on the line).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 250
Beginning at the intersection of US Hwy (US) 2 and State Route (SR) 209 (Chumstick Hwy); SE on US 2 to the Columbia River (Chelan-Douglas county line); NE on Chelan-Douglas county line (in the Columbia River) to the Entiat River; NW up the Entiat River to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 5700 (Mad River Rd) at the town of Ardenvoir; N on USFS Rd 5700 to USFS Rd 5800; SW on USFS Rd 5800 to USFS Rd 7520 at French Corral; S on USFS Rd 7520 to USFS Rd 7520 (Eagle Creek Rd); SW on USFS Rd 7520 to SR 209 (Chumstick Hwy); S on SR 209 to US 2 and the point of the 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 245 GMU 247 GMU 251