Naneum GMU 328 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 7 black bears taken in GMU 328 Naneum in 2025. 241 bear hunters reported 1,699 days here, a success rate of 3% by WDFW's count. GMU 328 is 72.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (64,839 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 landGMU 328Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 3, South Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 169,159 acres (264 square miles) |
| Counties | Kittitas and Chelan |
| Public land open to hunting | 72.8% (123,225 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 7 (11 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 241 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 6, Central Cascades East) |
| Towns in and near it | Ellensburg, Kittitas and Wenatchee |
Also for GMU 328: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 328?
WDFW reports 7 black bears taken in GMU 328 in 2025, against 11 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 34, in 2019. WDFW's figures average 9 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 13 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 241 | 1,699 | 3% |
| 2024 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 266 | 1,541 | 4.2% |
| 2023 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 313 | 2,043 | 1.6% |
| 2022 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 301 | 1,696 | 4.4% |
| 2021 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 282 | 1,745 | 3.6% |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 368 | 2,305 | 1.4% |
| 2019 | 34 | 22 | 12 | 347 | 2,606 | 9.8% |
| 2018 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 425 | 3,133 | 2.4% |
| 2017 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 428 | 2,914 | 3% |
| 2016 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 445 | 2,976 | 1.2% |
| 2015 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 408 | 2,688 | 3.7% |
| 2014 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 357 | 2,599 | 2.5% |
| 2013 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 291 | 1,813 | 4.1% |
| 2012 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 246 | 1,461 | 2% |
| 2011 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 272 | 1,820 | 3.7% |
| 2010 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 259 | 1,465 | 4.2% |
| 2009 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 263 | 1,710 | 3% |
| 2008 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 302 | 1,782 | 2% |
| 2007 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 284 | 1,873 | 1.1% |
| 2006 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 338 | 2,150 | 0.9% |
| 2005 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 334 | 2,900 | 2.7% |
| 2004 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 303 | 1,903 | 2.3% |
| 2003 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 412 | 2,720 | 3.6% |
| 2002 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 423 | 4,092 | 2.8% |
| 2001 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 419 | 2,994 | 2.1% |
| 2000 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 947 | 4,543 | 1% |
| 1999 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1,420 | 12,085 | 0% |
| 1998 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 448 | 2,156 | 2% |
| 1997 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 281 | 1,463 | 4% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 328, 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 328 in 2026?
GMU 328 is in Bear Management Unit 6, Central Cascades East, which also takes in GMUs 244, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 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 328?
72.8% of GMU 328 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 123,225 of its 169,159 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 64,839 acres or 38.3% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 64,839 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 328 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 64,839 | 38.3% |
| National forest | 51,771 | 30.6% |
| WDFW land | 6,313 | 3.7% |
| BLM | 302 | 0.2% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 328, by WDFW's own boundaries: Colockum Wildlife Area (8,517 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 328?
Highways through the unit: US 97 (about 22 miles inside it). Nearby: Ellensburg (4 miles), Kittitas (5 miles), Wenatchee (11 miles) and East Wenatchee (11 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 328?
GMU 328 touches 4 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 251 | Mission | 58.6% | 19 | 282 |
| GMU 329 | Quilomene | 87.9% | 7 | 92 |
| GMU 334 | Ellensburg | 2.5% | 0 | 53 |
| GMU 335 | Teanaway | 73.8% | 30 | 444 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 328 in 2026?
GMU 328 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 328?
WDFW reports 7 black bears taken in GMU 328 in 2025 (4 males, 3 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 34, in 2019.
How much public land is in GMU 328?
72.8% of GMU 328, 123,225 of its 169,159 acres, is national forest, BLM, DNR trust, WDFW, Reclamation or national recreation area land; the largest share is DNR state trust land. Measured by FilledTag from WA DNR's public land maps.
What town is closest to GMU 328?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Ellensburg (4 miles), Kittitas (5 miles) and Wenatchee (11 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 328
Beginning on US Hwy (US) 97 and US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 9716 at Blewett Pass; E on USFS Rd 9716 to USFS Rd 9712 (Liberty-Beehive Rd); E on USFS Rd 9712 to the Naneum Ridge (Chelan-Kittitas county line) at the west boundary of Section 22, T21N, R19E; SE along the Naneum Ridge (Chelan-Kittitas county line), past Mission Peak, to Naneum Ridge Rd (WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Rd 9) at Wenatchee Mountain; SE on Naneum Ridge Rd (WDFW Rd 9) to Colockum Rd (WDFW 10 Rd); S on Colockum Rd (WDFW 10 Rd) to the North Branch Canal; NW along the North Branch Canal to Lower Green Canyon Rd; S on Lower Green Canyon Rd to US 97; N on US 97 to Blewett 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 3 GMU 251 GMU 329 GMU 335