Manastash GMU 340 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 5 black bears taken in GMU 340 Manastash in 2025. 214 bear hunters reported 1,836 days here, a success rate of 2.4% by WDFW's count. GMU 340 is 75.1% public land open to hunting, the largest share WDFW land (48,061 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 landBureau of ReclamationMilitary land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 340Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 3, South Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 170,733 acres (267 square miles) |
| Counties | Kittitas |
| Public land open to hunting | 75.1% (128,220 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 5 (6 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 214 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 7, South Cascades East) |
| Towns in and near it | Ellensburg, Selah and South Cle Elum |
Also for GMU 340: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 340?
WDFW reports 5 black bears taken in GMU 340 in 2025, against 6 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 11, in 2014. WDFW's figures average 5 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 5 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 214 | 1,836 | 2.4% |
| 2024 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 249 | 2,025 | 2.4% |
| 2023 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 246 | 1,943 | 2% |
| 2022 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 250 | 2,005 | 4% |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 220 | 1,657 | 0% |
| 2020 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 284 | 2,098 | 1.4% |
| 2019 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 255 | 2,023 | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 304 | 2,368 | 1.4% |
| 2017 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 335 | 2,480 | 2% |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 303 | 2,323 | 1% |
| 2015 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 346 | 2,561 | 0.6% |
| 2014 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 360 | 2,816 | 3.1% |
| 2013 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 352 | 2,672 | 2.3% |
| 2012 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 300 | 2,171 | 0.7% |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 289 | 2,244 | 1.7% |
| 2010 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 309 | 2,241 | 2.3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 285 | 2,016 | 0% |
| 2008 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 349 | 2,632 | 1% |
| 2007 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 326 | 2,199 | 1.8% |
| 2006 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 285 | 1,970 | 1.8% |
| 2005 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 284 | 2,250 | 0.4% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 306 | 2,152 | 30% |
| 2003 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 315 | 2,473 | 1.6% |
| 2002 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 314 | 2,165 | 1.3% |
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 305 | 2,021 | 0.3% |
| 2000 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 788 | 4,467 | 1% |
| 1999 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 784 | 5,455 | 1% |
| 1998 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 319 | 1,571 | 1% |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 190 | 1,179 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 340, 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 340 in 2026?
GMU 340 is in Bear Management Unit 7, South Cascades East, which also takes in GMUs 336, 342, 346, 352, 356, 360, 364, 368, 382, 388 and 578. 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 340?
75.1% of GMU 340 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 128,220 of its 170,733 acres. The largest share is WDFW land, 48,061 acres or 28.1% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 41,154 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 340 |
|---|---|---|
| WDFW land | 48,061 | 28.1% |
| DNR state trust land | 41,154 | 24.1% |
| National forest | 28,246 | 16.5% |
| BLM | 10,752 | 6.3% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 7 | under 0.1% |
| Military land (restricted) | 3 | under 0.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 3 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 340, by WDFW's own boundaries: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area (44,883 acres here), Wenas Wildlife Area (20,911 acres here) and Oak Creek Wildlife Area (131 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 340?
Highways through the unit: I-82 (about 32 miles inside it), US 97 (about 32 miles inside it) and SR 821 (about 24 miles inside it). Nearby: Ellensburg (2 miles), Selah (3 miles), South Cle Elum (5 miles) and Kittitas (5 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 340?
GMU 340 touches 6 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 334 | Ellensburg | 2.5% | 0 | 53 |
| GMU 336 | Taneum | 57.6% | 12 | 253 |
| GMU 342 | Umtanum | 69% | 0 | 91 |
| GMU 346 | Little Naches | 93.7% | 15 | 255 |
| GMU 371 | Alkali | 0.4% | 0 | 2 |
| GMU 372 | Rattlesnake Hills | 7.1% | 0 | 14 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 340 in 2026?
GMU 340 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 7 (South 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 340?
WDFW reports 5 black bears taken in GMU 340 in 2025 (5 males, 0 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 11, in 2014.
How much public land is in GMU 340?
75.1% of GMU 340, 128,220 of its 170,733 acres, is national forest, BLM, DNR trust, WDFW, Reclamation or national recreation area land; the largest share is WDFW land. Measured by FilledTag from WA DNR's public land maps.
What town is closest to GMU 340?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Ellensburg (2 miles), Selah (3 miles) and South Cle Elum (5 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 340
Beginning at Interstate Hwy (I)-82 and State Route (SR) 821; N on SR 821 to SR 823; W on SR 823 to Yakima River; N up Yakima River to Umtanum Creek; W up Umtanum Creek to Wenas Rd; W and S along Wenas Rd to Audubon Rd; NW along Audubon Rd to North Fork Wenas Creek at the junction of WA Dept of Natural Resources (DNR) W5200 Rd; NW on North Fork Wenas Creek to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 1701; USFS Rd 1701 to (USFS) Trail 694; NW on USFS Trail 694 and Manastash Ridge to end of USFS Trail 694; NW on Manastash Ridge to USFS Trail 1388; NW along USFS Trail 1388 to USFS Trail 1363 (Peaches Ridge Trail); N and E along USFS Trail 1363 to USFS Trail 1367; SE along USFS Trail 1367 to South Fork Taneum Creek; E down the South Fork Taneum Creek to Taneum Creek; E down Taneum Creek to the elk fence; SE along the elk fence to Bradshaw Rd; E on Bradshaw Rd to South Branch Extension Canal; SE along the South Branch Extension Canal to Umtanum Rd; N on Umtanum Rd to Yakima River; S down the Yakima River to Wilson Creek; NE up Wilson Creek to Thrall Rd; E on Thrall Rd to I-82; SE and SW on I-82 to SR 821 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 336 GMU 346