Little Naches GMU 346 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 15 black bears taken in GMU 346 Little Naches in 2025. 255 bear hunters reported 1,808 days here, a success rate of 5.8% by WDFW's count. GMU 346 is 93.7% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (132,293 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 forestDNR state trust landWDFW landNational park or historic site (no hunting)GMU 346Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 3, South Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 152,236 acres (238 square miles) |
| Counties | Yakima and Kittitas |
| Public land open to hunting | 93.7% (142,590 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 15 (6 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 255 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 7, South Cascades East) |
| Towns in and near it | Cliffdell, South Cle Elum, Cle Elum and Roslyn |
Also for GMU 346: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 346?
WDFW reports 15 black bears taken in GMU 346 in 2025, against 6 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 16, in 2019. WDFW's figures average 7 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 10 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 255 | 1,808 | 5.8% |
| 2024 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 235 | 1,556 | 2.6% |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 232 | 1,388 | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 251 | 1,743 | 2.8% |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 307 | 1,993 | 1% |
| 2020 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 248 | 1,671 | 3.6% |
| 2019 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 280 | 2,066 | 5.8% |
| 2018 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 306 | 1,829 | 3% |
| 2017 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 300 | 2,160 | 2% |
| 2016 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 353 | 2,574 | 2.8% |
| 2015 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 348 | 2,496 | 3.4% |
| 2014 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 333 | 2,499 | 1.2% |
| 2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 286 | 1,866 | 0.3% |
| 2012 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 353 | 2,486 | 2.3% |
| 2011 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 393 | 2,631 | 3.6% |
| 2010 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 354 | 2,454 | 2.3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 293 | 2,013 | 0% |
| 2008 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 385 | 2,776 | 2% |
| 2007 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 350 | 2,319 | 1.4% |
| 2006 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 324 | 2,257 | 2.2% |
| 2004 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 375 | 2,556 | 1.3% |
| 2003 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 303 | 2,271 | 1.7% |
| 2002 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 421 | 3,241 | 1% |
| 2001 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 457 | 3,133 | 1.8% |
| 2000 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 894 | 3,914 | 0% |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1,204 | 9,012 | 0% |
| 1998 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 570 | 3,022 | 2% |
| 1997 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 210 | 867 | 1% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 346, 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 346 in 2026?
GMU 346 is in Bear Management Unit 7, South Cascades East, which also takes in GMUs 336, 340, 342, 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 346?
93.7% of GMU 346 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 142,590 of its 152,236 acres. The largest share is national forest, 132,293 acres or 86.9% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 1,632 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 346 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 132,293 | 86.9% |
| WDFW land | 8,665 | 5.7% |
| DNR state trust land | 1,632 | 1.1% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 2 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 346, by WDFW's own boundaries: Oak Creek Wildlife Area (8,667 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 346?
Highways through the unit: SR 410 (about 23 miles inside it). Towns inside: Cliffdell. Nearby: South Cle Elum (10 miles), Cle Elum (10 miles), Roslyn (11 miles) and Tieton (15 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 346?
GMU 346 touches 7 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 336 | Taneum | 57.6% | 12 | 253 |
| GMU 340 | Manastash | 75.1% | 5 | 214 |
| GMU 342 | Umtanum | 69% | 0 | 91 |
| GMU 352 | Nile | 94.9% | 2 | 134 |
| GMU 356 | Bumping | 99.9% | 5 | 107 |
| GMU 466 | Stampede | 58.4% | 3 | 111 |
| GMU 653 | White River | 52.7% | 9 | 148 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 346 in 2026?
GMU 346 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 346?
WDFW reports 15 black bears taken in GMU 346 in 2025 (9 males, 6 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 16, in 2019.
How much public land is in GMU 346?
93.7% of GMU 346, 142,590 of its 152,236 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 346?
Cliffdell is inside the unit. Just outside: South Cle Elum (10 miles), Cle Elum (10 miles) and Roslyn (11 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 346
Beginning at US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 1388 and USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail); SE on USFS Rd 1388 and Manastash Ridge to the end of USFS Rd 1388; SE on Manastash Ridge to USFS Trail 694; E on USFS Trail 694 to USFS Rd 1701; S on USFS Rd 1701 to State Route (SR) 410; NW and SW on SR 410 to Mount Rainier National Park boundary near Chinook Pass; N on the National Park boundary to the Pierce-Yakima county line (Cascades Mountain Range Crest) in T17N, R10E, Sec 35; NE on the Pierce-Yakima county line to USFS Trail 2000 in T17N, R10E, Sec 36; N on USFS Trail 2000 to USFS Rd 1388 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 340 GMU 466 GMU 653