Grayback GMU 388 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 3 black bears taken in GMU 388 Grayback in 2025. 114 bear hunters reported 729 days here, a success rate of 2.6% by WDFW's count. GMU 388 is 11.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (20,188 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 landOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 388Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 311,787 acres (487 square miles) |
| Counties | Klickitat |
| Public land open to hunting | 11.2% (35,010 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 3 (10 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 114 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 7, South Cascades East) |
| Towns in and near it | Goldendale, Dallesport, Centerville, Bingen and White Salmon |
Also for GMU 388: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 388?
WDFW reports 3 black bears taken in GMU 388 in 2025, against 10 in 2024. The most in one year since 2006 was 21, in 2020. WDFW's figures average 10 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 17 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 114 | 729 | 2.6% |
| 2024 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 100 | 623 | 10% |
| 2023 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 163 | 844 | 7.4% |
| 2022 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 188 | 1,068 | 8% |
| 2021 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 183 | 1,023 | 5% |
| 2020 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 259 | 1,274 | 8.2% |
| 2019 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 214 | 1,345 | 8.4% |
| 2018 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 200 | 1,195 | 7.6% |
| 2017 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 212 | 1,152 | 7% |
| 2016 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 210 | 1,004 | 8% |
| 2015 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 217 | 1,135 | 9.7% |
| 2014 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 189 | 1,018 | 7.4% |
| 2013 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 196 | 1,193 | 6.6% |
| 2012 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 188 | 1,084 | 4.8% |
| 2011 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 232 | 1,333 | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 248 | 1,394 | 7.7% |
| 2009 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 234 | 1,595 | 3% |
| 2008 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 295 | 1,759 | 2% |
| 2007 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 274 | 1,579 | 2.9% |
| 2006 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 243 | 1,459 | 1.6% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 388, 2006 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 388 in 2026?
GMU 388 is in Bear Management Unit 7, South Cascades East, which also takes in GMUs 336, 340, 342, 346, 352, 356, 360, 364, 368, 382 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 388?
11.2% of GMU 388 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 35,010 of its 311,787 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 20,188 acres or 6.5% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 20,188 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 388 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 20,188 | 6.5% |
| WDFW land | 11,309 | 3.6% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 4,733 | 1.5% |
| National forest | 1,973 | 0.6% |
| BLM | 1,540 | 0.5% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 388, by WDFW's own boundaries: Klickitat Wildlife Area (12,950 acres here; units Fisher Hill, Swale Creek, Dillacort Canyon and Mineral Springs).
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 388?
Highways through the unit: SR 142 (about 32 miles inside it), US 97 (about 16 miles inside it) and US 197 (about 3 miles inside it). Towns inside: Goldendale, Dallesport, Centerville, Wishram and Lyle. Nearby: Bingen (9 miles) and White Salmon (10 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 388?
GMU 388 touches 2 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 382 | East Klickitat | 7.8% | 7 | 113 |
| GMU 578 | West Klickitat | 27.6% | 19 | 279 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 388 in 2026?
GMU 388 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 388?
WDFW reports 3 black bears taken in GMU 388 in 2025 (0 males, 3 females). The most in one year since 2006 was 21, in 2020.
How much public land is in GMU 388?
11.2% of GMU 388, 35,010 of its 311,787 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 388?
Goldendale, Dallesport and Centerville are inside the unit. Just outside: Bingen (9 miles) and White Salmon (10 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 388
Beginning at the US Hwy (US) 97 bridge crossing the Columbia River; W down the Columbia River to the mouth of the Klickitat River at the town of Lyle (including all islands in the Columbia River which are both north of the Washington state line and between the US 97 bridge and the Klickitat River); N up the Klickitat River to the Yakama Indian Reservation; E along the southern boundary of the Yakama Indian Reservation to US 97 (Satus Pass Hwy); S on US 97 to US 97 bridge crossing the Columbia River 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 5 GMU 382 GMU 578