Issaquah GMU 454 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 12 black bears taken in GMU 454 Issaquah in 2025. 122 bear hunters reported 1,012 days here, a success rate of 9.8% by WDFW's count. GMU 454 is 4.6% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (27,974 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 landMilitary land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 454Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 4, North Puget Sound |
|---|---|
| Size | 620,624 acres (970 square miles) |
| Public land open to hunting | 4.6% (28,687 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 12 (29 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 122 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 10, Urban) |
| Towns in and near it | Seattle, Kent, Everett, Enumclaw, Carnation and Duvall |
Also for GMU 454: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 454?
WDFW reports 12 black bears taken in GMU 454 in 2025, against 29 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 47, in 2008. WDFW's figures average 27 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 18 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 122 | 1,012 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 29 | 19 | 10 | 183 | 1,358 | 15.8% |
| 2023 | 45 | 33 | 12 | 244 | 2,777 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 27 | 17 | 10 | 206 | 1,734 | 13.2% |
| 2021 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 218 | 2,020 | 9.2% |
| 2020 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 186 | 1,438 | 8% |
| 2019 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 219 | 1,850 | 4.6% |
| 2018 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 219 | 1,801 | 7.4% |
| 2017 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 248 | 2,199 | 9% |
| 2016 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 287 | 2,175 | 8.8% |
| 2015 | 29 | 21 | 8 | 270 | 2,007 | 10.7% |
| 2014 | 32 | 13 | 19 | 333 | 2,472 | 9.6% |
| 2013 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 330 | 2,629 | 4.2% |
| 2012 | 30 | 17 | 13 | 358 | 2,998 | 8.4% |
| 2011 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 352 | 2,840 | 8.5% |
| 2010 | 44 | 27 | 17 | 354 | 3,308 | 12.4% |
| 2009 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 319 | 3,506 | 7% |
| 2008 | 47 | 28 | 19 | 359 | 3,212 | 13% |
| 2007 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 281 | 2,261 | 8.2% |
| 2006 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 269 | 2,433 | 8.6% |
| 2005 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 247 | 2,349 | 8.1% |
| 2004 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 280 | 2,222 | 14.6% |
| 2003 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 291 | 2,523 | 8.2% |
| 2002 | 34 | 24 | 10 | 365 | 3,849 | 9.3% |
| 2001 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 361 | 3,338 | 4.7% |
| 2000 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 593 | 4,124 | 2% |
| 1999 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 812 | 8,351 | 1% |
| 1998 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 628 | 4,712 | 3% |
| 1997 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 173 | 1,203 | 8% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 454, 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 454 in 2026?
GMU 454 is in Bear Management Unit 10, Urban, which also takes in GMUs 407, 504, 564, 624, 627, 633, 652, 666 and 684. 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 454?
4.6% of GMU 454 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 28,687 of its 620,624 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 27,974 acres or 4.5% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 27,974 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 454 |
|---|---|---|
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 39,062 | 6.3% |
| DNR state trust land | 27,974 | 4.5% |
| WDFW land | 602 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 83 | under 0.1% |
| Military land (restricted) | 48 | under 0.1% |
| National forest | 28 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 454, by WDFW's own boundaries: Snoqualmie Wildlife Area (455 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 454?
Highways through the unit: I-5 (about 106 miles inside it), SR 99 (about 71 miles inside it), I-405 (about 61 miles inside it), I-90 (about 52 miles inside it) and SR 18 (about 48 miles inside it). Towns inside: Seattle, Kent, Everett, Bellevue, Auburn and Renton. Nearby: Enumclaw (on the line), Carnation (on the line), Duvall (on the line) and Federal Way (on the line).
Which GMUs border GMU 454?
GMU 454 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 407 | North Sound | 9.9% | 24 | 271 |
| GMU 422 | Vashon - Maury | 0.2% | 0 | 8 |
| GMU 460 | Snoqualmie | 61.3% | 20 | 350 |
| GMU 485 | Green River | 53.8% | 2 | 3 |
| GMU 490 | Cedar River | 0% | 0 | |
| GMU 652 | Puyallup | 1.1% | 15 | 148 |
| GMU 653 | White River | 52.7% | 9 | 148 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 454 in 2026?
GMU 454 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 10 (Urban), 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 454?
WDFW reports 12 black bears taken in GMU 454 in 2025 (10 males, 2 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 47, in 2008.
How much public land is in GMU 454?
4.6% of GMU 454, 28,687 of its 620,624 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 454?
Seattle, Kent and Everett are inside the unit. Just outside: Enumclaw (on the line), Carnation (on the line) and Duvall (on the line).
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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 4 GMU 407 GMU 460 GMU 652 GMU 653