Snoqualmie GMU 460 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 20 black bears taken in GMU 460 Snoqualmie in 2025. 350 bear hunters reported 2,298 days here, a success rate of 5.8% by WDFW's count. GMU 460 is 61.3% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (306,227 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 460Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 4, North Puget Sound |
|---|---|
| Size | 592,669 acres (926 square miles) |
| Counties | King and Snohomish |
| Public land open to hunting | 61.3% (363,098 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 20 (60 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 350 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 8, North Cascades West) |
| Towns in and near it | Snoqualmie, North Bend, Duvall, Gold Bar, Sultan and Monroe |
Also for GMU 460: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 460?
WDFW reports 20 black bears taken in GMU 460 in 2025, against 60 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 107, in 2008. WDFW's figures average 35 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 33 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 350 | 2,298 | 5.8% |
| 2024 | 60 | 44 | 16 | 345 | 2,682 | 17.4% |
| 2023 | 44 | 25 | 19 | 393 | 2,697 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 39 | 21 | 18 | 350 | 2,013 | 11.2% |
| 2021 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 395 | 2,684 | 3.6% |
| 2020 | 39 | 29 | 10 | 489 | 3,832 | 8% |
| 2019 | 50 | 38 | 12 | 447 | 3,180 | 11.2% |
| 2018 | 37 | 23 | 14 | 392 | 2,742 | 9.4% |
| 2017 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 359 | 2,061 | 4% |
| 2016 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 360 | 2,694 | 7% |
| 2015 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 435 | 2,896 | 5.3% |
| 2014 | 29 | 13 | 16 | 515 | 3,708 | 5.6% |
| 2013 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 452 | 3,488 | 5.8% |
| 2012 | 30 | 17 | 13 | 493 | 3,539 | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 508 | 3,645 | 6.7% |
| 2010 | 58 | 38 | 20 | 573 | 4,461 | 10.1% |
| 2009 | 33 | 25 | 8 | 480 | 4,028 | 7% |
| 2008 | 107 | 73 | 34 | 615 | 3,941 | 17% |
| 2007 | 36 | 28 | 8 | 413 | 3,034 | 8.7% |
| 2006 | 36 | 22 | 14 | 326 | 2,334 | 11% |
| 2005 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 339 | 3,020 | 6.2% |
| 2004 | 67 | 47 | 20 | 429 | 2,974 | 15.6% |
| 2003 | 45 | 28 | 17 | 424 | 2,978 | 10.6% |
| 2002 | 42 | 22 | 20 | 513 | 4,091 | 8.2% |
| 2001 | 47 | 28 | 19 | 590 | 4,310 | 8% |
| 2000 | 39 | 34 | 5 | 744 | 4,162 | 5% |
| 1999 | 27 | 16 | 11 | 879 | 7,289 | 3% |
| 1998 | 60 | 37 | 23 | 941 | 6,039 | 6% |
| 1997 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 350 | 1,275 | 4% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 460, 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 460 in 2026?
GMU 460 is in Bear Management Unit 8, North Cascades West, which also takes in GMUs 418, 426, 437, 448 and 450. 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 460?
61.3% of GMU 460 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 363,098 of its 592,669 acres. The largest share is national forest, 306,227 acres or 51.7% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 56,139 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 460 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 306,227 | 51.7% |
| DNR state trust land | 56,139 | 9.5% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 17,950 | 3% |
| WDFW land | 487 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 245 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 460, by WDFW's own boundaries: Snoqualmie Wildlife Area (375 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 460?
Highways through the unit: I-90 (about 56 miles inside it), SR 203 (about 23 miles inside it), US 2 (about 16 miles inside it) and SR 202 (about 9 miles inside it). Towns inside: Snoqualmie, North Bend, Duvall, Carnation, Skykomish and Riverbend. Nearby: Gold Bar (on the line), Sultan (on the line), Monroe (on the line) and Index (on the line).
Which GMUs border GMU 460?
GMU 460 touches 9 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 245 | Chiwawa | 88.6% | 25 | 265 |
| GMU 249 | Alpine | 99.6% | 11 | 136 |
| GMU 251 | Mission | 58.6% | 19 | 282 |
| GMU 335 | Teanaway | 73.8% | 30 | 444 |
| GMU 336 | Taneum | 57.6% | 12 | 253 |
| GMU 407 | North Sound | 9.9% | 24 | 271 |
| GMU 448 | Stillaguamish | 81.4% | 28 | 442 |
| GMU 454 | Issaquah | 4.6% | 12 | 122 |
| GMU 490 | Cedar River | 0% | 0 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 460 in 2026?
GMU 460 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 8 (North Cascades West), 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 460?
WDFW reports 20 black bears taken in GMU 460 in 2025 (16 males, 4 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 107, in 2008.
How much public land is in GMU 460?
61.3% of GMU 460, 363,098 of its 592,669 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 460?
Snoqualmie, North Bend and Duvall are inside the unit. Just outside: Gold Bar (on the line), Sultan (on the line) and Monroe (on the line).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 460
Beginning at State Route (SR) 203 and SR 2 at the town of Monroe; E on SR 2 to US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) at Stevens Pass; S on the USFS Trail 2000 to the City of Seattle Cedar River Watershed; W on the Cedar River Watershed boundary to Kerriston Rd; N on Kerriston Rd to the Raging River; W and N along the Raging River to SR 18; N on SR 18 to Interstate Hwy (I)-90; W on I-90 to SE 82nd St at the town of Preston; NE on SE 82nd St to Preston-Fall City Rd; N on the Preston-Fall City Rd to SR 202 (Fall City-Snoqualmie Rd); N on SR 202 (Fall City-Snoqualmie Rd), across the Snoqualmie River, to SR 203; N on SR 203 to SR 2 at the town of Monroe 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 4 GMU 245 GMU 249 GMU 251 GMU 335 GMU 336 GMU 407 GMU 448 GMU 454