Lincoln GMU 501 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 6 black bears taken in GMU 501 Lincoln in 2025. 185 bear hunters reported 1,878 days here, a success rate of 3.2% by WDFW's count. GMU 501 is 21.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (32,522 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.
DNR state trust landWDFW landNational wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 501Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 150,408 acres (235 square miles) |
| Public land open to hunting | 21.8% (32,754 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 6 (12 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 185 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 14, Willapa Hills) |
| Towns in and near it | Grand Mound, Fords Prairie, Oakville, Centralia and Chehalis |
Also for GMU 501: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 501?
WDFW reports 6 black bears taken in GMU 501 in 2025, against 12 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 27, in 2019. WDFW's figures average 10 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 12 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 185 | 1,878 | 3.2% |
| 2024 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 216 | 1,671 | 5.6% |
| 2023 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 180 | 1,562 | 7.2% |
| 2022 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 207 | 1,750 | 6.2% |
| 2021 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 204 | 1,671 | 3% |
| 2020 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 235 | 2,298 | 5.2% |
| 2019 | 27 | 12 | 15 | 175 | 1,408 | 15.4% |
| 2018 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 158 | 1,265 | 10.2% |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 122 | 1,011 | 2% |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 135 | 1,041 | 2.2% |
| 2015 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 163 | 1,266 | 3.1% |
| 2014 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 187 | 1,557 | 1.6% |
| 2013 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 211 | 1,590 | 3.8% |
| 2012 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 237 | 1,677 | 1.7% |
| 2011 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 223 | 2,009 | 4.9% |
| 2010 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 279 | 2,095 | 4.3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 286 | 2,028 | 0% |
| 2008 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 323 | 2,936 | 3% |
| 2007 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 316 | 2,399 | 3.8% |
| 2006 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 291 | 2,388 | 1.7% |
| 2005 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 266 | 2,232 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 291 | 2,314 | 4.1% |
| 2003 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 290 | 2,838 | 1% |
| 2002 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 321 | 2,682 | 4.4% |
| 2001 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 335 | 3,507 | 3% |
| 2000 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 637 | 2,536 | 1% |
| 1999 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 541 | 3,657 | 1% |
| 1998 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 409 | 1,814 | 0% |
| 1997 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 206 | 1,184 | 2% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 501, 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 501 in 2026?
GMU 501 is in Bear Management Unit 14, Willapa Hills, which also takes in GMUs 506, 530, 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681 and 699. The 2026 fall general season there runs August 15-November 15, and the bag limit is 1. 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 501?
21.8% of GMU 501 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 32,754 of its 150,408 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 32,522 acres or 21.6% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 32,522 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 501 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 32,522 | 21.6% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 235 | 0.2% |
| WDFW land | 232 | 0.2% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 20 | under 0.1% |
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 501?
Highways through the unit: US 12 (about 20 miles inside it), I-5 (about 12 miles inside it) and SR 6 (about 7 miles inside it). Towns inside: Grand Mound and Fords Prairie. Nearby: Oakville (on the line), Centralia (on the line), Chehalis (on the line) and Pe Ell (4 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 501?
GMU 501 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 505 | Mossyrock | 3.4% | 5 | 142 |
| GMU 530 | Ryderwood | 13.6% | 12 | 412 |
| GMU 660 | Minot Peak | 15.8% | 29 | 238 |
| GMU 663 | Capitol Peak | 68.5% | 19 | 314 |
| GMU 666 | Deschutes | 1.8% | 8 | 145 |
| GMU 667 | Skookumchuck | 13.8% | 21 | 462 |
| GMU 672 | Fall River | 26% | 9 | 270 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 501 in 2026?
GMU 501 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 14 (Willapa Hills), where the 2026 fall general season runs August 15-November 15 with a bag limit of 1, 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 501?
WDFW reports 6 black bears taken in GMU 501 in 2025 (6 males, 0 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 27, in 2019.
How much public land is in GMU 501?
21.8% of GMU 501, 32,754 of its 150,408 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 501?
Grand Mound and Fords Prairie are inside the unit. Just outside: Oakville (on the line), Centralia (on the line) and Chehalis (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 5 GMU 505 GMU 530 GMU 660 GMU 663 GMU 666 GMU 667 GMU 672