Willapa Hills GMU 506 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 35 black bears taken in GMU 506 Willapa Hills in 2025. 347 bear hunters reported 3,328 days here, a success rate of 10% by WDFW's count. GMU 506 is 16.6% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (39,762 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 506Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 239,984 acres (375 square miles) |
| Counties | Wahkiakum, Pacific and Lewis |
| Public land open to hunting | 16.6% (39,865 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 35 (22 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 347 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 14, Willapa Hills) |
| Towns in and near it | Skamokawa Valley, Rosburg, Grays River, Pe Ell, Cathlamet and Raymond |
Also for GMU 506: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 506?
WDFW reports 35 black bears taken in GMU 506 in 2025, against 22 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 35, in 2025. WDFW's figures average 24 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 | 35 | 21 | 14 | 347 | 3,328 | 10% |
| 2024 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 310 | 2,855 | 7% |
| 2023 | 29 | 21 | 8 | 406 | 3,450 | 7.2% |
| 2022 | 21 | 17 | 4 | 321 | 2,530 | 6.6% |
| 2021 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 319 | 3,551 | 3.8% |
| 2020 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 287 | 2,256 | 8% |
| 2019 | 25 | 16 | 9 | 332 | 3,313 | 7.6% |
| 2018 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 288 | 2,561 | 6.6% |
| 2017 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 280 | 2,525 | 4% |
| 2016 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 276 | 2,588 | 1.4% |
| 2015 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 305 | 2,561 | 3.3% |
| 2014 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 223 | 2,122 | 1.8% |
| 2013 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 280 | 2,297 | 3.9% |
| 2012 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 260 | 1,829 | 3.8% |
| 2011 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 292 | 2,380 | 5.1% |
| 2010 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 355 | 3,058 | 4.8% |
| 2009 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 375 | 3,484 | 4% |
| 2008 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 403 | 3,854 | 3% |
| 2007 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 370 | 3,202 | 3% |
| 2006 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 359 | 3,167 | 3.1% |
| 2005 | 27 | 11 | 16 | 333 | 3,045 | 8.1% |
| 2004 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 355 | 3,328 | 6.5% |
| 2003 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 317 | 2,991 | 1.9% |
| 2002 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 365 | 3,135 | 1.4% |
| 2001 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 363 | 3,389 | 4.1% |
| 2000 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 753 | 3,899 | 3% |
| 1999 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 987 | 10,472 | 1% |
| 1998 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 364 | 2,271 | 3% |
| 1997 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 223 | 1,935 | 2% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 506, 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 506 in 2026?
GMU 506 is in Bear Management Unit 14, Willapa Hills, which also takes in GMUs 501, 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 506?
16.6% of GMU 506 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 39,865 of its 239,984 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 39,762 acres or 16.6% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 39,762 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 506 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 39,762 | 16.6% |
| WDFW land | 103 | under 0.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 100 | under 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 1 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 506, by WDFW's own boundaries: Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area (111 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 506?
Highways through the unit: SR 4 (about 27 miles inside it) and SR 6 (about 13 miles inside it). Towns inside: Skamokawa Valley, Rosburg, Grays River, Deep River, Altoona and Upper Elochoman. Nearby: Pe Ell (on the line), Cathlamet (on the line), Raymond (11 miles) and South Bend (12 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 506?
GMU 506 touches 4 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 530 | Ryderwood | 13.6% | 12 | 412 |
| GMU 672 | Fall River | 26% | 9 | 270 |
| GMU 673 | Williams Creek | 24.4% | 11 | 232 |
| GMU 681 | Bear River | 5.2% | 11 | 116 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 506 in 2026?
GMU 506 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 506?
WDFW reports 35 black bears taken in GMU 506 in 2025 (21 males, 14 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 35, in 2025.
How much public land is in GMU 506?
16.6% of GMU 506, 39,865 of its 239,984 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 506?
Skamokawa Valley, Rosburg and Grays River are inside the unit. Just outside: Pe Ell (on the line), Cathlamet (on the line) and Raymond (11 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 506
Beginning at State Route (SR) 6 and 3rd St S at the town of Pe Ell; S on 3rd St S to Muller Rd; S on Muller Rd to Weyerhaeuser (Weyco) 1000 line; S on Weyco 1000 line to Weyco 1800 line; S on Weyco 1800 line to Weyco 500 line; SE on Weyco 500 line to SR 407 (Elochoman Valley Rd) at Camp 2; S on SR 407 to the Elochoman River; down the Elochoman River to Foster Rd; N on Foster Rd to Risk Rd; W and N along Risk Rd to SR 4; W on SR 4 to Skamokawa Creek; SW down Skamokawa Creek to the Columbia River; W along Columbia River to the mouth of the Deep River (including all islands in the Columbia River which are both north of the Washington state line and between Skamokawa Creek and Deep River); N along the Deep River to SR 4; NW on SR 4 to the Salmon Creek Rd; NE on Salmon Creek Rd to Weyco 5000 line; N on Weyco 5000 line (Deep River mainline) to Weyco 5800 line; NE on Weyco 5800 line to power transmission line (Section 21, T11N, R8W); E, NE, then N on the power transmission line to the Trap Creek A Line; E and N on the Trap Creek A Line to SR 6; E on SR 6 to the town of Pe Ell 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 530 GMU 672 GMU 673 GMU 681