South Rainier GMU 513 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 4 black bears taken in GMU 513 South Rainier in 2025. 156 bear hunters reported 840 days here, a success rate of 2.6% by WDFW's count. GMU 513 is 93.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (141,667 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 landNational park or historic site (no hunting)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 513Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 153,803 acres (240 square miles) |
| Counties | Lewis |
| Public land open to hunting | 93.2% (143,380 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 4 (2 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 156 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 9, South Cascades West) |
| Towns in and near it | Packwood, Eatonville and Morton |
Also for GMU 513: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 513?
WDFW reports 4 black bears taken in GMU 513 in 2025, against 2 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 22, in 2019. WDFW's figures average 7 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 9 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 156 | 840 | 2.6% |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 122 | 766 | 1.6% |
| 2023 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 141 | 714 | 3.6% |
| 2022 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 101 | 631 | 10.8% |
| 2021 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 128 | 976 | 11.8% |
| 2020 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 153 | 822 | 7.8% |
| 2019 | 22 | 10 | 12 | 136 | 796 | 16.2% |
| 2018 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 154 | 1,160 | 3.8% |
| 2017 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 159 | 986 | 2% |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 111 | 752 | 0% |
| 2015 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 106 | 670 | 3.8% |
| 2014 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 122 | 848 | 4.9% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 110 | 670 | 0.9% |
| 2012 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 162 | 1,154 | 6.8% |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 153 | 896 | 3.3% |
| 2010 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 162 | 950 | 9.9% |
| 2009 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 193 | 1,333 | 3% |
| 2008 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 185 | 1,371 | 4% |
| 2007 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 143 | 1,013 | 4.2% |
| 2006 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 180 | 1,380 | 2.8% |
| 2005 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 209 | 1,454 | 3.8% |
| 2004 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 219 | 1,394 | 6.8% |
| 2003 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 228 | 1,644 | 2.6% |
| 2002 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 220 | 1,483 | 5.5% |
| 2001 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 227 | 1,536 | 4% |
| 2000 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 505 | 2,194 | 2% |
| 1999 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 473 | 2,549 | 2% |
| 1998 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 348 | 2,083 | 4% |
| 1997 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 223 | 985 | 3% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 513, 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 513 in 2026?
GMU 513 is in Bear Management Unit 9, South Cascades West, which also takes in GMUs 466, 485, 503, 510, 516, 560, 568, 572, 574, 653 and 654. 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 513?
93.2% of GMU 513 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 143,380 of its 153,803 acres. The largest share is national forest, 141,667 acres or 92.1% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 1,598 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 513 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 141,667 | 92.1% |
| DNR state trust land | 1,598 | 1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 179 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 115 | 0.1% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 66 | 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 513?
Highways through the unit: US 12 (about 22 miles inside it) and SR 123 (about 3 miles inside it). Towns inside: Packwood. Nearby: Eatonville (16 miles) and Morton (17 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 513?
GMU 513 touches 5 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 356 | Bumping | 99.9% | 5 | 107 |
| GMU 364 | Rimrock | 96.3% | 2 | 110 |
| GMU 510 | Stormking | 32.6% | 6 | 81 |
| GMU 516 | Packwood | 92.9% | 24 | 224 |
| GMU 654 | Mashel | 19.3% | 32 | 303 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 513 in 2026?
GMU 513 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 9 (South 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 513?
WDFW reports 4 black bears taken in GMU 513 in 2025 (4 males, 0 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 22, in 2019.
How much public land is in GMU 513?
93.2% of GMU 513, 143,380 of its 153,803 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 513?
Packwood is inside the unit. Just outside: Eatonville (16 miles) and Morton (17 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 513
Beginning on US Hwy (US) 12 at the Silver Creek bridge; N up Silver Creek to Silverbrook Rd; E on Silverdale Rd to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 47; N on USFS Rd 47 to USFS Rd 85; W and N on USFS Rd 85 to USFS Rd 52; W and N on USFS Rd 52 to the Nisqually River; E up the Nisqually River to the southern boundary of Mount Rainier National Park; E along the south park boundary to the USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail); S along the USFS Trail 2000 to US 12; W on US 12 to the Silver Creek bridge and 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 364 GMU 510 GMU 516 GMU 654