Packwood GMU 516 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 24 black bears taken in GMU 516 Packwood in 2025. 224 bear hunters reported 1,382 days here, a success rate of 10.8% by WDFW's count. GMU 516 is 92.9% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (319,047 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 landGMU 516Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 343,869 acres (537 square miles) |
| Counties | Lewis and Skamania |
| Public land open to hunting | 92.9% (319,589 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 24 (11 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 224 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 9, South Cascades West) |
| Towns in and near it | Morton and Mossyrock |
Also for GMU 516: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 516?
WDFW reports 24 black bears taken in GMU 516 in 2025, against 11 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 40, in 2001. WDFW's figures average 19 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 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 224 | 1,382 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 228 | 1,629 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 226 | 1,345 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 31 | 16 | 15 | 252 | 1,636 | 12.4% |
| 2021 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 276 | 1,810 | 3.6% |
| 2020 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 290 | 1,812 | 3.2% |
| 2019 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 286 | 1,822 | 6.6% |
| 2018 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 315 | 2,103 | 5% |
| 2017 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 215 | 1,286 | 7% |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 272 | 1,492 | 1.4% |
| 2015 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 290 | 1,536 | 2.1% |
| 2014 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 295 | 1,744 | 5.1% |
| 2013 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 277 | 1,869 | 0.7% |
| 2012 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 288 | 1,644 | 3.8% |
| 2011 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 331 | 2,021 | 3.3% |
| 2010 | 22 | 18 | 4 | 369 | 2,276 | 6% |
| 2009 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 448 | 2,681 | 3% |
| 2008 | 37 | 29 | 8 | 503 | 3,738 | 7% |
| 2007 | 29 | 19 | 10 | 435 | 2,886 | 6.7% |
| 2006 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 402 | 2,504 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 394 | 2,398 | 3% |
| 2004 | 29 | 19 | 10 | 428 | 3,617 | 6.8% |
| 2003 | 22 | 11 | 11 | 444 | 3,945 | 5% |
| 2002 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 438 | 3,223 | 2.5% |
| 2001 | 40 | 27 | 13 | 492 | 3,628 | 8.1% |
| 2000 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 815 | 5,099 | 1% |
| 1999 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1,041 | 7,774 | 0% |
| 1998 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 640 | 4,049 | 3% |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 264 | 1,355 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 516, 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 516 in 2026?
GMU 516 is in Bear Management Unit 9, South Cascades West, which also takes in GMUs 466, 485, 503, 510, 513, 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 516?
92.9% of GMU 516 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 319,589 of its 343,869 acres. The largest share is national forest, 319,047 acres or 92.8% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 434 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 516 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 319,047 | 92.8% |
| DNR state trust land | 434 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 108 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 516, by WDFW's own boundaries: Cowlitz Wildlife Area (54 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 516?
Highways through the unit: US 12 (about 13 miles inside it). Nearby: Morton (7 miles) and Mossyrock (13 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 516?
GMU 516 touches 10 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 503 | Randle | 11.1% | 5 | 126 |
| GMU 505 | Mossyrock | 3.4% | 5 | 142 |
| GMU 510 | Stormking | 32.6% | 6 | 81 |
| GMU 513 | South Rainier | 93.2% | 4 | 156 |
| GMU 520 | Winston | 13.8% | 8 | 234 |
| GMU 522 | Loo-wit | 95.5% | 0 | |
| GMU 524 | Margaret | 24.8% | 10 | 93 |
| GMU 560 | Lewis River | 90.2% | 24 | 463 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 516 in 2026?
GMU 516 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 516?
WDFW reports 24 black bears taken in GMU 516 in 2025 (21 males, 3 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 40, in 2001.
How much public land is in GMU 516?
92.9% of GMU 516, 319,589 of its 343,869 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 516?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Morton (7 miles) and Mossyrock (13 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 516
Beginning at US Hwy (US) 12 and US Forest Service (USFS) Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) at White Pass; S on USFS Trail 2000 to the Yakama Indian Reservation border; S on the Yakama Indian Reservation border to USFS Trail 2000; S on USFS Trail 2000 to USFS Trail 98 at Sheep Lake; W on USFS Trail 98 to USFS Rd 2160 at Walupt Lake; W on USFS Rd 2160 to USFS Rd 21; S and W on USFS Rd 21 to USFS Rd 23; S on USFS Rd 23 to USFS Trail 263; S and W on USFS 263 to USFS Trail 261; S on USFS Trail 261 to USFS Trail 1; W on USFS Trail 1 to USFS Rd 99; W on USFS Rd 99 to USFS Rd 26; N on USFS Rd 26 to USFS Rd 2612; W on USFS Rd 2612 to USFS Trail 217; N and W on USFS Trail 217 to Weyerhaeuser (Weyco) 2600 line; W on Weyco 2600 line to Weyco 2658 line; N on Weyco 2658 line to Rayonier (Campbell Group) 430 line; N on Rayonier 430 line to the Rayonier Mainline 400 line; N and E on Rayonier Mainline 400 line to Rayonier 300 line; E on Rayonier 300 line to Rayonier 271 line; N on Rayonier 271 line to the Cispus River; E on the Cispus River to USFS Rd 25; N on USFS Rd 25 to State Route (SR) 131; N on SR 131 to Spears Rd; E on Spears Rd to Cispus Rd; W on Cispus Rd to SR 131; N on SR 131 to US 12; E on US 12 to the USFS Trail 2000 at White Pass and 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 505 GMU 510 GMU 513 GMU 520 GMU 524 GMU 560