Winston GMU 520 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 8 black bears taken in GMU 520 Winston in 2025. 234 bear hunters reported 2,120 days here, a success rate of 3.4% by WDFW's count. GMU 520 is 13.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (20,511 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 520Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 191,034 acres (298 square miles) |
| Counties | Cowlitz, Lewis and Skamania |
| Public land open to hunting | 13.8% (26,380 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 8 (9 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 234 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 11, Mount St. Helens) |
| Towns in and near it | Toledo, Vader and Castle Rock |
Also for GMU 520: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 520?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 520 in 2025, against 9 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 32, in 2019. WDFW's figures average 8 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 11 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 234 | 2,120 | 3.4% |
| 2024 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 337 | 3,322 | 2.6% |
| 2023 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 311 | 2,897 | 2.8% |
| 2022 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 303 | 2,385 | 3.4% |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 316 | 3,364 | 1.2% |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 307 | 2,544 | 1% |
| 2019 | 32 | 31 | 1 | 319 | 3,000 | 10% |
| 2018 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 261 | 2,370 | 3% |
| 2017 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 281 | 2,912 | 2% |
| 2016 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 317 | 2,762 | 1.2% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 324 | 2,866 | 0.3% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 299 | 2,754 | 0.3% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 430 | 3,196 | 0.9% |
| 2012 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 440 | 3,322 | 0.9% |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 453 | 3,531 | 0.9% |
| 2010 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 501 | 3,839 | 2.6% |
| 2009 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 583 | 4,773 | 1% |
| 2008 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 625 | 5,643 | 3% |
| 2007 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 502 | 3,956 | 1.6% |
| 2006 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 485 | 3,842 | 1.2% |
| 2005 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 386 | 3,370 | 1.8% |
| 2004 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 425 | 4,551 | 4.9% |
| 2003 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 350 | 2,749 | 2.3% |
| 2002 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 425 | 3,251 | 1.9% |
| 2001 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 408 | 3,334 | 2% |
| 2000 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1,098 | 7,158 | 1% |
| 1999 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1,123 | 8,592 | 1% |
| 1998 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 508 | 4,245 | 1% |
| 1997 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 272 | 2,519 | 1% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 520, 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 520 in 2026?
GMU 520 is in Bear Management Unit 11, Mount St. Helens, which also takes in GMUs 505, 524, 550, 554, 556 and 667. 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 520?
13.8% of GMU 520 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 26,380 of its 191,034 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 20,511 acres or 10.7% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 20,511 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 520 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 20,511 | 10.7% |
| National forest | 5,567 | 2.9% |
| WDFW land | 260 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 42 | under 0.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 41 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 520, by WDFW's own boundaries: Cowlitz Wildlife Area (1,193 acres here; units Riffe Buffer, Swofford and Mayfield Buffer) and Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area (249 acres here; units Hoffstadt and Gardner).
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 520?
Highways through the unit: I-5 (about 15 miles inside it), SR 505 (about 12 miles inside it) and SR 504 (about 10 miles inside it). Nearby: Toledo (on the line), Vader (on the line), Castle Rock (3 miles) and Mossyrock (3 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 520?
GMU 520 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 503 | Randle | 11.1% | 5 | 126 |
| GMU 505 | Mossyrock | 3.4% | 5 | 142 |
| GMU 516 | Packwood | 92.9% | 24 | 224 |
| GMU 524 | Margaret | 24.8% | 10 | 93 |
| GMU 530 | Ryderwood | 13.6% | 12 | 412 |
| GMU 550 | Coweeman | 7.2% | 10 | 331 |
| GMU 556 | Toutle | 31.1% | 9 | 148 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 520 in 2026?
GMU 520 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 11 (Mount St. Helens), 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 520?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 520 in 2025 (6 males, 2 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 32, in 2019.
How much public land is in GMU 520?
13.8% of GMU 520, 26,380 of its 191,034 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 520?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Toledo (on the line), Vader (on the line) and Castle Rock (3 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 520
Beginning at the bridge at intersection of Interstate Hwy (I)-5 and the Cowlitz River; S down the Cowlitz River to the Toutle River; E up the Toutle River to the South Fork Toutle River; SE up South Fork Toutle River to Johnson Creek; NE up Johnson Creek to Weyerhaeuser (Weyco) 4400 line; N along Weyco 4400 line to Weyco 2421 line; N along Weyco 2421 line to Weyco 2400 line; NW along Weyco 2400 line to Alder Creek; NW down Alder Creek to North Fork Toutle River; W down the North Fork Toutle River to the Green River; E up the Green River to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 2612; E on USFS Rd 2612 to USFS Trail 217; N and W on USFS Trail 217 to Weyco 2600 line; W on Weyco 2600 line to Weyco 2658 line; N on Weyco 2658 line to Rayonier 430 line; N on Rayonier 430 line to Rayonier 400 Mainline; N and E on Rayonier 400 Mainline to Rayonier 100 Mainline; N on Rayonier 100 Mainline to Cowlitz River; W down the Cowlitz River to Riffe Lake; W along the south shore to the Swofford Pond outlet; W along the Swofford Pond outlet to Green Mountain Rd; W on Green Mountain Rd to Perkins Rd; SW on Perkins Rd to Longbell Rd; W on Longbell Rd to Winston Creek Rd; NW on Winston Creek Rd to US Hwy (US) 12; SW on US 12 to the Mayfield Lake bridge at Mayfield Lake; SW down the south shore of Mayfield Lake to the Cowlitz River at Mayfield Dam; SW down the Cowlitz River to I-5 bridge crossing the Cowlitz River 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 505 GMU 516 GMU 524 GMU 530 GMU 550