Coweeman GMU 550 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 10 black bears taken in GMU 550 Coweeman in 2025. 331 bear hunters reported 3,430 days here, a success rate of 3% by WDFW's count. GMU 550 is 7.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (15,248 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.
BLMDNR state trust landWDFW landOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 550Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 222,179 acres (347 square miles) |
| Counties | Cowlitz |
| Public land open to hunting | 7.2% (15,991 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 10 (15 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 331 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 11, Mount St. Helens) |
| Towns in and near it | Castle Rock, Kelso, Kalama and Longview |
Also for GMU 550: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 550?
WDFW reports 10 black bears taken in GMU 550 in 2025, against 15 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 16, in 2019. WDFW's figures average 9 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 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 331 | 3,430 | 3% |
| 2024 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 295 | 3,138 | 5% |
| 2023 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 346 | 3,688 | 2.8% |
| 2022 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 313 | 3,393 | 2.6% |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 290 | 2,712 | 0.6% |
| 2020 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 331 | 2,945 | 3.6% |
| 2019 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 296 | 2,634 | 5.4% |
| 2018 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 230 | 1,942 | 2.6% |
| 2017 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 243 | 1,910 | 4% |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 235 | 1,928 | 0% |
| 2015 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 220 | 1,831 | 3.6% |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 238 | 1,948 | 1.7% |
| 2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 347 | 2,686 | 0.3% |
| 2012 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 307 | 2,459 | 2.6% |
| 2011 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 362 | 2,776 | 3.9% |
| 2010 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 385 | 3,053 | 1.6% |
| 2009 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 435 | 3,454 | 1% |
| 2008 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 422 | 3,507 | 3% |
| 2007 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 356 | 2,824 | 3.7% |
| 2006 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 325 | 2,468 | 3.4% |
| 2005 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 216 | 2,002 | 1.9% |
| 2004 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 299 | 2,489 | 2.3% |
| 2003 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 290 | 2,375 | 2.1% |
| 2002 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 291 | 2,635 | 1.7% |
| 2001 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 263 | 2,127 | 2.3% |
| 2000 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 744 | 5,211 | 1% |
| 1999 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1,055 | 8,255 | 0% |
| 1998 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 298 | 1,681 | 1% |
| 1997 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 158 | 795 | 4% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 550, 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 550 in 2026?
GMU 550 is in Bear Management Unit 11, Mount St. Helens, which also takes in GMUs 505, 520, 524, 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 550?
7.2% of GMU 550 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 15,991 of its 222,179 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 15,248 acres or 6.9% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 15,248 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 550 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 15,248 | 6.9% |
| WDFW land | 627 | 0.3% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 506 | 0.2% |
| BLM | 116 | 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 550, by WDFW's own boundaries: Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area (154 acres here; units Canal Road and Carnine).
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 550?
Highways through the unit: I-5 (about 17 miles inside it), SR 504 (about 11 miles inside it) and SR 503 (about 4 miles inside it). Towns inside: Castle Rock. Nearby: Kelso (2 miles), Kalama (2 miles), Longview (4 miles) and Woodland (4 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 550?
GMU 550 touches 6 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 504 | Stella | 0.3% | 2 | 37 |
| GMU 520 | Winston | 13.8% | 8 | 234 |
| GMU 530 | Ryderwood | 13.6% | 12 | 412 |
| GMU 554 | Yale | 22.4% | 2 | 44 |
| GMU 556 | Toutle | 31.1% | 9 | 148 |
| GMU 564 | Battle Ground | 3.3% | 13 | 63 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 550 in 2026?
GMU 550 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 550?
WDFW reports 10 black bears taken in GMU 550 in 2025 (5 males, 5 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 16, in 2019.
How much public land is in GMU 550?
7.2% of GMU 550, 15,991 of its 222,179 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 550?
Castle Rock is inside the unit. Just outside: Kelso (2 miles), Kalama (2 miles) and Longview (4 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 550
Beginning at the mouth of the Toutle River on the Cowlitz River; E along the Toutle River to the South Fork Toutle River; up the South Fork Toutle River to Weyerhaeuser (Weyco) 4100 line; E on Weyco 4100 line to Weyco 4950 line; S and E on Weyco 4950 line to Weyco 235 line; SE on Weyco 235 line to Weyco 200 line; W on Weyco 200 line to Weyco 240 line; SE on Weyco 240 line to Weyco 243 line; E on Weyco 243 line to Weyco 135A line; S on Weyco 135A line to Weyco 135 line; E on Weyco 135 line to Weyco 134 line; SW on Weyco 134 line to Weyco 133 line; SW on Weyco 133 line to Weyco 130 line; SW on Weyco 130 line to Weyco 1680 line; W on Weyco 1680 line to Weyco 1600 line; SE on Weyco 1600 line to Weyco 1400 line; W on Weyco 1400 line to Weyco 1420 line which is the Kalama/Coweeman Summit; SE on Weyco 1420 line to Weyco 1426 line; W on Weyco 1426 line to Weyco 1428 line; SW on Weyco 1428 line to Weyco 1429 line which turns into Weyco 6400 line; SW down Weyco 6400 line to Weyco 6000 line; E on Weyco 6000 line to Weyco 6450 line; SE for approximately one mile on Weyco 6450 line (crossing the Kalama River) to Weyco 6452 line; SE on Weyco 6452 line to Dubois Rd; SE on Dubois Rd to State Route (SR) 503; W on SR 503 to Cape Horn Creek; SE down Cape Horn Creek to Merwin Reservoir; SW along the north shore of Merwin Reservoir to the Lewis River; SW down the Lewis River to the power transmission lines in Section 4, T5N, R2E; NW along the power transmission lines to Northwest Natural Gas Pipeline located east of the town of Kalama, approximately 1/2 mile east of China Gardens Rd; N up the Natural Gas Pipeline right of way to Ostrander Creek; W down Ostrander Creek to the Cowlitz River; N on the Cowlitz River to the Toutle 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 520 GMU 530 GMU 564