Lewis River GMU 560 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 24 black bears taken in GMU 560 Lewis River in 2025. 463 bear hunters reported 3,406 days here, a success rate of 5.2% by WDFW's count. GMU 560 is 90.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (420,614 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 560Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 475,619 acres (743 square miles) |
| Counties | Cowlitz, Skamania, Klickitat, Yakima and Lewis |
| Public land open to hunting | 90.2% (428,932 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 24 (22 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 463 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 9, South Cascades West) |
| Towns in and near it | Trout Lake, Cougar, Yacolt, White Salmon and Bingen |
Also for GMU 560: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 560?
WDFW reports 24 black bears taken in GMU 560 in 2025, against 22 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 47, in 2020. WDFW's figures average 24 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 27 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 463 | 3,406 | 5.2% |
| 2024 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 458 | 3,859 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 539 | 3,560 | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 34 | 25 | 9 | 628 | 4,779 | 5.4% |
| 2021 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 630 | 4,638 | 3.4% |
| 2020 | 47 | 35 | 12 | 693 | 4,832 | 6.8% |
| 2019 | 35 | 26 | 9 | 619 | 4,908 | 5.6% |
| 2018 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 643 | 4,353 | 2.4% |
| 2017 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 572 | 4,121 | 2% |
| 2016 | 25 | 13 | 12 | 620 | 4,383 | 4% |
| 2015 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 706 | 4,919 | 0.6% |
| 2014 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 655 | 4,932 | 2% |
| 2013 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 687 | 5,220 | 1.7% |
| 2012 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 635 | 4,557 | 1.7% |
| 2011 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 703 | 4,818 | 3.7% |
| 2010 | 31 | 20 | 11 | 718 | 5,302 | 4.3% |
| 2009 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 701 | 5,204 | 2% |
| 2008 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 766 | 5,868 | 3% |
| 2007 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 740 | 5,101 | 1.4% |
| 2006 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 672 | 4,989 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 469 | 3,296 | 3.4% |
| 2004 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 524 | 4,608 | 4% |
| 2003 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 580 | 4,566 | 3.6% |
| 2002 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 681 | 4,827 | 2.3% |
| 2001 | 27 | 17 | 10 | 652 | 6,123 | 4.1% |
| 2000 | 22 | 18 | 4 | 1,204 | 7,325 | 2% |
| 1999 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1,393 | 9,489 | 1% |
| 1998 | 21 | 2 | 19 | 802 | 5,296 | 3% |
| 1997 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 380 | 2,123 | 3% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 560, 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 560 in 2026?
GMU 560 is in Bear Management Unit 9, South Cascades West, which also takes in GMUs 466, 485, 503, 510, 513, 516, 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 560?
90.2% of GMU 560 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 428,932 of its 475,619 acres. The largest share is national forest, 420,614 acres or 88.4% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 8,249 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 560 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 420,614 | 88.4% |
| DNR state trust land | 8,249 | 1.7% |
| BLM | 69 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 560, by WDFW's own boundaries: Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area (1,448 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 560?
No numbered highway crosses the unit. Towns inside: Trout Lake and Cougar. Nearby: Yacolt (13 miles), White Salmon (17 miles) and Bingen (18 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 560?
GMU 560 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 516 | Packwood | 92.9% | 24 | 224 |
| GMU 522 | Loo-wit | 95.5% | 0 | |
| GMU 554 | Yale | 22.4% | 2 | 44 |
| GMU 556 | Toutle | 31.1% | 9 | 148 |
| GMU 572 | Siouxon | 91.4% | 15 | 228 |
| GMU 574 | Wind River | 73.3% | 7 | 124 |
| GMU 578 | West Klickitat | 27.6% | 19 | 279 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 560 in 2026?
GMU 560 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 560?
WDFW reports 24 black bears taken in GMU 560 in 2025 (16 males, 8 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 47, in 2020.
How much public land is in GMU 560?
90.2% of GMU 560, 428,932 of its 475,619 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 560?
Trout Lake and Cougar are inside the unit. Just outside: Yacolt (13 miles), White Salmon (17 miles) and Bingen (18 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 560
Beginning on State Route (SR) 141 and Mount Adams Recreational Area Rd at the town of Trout Lake; N on the Mount Adams Recreational Area Rd to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 82 (Mount Adams Recreational Area Rd); N on USFS Road 82 to Yakama Indian Reservation boundary (Section 16, T7N, R11E); N along the Yakama Indian reservation boundary (Cascade Mountain Range Crest) to USFS Trail 2000 (Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) in Section 3, T11N, R11E; 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 Trail 263 to USFS Trail 261; S on USFS Trail 261 to USFS Trail 1; W on USFS Trail 1 to USFS Rd 99; S and W on USFS Rd 99 to USFS Trail 225 (Smith Creek Trail); S on USFS Trail 225 to Ape Canyon Creek; N and W up Ape Canyon Creek to Mt. St. Helens crater's eastern edge; W along Mt. St. Helens crater's southern edge to headwaters of S Fork Toutle River; W along S Weyco 1000 line; N on Weyco 1000 line to Muller Rd; N on Muller Rd to 3rd St South in the town of Pe Ell; N on 3rd St South to SR 6 at the town of Pe Ell; N on SR 6 to Stevens Rd, south of the town of Doty, 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 516 GMU 572 GMU 574 GMU 578