Washougal GMU 568 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 29 black bears taken in GMU 568 Washougal in 2025. 408 bear hunters reported 3,254 days here, a success rate of 7.2% by WDFW's count. GMU 568 is 49.5% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (92,084 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 landNational wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Military land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 568Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 5, Southwest Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 269,491 acres (421 square miles) |
| Public land open to hunting | 49.5% (133,297 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 29 (28 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 408 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 9, South Cascades West) |
| Towns in and near it | North Bonneville, Stevenson, Yacolt, Washougal, Camas and Battle Ground |
Also for GMU 568: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 568?
WDFW reports 29 black bears taken in GMU 568 in 2025, against 28 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 46, in 2020. WDFW's figures average 28 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 25 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | 22 | 7 | 408 | 3,254 | 7.2% |
| 2024 | 28 | 17 | 11 | 358 | 2,877 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 430 | 3,184 | 5.6% |
| 2022 | 39 | 21 | 18 | 351 | 2,809 | 11.2% |
| 2021 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 411 | 2,855 | 5.2% |
| 2020 | 46 | 30 | 16 | 391 | 2,720 | 11.8% |
| 2019 | 38 | 26 | 12 | 352 | 2,542 | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 348 | 2,287 | 2% |
| 2017 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 287 | 1,931 | 4% |
| 2016 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 300 | 1,990 | 7.4% |
| 2015 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 339 | 2,241 | 4.1% |
| 2014 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 343 | 2,381 | 5.8% |
| 2013 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 379 | 2,499 | 5.3% |
| 2012 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 346 | 2,213 | 7.5% |
| 2011 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 364 | 2,226 | 6.6% |
| 2010 | 35 | 16 | 19 | 355 | 2,269 | 9.9% |
| 2009 | 43 | 35 | 8 | 386 | 2,884 | 11% |
| 2008 | 41 | 28 | 13 | 377 | 2,541 | 11% |
| 2007 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 305 | 1,962 | 5.2% |
| 2006 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 281 | 1,850 | 7.5% |
| 2005 | 31 | 17 | 14 | 255 | 1,805 | 12.2% |
| 2004 | 22 | 19 | 3 | 297 | 1,918 | 7.4% |
| 2003 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 265 | 2,473 | 6.4% |
| 2002 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 265 | 1,698 | 7.2% |
| 2001 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 264 | 2,415 | 6.4% |
| 2000 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 549 | 2,123 | 3% |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 636 | 3,398 | 0% |
| 1998 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 438 | 2,266 | 4% |
| 1997 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 123 | 843 | 7% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 568, 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 568 in 2026?
GMU 568 is in Bear Management Unit 9, South Cascades West, which also takes in GMUs 466, 485, 503, 510, 513, 516, 560, 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 568?
49.5% of GMU 568 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 133,297 of its 269,491 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 92,084 acres or 34.2% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 92,084 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 568 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 92,084 | 34.2% |
| National forest | 40,733 | 15.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 6,876 | 2.6% |
| Military land (restricted) | 3,011 | 1.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 991 | 0.4% |
| WDFW land | 396 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 84 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 568, by WDFW's own boundaries: Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area (61 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 568?
Highways through the unit: SR 14 (about 23 miles inside it) and SR 503 (about 5 miles inside it). Towns inside: North Bonneville, Stevenson, Yacolt and Carson. Nearby: Washougal (3 miles), Camas (3 miles), Battle Ground (3 miles) and Vancouver (7 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 568?
GMU 568 touches 4 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 554 | Yale | 22.4% | 2 | 44 |
| GMU 564 | Battle Ground | 3.3% | 13 | 63 |
| GMU 572 | Siouxon | 91.4% | 15 | 228 |
| GMU 574 | Wind River | 73.3% | 7 | 124 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 568 in 2026?
GMU 568 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 568?
WDFW reports 29 black bears taken in GMU 568 in 2025 (22 males, 7 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 46, in 2020.
How much public land is in GMU 568?
49.5% of GMU 568, 133,297 of its 269,491 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 568?
North Bonneville, Stevenson and Yacolt are inside the unit. Just outside: Washougal (3 miles), Camas (3 miles) and Battle Ground (3 miles).
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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 564 GMU 572 GMU 574