Pysht GMU 603 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 5 black bears taken in GMU 603 Pysht in 2025. 77 bear hunters reported 993 days here, a success rate of 6.4% by WDFW's count. GMU 603 is 55.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (42,472 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 park or historic site (no hunting)Military land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 603Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 149,891 acres (234 square miles) |
| Counties | Clallam |
| Public land open to hunting | 55.2% (82,706 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 5 (10 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 77 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 12, Olympic Peninsula East) |
| Towns in and near it | Port Angeles and Forks |
Also for GMU 603: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 603?
WDFW reports 5 black bears taken in GMU 603 in 2025, against 10 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 18, in 2002. 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 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 77 | 993 | 6.4% |
| 2024 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 101 | 771 | 10% |
| 2023 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 79 | 543 | 14% |
| 2022 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 117 | 974 | 9.4% |
| 2021 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 98 | 819 | 6.2% |
| 2020 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 69 | 549 | 10.2% |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 71 | 665 | 9.8% |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 80 | 659 | 7.6% |
| 2017 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 118 | 818 | 10% |
| 2016 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 103 | 846 | 11.6% |
| 2015 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 95 | 720 | 10.5% |
| 2014 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 104 | 674 | 6.7% |
| 2013 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 121 | 691 | 11.6% |
| 2012 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 128 | 731 | 8.6% |
| 2011 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 127 | 1,131 | 11% |
| 2010 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 143 | 948 | 4.2% |
| 2009 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 141 | 1,076 | 6% |
| 2008 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 151 | 1,136 | 9% |
| 2007 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 146 | 1,041 | 6.2% |
| 2006 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 129 | 1,196 | 4.7% |
| 2005 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 102 | 688 | 2% |
| 2004 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 111 | 813 | 8.1% |
| 2003 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 138 | 982 | 2.9% |
| 2002 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 186 | 1,333 | 9.7% |
| 2001 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 174 | 1,311 | 5.2% |
| 2000 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 443 | 1,904 | 2% |
| 1999 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 406 | 3,118 | 1% |
| 1998 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 239 | 1,931 | 2% |
| 1997 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 66 | 382 | 9% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 603, 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 603 in 2026?
GMU 603 is in Bear Management Unit 12, Olympic Peninsula East, which also takes in GMUs 607, 618, 621, 636 and 638. 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 603?
55.2% of GMU 603 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 82,706 of its 149,891 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 42,472 acres or 28.3% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 42,472 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 603 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 42,472 | 28.3% |
| National forest | 40,099 | 26.8% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 207 | 0.1% |
| WDFW land | 97 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 38 | under 0.1% |
| Military land (restricted) | 14 | under 0.1% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 11 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 603, by WDFW's own boundaries: North Olympic Wildlife Area (263 acres here; units Elwha and Twin Rivers).
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 603?
Highways through the unit: SR 112 (about 60 miles inside it), US 101 (about 12 miles inside it) and SR 113 (about 8 miles inside it). Nearby: Port Angeles (5 miles) and Forks (10 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 603?
GMU 603 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 602 | Dickey | 33.3% | 11 | 108 |
| GMU 607 | Sol Duc | 76% | 2 | 68 |
| GMU 621 | Olympic | 73.2% | 36 | 354 |
| GMU 624 | Coyle | 9.3% | 6 | 99 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 603 in 2026?
GMU 603 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 12 (Olympic Peninsula East), 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 603?
WDFW reports 5 black bears taken in GMU 603 in 2025 (5 males, 0 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 18, in 2002.
How much public land is in GMU 603?
55.2% of GMU 603, 82,706 of its 149,891 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 603?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Port Angeles (5 miles) and Forks (10 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 603
Beginning at the mouth of the Clallam River on Strait of Juan de Fuca; E along the shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the mouth of the Elwha River; S along the Elwha River to the Olympic National Park boundary; W along the Olympic National Park boundary to one mile west of Lake Crescent; S on the Olympic National Park boundary to US Hwy (US) 101; W on US 101 to the State Route (SR) 113 (Burnt Mountain Rd); N on SR 113 to SR 112; N on SR 112 to the Clallam River; N along the Clallam River to its mouth 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 6 GMU 602 GMU 607 GMU 621 GMU 624