Goodman GMU 612 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 8 black bears taken in GMU 612 Goodman in 2025. 96 bear hunters reported 602 days here, a success rate of 8.4% by WDFW's count. GMU 612 is 38.1% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (28,991 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 landNational park or historic site (no hunting)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 612Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 76,395 acres (119 square miles) |
| Counties | Jefferson and Clallam |
| Public land open to hunting | 38.1% (29,094 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 8 (8 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 96 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 13, Olympic Peninsula West) |
| Towns in and near it | Forks |
Also for GMU 612: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 612?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 612 in 2025, against 8 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 13, in 2017. WDFW's figures average 7 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 6 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 96 | 602 | 8.4% |
| 2024 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 84 | 687 | 9.6% |
| 2023 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 80 | 890 | 6.2% |
| 2022 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 87 | 872 | 12.6% |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 97 | 824 | 4.2% |
| 2020 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 56 | 453 | 12.6% |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 78 | 562 | 6.4% |
| 2018 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 95 | 733 | 3.2% |
| 2017 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 72 | 583 | 18% |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 68 | 685 | 4.4% |
| 2015 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 49 | 233 | 12.2% |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 56 | 338 | 7.1% |
| 2013 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 60 | 347 | 10% |
| 2012 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 53 | 326 | 15.1% |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 370 | 10.5% |
| 2010 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 51 | 485 | 15.7% |
| 2009 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 48 | 337 | 8% |
| 2008 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 54 | 359 | 15% |
| 2007 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 262 | 7% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 290 | 2% |
| 2005 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 253 | 5.3% |
| 2004 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 193 | 11.8% |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 197 | 0% |
| 2002 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 323 | 0% |
| 2001 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 49 | 456 | 6.1% |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 97 | 305 | 0% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 654 | 1% |
| 1998 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 115 | 5% |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 612, 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 612 in 2026?
GMU 612 is in Bear Management Unit 13, Olympic Peninsula West, which also takes in GMUs 601, 602, 615, 642, 648 and 651. 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 612?
38.1% of GMU 612 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 29,094 of its 76,395 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 28,991 acres or 37.9% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 28,991 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 612 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 28,991 | 37.9% |
| WDFW land | 92 | 0.1% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 41 | 0.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 27 | under 0.1% |
| BLM | 11 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 612, by WDFW's own boundaries: Olympic Wildlife Area (66 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 612?
Highways through the unit: US 101 (about 10 miles inside it) and SR 110 (about 2 miles inside it). Towns inside: Forks.
Which GMUs border GMU 612?
GMU 612 touches 3 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 615 | Clearwater | 74% | 24 | 209 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 612 in 2026?
GMU 612 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 13 (Olympic Peninsula 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 612?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 612 in 2025 (6 males, 2 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 13, in 2017.
How much public land is in GMU 612?
38.1% of GMU 612, 29,094 of its 76,395 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 612?
Forks is inside the unit.
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 612
Beginning approximately two miles east of the town of LaPush on the Olympic National Park boundary and LaPush Rd intersection; NE on LaPush Rd to US Hwy (US) 101 at the town of Forks; S on US 101, across the Hoh River, and west to Olympic National Park Boundary; N on the Olympic National Park boundary to LaPush Rd 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 615