Clearwater GMU 615 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 24 black bears taken in GMU 615 Clearwater in 2025. 209 bear hunters reported 2,047 days here, a success rate of 11.4% by WDFW's count. GMU 615 is 74% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (149,202 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)GMU 615Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 205,354 acres (321 square miles) |
| Counties | Jefferson |
| Public land open to hunting | 74% (151,864 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 24 (18 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 209 |
| 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 615: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 615?
WDFW reports 24 black bears taken in GMU 615 in 2025, against 18 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 40, in 2019. WDFW's figures average 24 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 | 24 | 19 | 5 | 209 | 2,047 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 204 | 1,552 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 37 | 17 | 20 | 255 | 2,065 | 14.6% |
| 2022 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 213 | 1,477 | 10.4% |
| 2021 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 274 | 1,940 | 7% |
| 2020 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 206 | 1,185 | 7.2% |
| 2019 | 40 | 27 | 13 | 247 | 1,525 | 16.2% |
| 2018 | 25 | 14 | 11 | 193 | 1,544 | 13% |
| 2017 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 191 | 1,373 | 9% |
| 2016 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 212 | 1,439 | 12.2% |
| 2015 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 192 | 1,581 | 6.8% |
| 2014 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 183 | 1,447 | 7.1% |
| 2013 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 159 | 1,262 | 3.8% |
| 2012 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 175 | 1,274 | 9.7% |
| 2011 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 209 | 1,645 | 5.7% |
| 2010 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 212 | 1,394 | 11.3% |
| 2009 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 223 | 1,716 | 4% |
| 2008 | 40 | 25 | 15 | 266 | 1,767 | 15% |
| 2007 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 182 | 1,291 | 8.8% |
| 2006 | 26 | 25 | 1 | 203 | 1,332 | 12.8% |
| 2005 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 191 | 1,498 | 10.5% |
| 2004 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 188 | 1,507 | 8.5% |
| 2003 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 206 | 1,633 | 11.2% |
| 2002 | 29 | 19 | 10 | 224 | 2,084 | 12.9% |
| 2001 | 28 | 22 | 6 | 250 | 2,044 | 11.2% |
| 2000 | 21 | 17 | 4 | 460 | 2,315 | 5% |
| 1999 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 379 | 3,850 | 4% |
| 1998 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 286 | 2,917 | 4% |
| 1997 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 66 | 307 | 9% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 615, 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 615 in 2026?
GMU 615 is in Bear Management Unit 13, Olympic Peninsula West, which also takes in GMUs 601, 602, 612, 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 615?
74% of GMU 615 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 151,864 of its 205,354 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 149,202 acres or 72.7% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 149,202 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 615 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 149,202 | 72.7% |
| National forest | 2,632 | 1.3% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 42 | under 0.1% |
| BLM | 17 | under 0.1% |
| WDFW land | 13 | under 0.1% |
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 615?
Highways through the unit: US 101 (about 11 miles inside it). Nearby: Forks (4 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 615?
GMU 615 touches 2 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 607 | Sol Duc | 76% | 2 | 68 |
| GMU 612 | Goodman | 38.1% | 8 | 96 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 615 in 2026?
GMU 615 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 615?
WDFW reports 24 black bears taken in GMU 615 in 2025 (19 males, 5 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 40, in 2019.
How much public land is in GMU 615?
74% of GMU 615, 151,864 of its 205,354 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 615?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Forks (4 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 615
Beginning on US Hwy (US) 101 and the Bogachiel River; E along the Bogachiel River to the Olympic National Park boundary; SE and W on the Olympic National Park boundary to the Quinault Indian reservation boundary; W on the Quinault Indian reservation boundary to the Olympic National Park boundary; N along the Olympic National Park boundary to US 101; E, N, and W on US 101 to the Bogachiel River 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 607 GMU 612