Olympic GMU 621 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 36 black bears taken in GMU 621 Olympic in 2025. 354 bear hunters reported 2,497 days here, a success rate of 10.2% by WDFW's count. GMU 621 is 73.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (225,176 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 forestDNR state trust landWDFW landNational wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)National park or historic site (no hunting)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 621Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 417,815 acres (653 square miles) |
| Counties | Jefferson, Clallam and Mason |
| Public land open to hunting | 73.2% (305,656 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 36 (40 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 354 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 12, Olympic Peninsula East) |
| Towns in and near it | Brinnon, Quilcene, Blyn, Sequim, Port Angeles and Port Townsend |
Also for GMU 621: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 621?
WDFW reports 36 black bears taken in GMU 621 in 2025, against 40 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 50, in 2011. WDFW's figures average 29 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 29 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | 19 | 17 | 354 | 2,497 | 10.2% |
| 2024 | 40 | 34 | 6 | 339 | 2,660 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 300 | 2,302 | 6% |
| 2022 | 30 | 21 | 9 | 261 | 1,757 | 11.4% |
| 2021 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 322 | 2,290 | 7.2% |
| 2020 | 42 | 31 | 11 | 335 | 2,345 | 12.6% |
| 2019 | 36 | 32 | 4 | 265 | 2,046 | 13.6% |
| 2018 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 371 | 2,933 | 5.2% |
| 2017 | 27 | 19 | 8 | 300 | 2,080 | 9% |
| 2016 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 278 | 1,693 | 6.8% |
| 2015 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 270 | 1,720 | 7% |
| 2014 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 303 | 2,010 | 5% |
| 2013 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 253 | 1,861 | 5.1% |
| 2012 | 26 | 12 | 14 | 321 | 2,777 | 8.1% |
| 2011 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 353 | 2,212 | 14.2% |
| 2010 | 37 | 20 | 17 | 357 | 2,688 | 10.4% |
| 2009 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 340 | 2,813 | 4% |
| 2008 | 32 | 19 | 13 | 354 | 3,294 | 9% |
| 2007 | 37 | 28 | 9 | 348 | 2,638 | 10.6% |
| 2006 | 29 | 20 | 9 | 295 | 2,751 | 9.8% |
| 2005 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 297 | 2,287 | 6.7% |
| 2004 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 294 | 2,259 | 13.9% |
| 2003 | 23 | 17 | 6 | 295 | 2,048 | 7.8% |
| 2002 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 332 | 2,689 | 6% |
| 2001 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 364 | 2,878 | 5.8% |
| 2000 | 22 | 20 | 2 | 611 | 3,320 | 4% |
| 1999 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 582 | 5,794 | 3% |
| 1998 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 445 | 3,459 | 6% |
| 1997 | 22 | 18 | 4 | 175 | 1,226 | 13% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 621, 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 621 in 2026?
GMU 621 is in Bear Management Unit 12, Olympic Peninsula East, which also takes in GMUs 603, 607, 618, 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 621?
73.2% of GMU 621 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 305,656 of its 417,815 acres. The largest share is national forest, 225,176 acres or 53.9% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 79,914 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 621 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 225,176 | 53.9% |
| DNR state trust land | 79,914 | 19.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 2,282 | 0.5% |
| WDFW land | 566 | 0.1% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 211 | 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 152 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 621, by WDFW's own boundaries: North Olympic Wildlife Area (312 acres here; units Duckabush, Morse Creek and Discovery Bay).
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 621?
Highways through the unit: US 101 (about 65 miles inside it) and SR 119 (about 9 miles inside it). Towns inside: Brinnon, Quilcene, Blyn, Bell Hill and River Road. Nearby: Sequim (on the line), Port Angeles (on the line), Port Townsend (7 miles) and Poulsbo (10 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 621?
GMU 621 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 603 | Pysht | 55.2% | 5 | 77 |
| GMU 624 | Coyle | 9.3% | 6 | 99 |
| GMU 633 | Mason | 14.2% | 9 | 229 |
| GMU 636 | Skokomish | 56% | 8 | 186 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 621 in 2026?
GMU 621 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 621?
WDFW reports 36 black bears taken in GMU 621 in 2025 (19 males, 17 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 50, in 2011.
How much public land is in GMU 621?
73.2% of GMU 621, 305,656 of its 417,815 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 621?
Brinnon, Quilcene and Blyn are inside the unit. Just outside: Sequim (on the line), Port Angeles (on the line) and Port Townsend (7 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 621
Beginning at the Olympic National Park boundary and the Elwha River; N along the Elwha River to US Hwy (US) 101; E on US 101, through Port Angeles and Sequim, to the Chimacum Center Rd at the town of Quilcene; N on the Chimacum Center Rd to the East Quilcene Rd; E on the East Quilcene Rd to Quilcene Bay; S along the shore of Quilcene Bay to Dabob Bay; S along the shore of Dabob Bay to Hood Canal; SW along the shore of Hood Canal to Finch Creek; upstream on Finch Creek to US 101; S on US 101 to State Route (SR) 119 (Lake Cushman Rd); W on SR 119 to Standstill Dr (Power Dam Rd); W on Standstill Dr to Upper Cushman Dam and the shore of Lake Cushman; NW on the west shore of Lake Cushman to the North Fork Skokomish River; N along the North Fork Skokomish River to the Olympic National Park boundary; N and W on the Olympic National Park boundary to the Elwha River and the point of beginning. shore of North Bay to Pierce-Mason county line at Case Inlet; SE along the Pierce-Mason county line through Case Inlet to the Mason-Thurston county line; W along the Mason-Thurston county line through Dana Passage, Squaxin Passage, and Totten Inlet to US Hwy (US) 101 at Oyster Bay; N on US 101 to Finch Creek at the town of Hoodsport; E from Finch Creek across Hood Canal to Cougar Spit on the east shore of the Hood Canal; N from Cougar Spit along the east shore of Hood Canal to the mouth of Anderson Creek 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 603 GMU 624 GMU 633 GMU 636