Kitsap GMU 627 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 25 black bears taken in GMU 627 Kitsap in 2025. 184 bear hunters reported 1,339 days here, a success rate of 13.6% by WDFW's count. GMU 627 is 5.4% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (17,324 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.
DNR state trust landWDFW landMilitary land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 627Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 341,168 acres (533 square miles) |
| Counties | Kitsap, Mason and Pierce |
| Public land open to hunting | 5.4% (18,569 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 25 (27 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 184 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 10, Urban) |
| Towns in and near it | Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, Port Orchard, Ruston, University Place and Fircrest |
Also for GMU 627: deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 627?
WDFW reports 25 black bears taken in GMU 627 in 2025, against 27 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 31, in 2000. WDFW's figures average 18 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 18 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | 13 | 12 | 184 | 1,339 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 27 | 21 | 6 | 172 | 1,211 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 149 | 1,273 | 8% |
| 2022 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 129 | 1,012 | 8.6% |
| 2021 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 170 | 1,594 | 7.6% |
| 2020 | 22 | 18 | 4 | 212 | 1,729 | 10.4% |
| 2019 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 188 | 1,441 | 14.8% |
| 2018 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 245 | 1,870 | 7.8% |
| 2017 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 193 | 1,824 | 6% |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 221 | 1,807 | 3.6% |
| 2015 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 220 | 1,855 | 7.7% |
| 2014 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 211 | 1,538 | 5.7% |
| 2013 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 254 | 2,130 | 9.1% |
| 2012 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 216 | 1,547 | 8.3% |
| 2011 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 278 | 2,227 | 7.2% |
| 2010 | 26 | 13 | 13 | 259 | 1,930 | 10% |
| 2009 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 289 | 2,678 | 9% |
| 2008 | 27 | 14 | 13 | 299 | 2,547 | 9% |
| 2007 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 220 | 2,104 | 8.6% |
| 2006 | 28 | 12 | 16 | 197 | 1,583 | 14.2% |
| 2005 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 181 | 1,558 | 7.2% |
| 2004 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 190 | 1,775 | 10% |
| 2003 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 173 | 1,990 | 7.5% |
| 2002 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 200 | 1,567 | 7.5% |
| 2001 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 224 | 2,070 | 8% |
| 2000 | 31 | 27 | 4 | 339 | 2,013 | 9% |
| 1999 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 352 | 3,705 | 3% |
| 1998 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 229 | 2,243 | 7% |
| 1997 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 149 | 1,023 | 12% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 627, 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 627 in 2026?
GMU 627 is in Bear Management Unit 10, Urban, which also takes in GMUs 407, 454, 504, 564, 624, 633, 652, 666 and 684. 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 627?
5.4% of GMU 627 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 18,569 of its 341,168 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 17,324 acres or 5.1% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 17,324 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 627 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 17,324 | 5.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 11,790 | 3.5% |
| Military land (restricted) | 8,912 | 2.6% |
| WDFW land | 1,245 | 0.4% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 627, by WDFW's own boundaries: South Puget Sound Wildlife Area (1,256 acres here; units Lake Koeneman, Big Beef Creek and Stavis Creek).
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 627?
Highways through the unit: SR 3 (about 47 miles inside it), SR 16 (about 39 miles inside it), SR 302 (about 16 miles inside it), SR 303 (about 10 miles inside it) and SR 160 (about 7 miles inside it). Towns inside: Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, Port Orchard, Gig Harbor, Poulsbo and Longbranch. Nearby: Ruston (2 miles), University Place (2 miles), Fircrest (3 miles) and Steilacoom (3 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 627?
GMU 627 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 624 | Coyle | 9.3% | 6 | 99 |
| GMU 633 | Mason | 14.2% | 9 | 229 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 627 in 2026?
GMU 627 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 10 (Urban), 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 627?
WDFW reports 25 black bears taken in GMU 627 in 2025 (13 males, 12 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 31, in 2000.
How much public land is in GMU 627?
5.4% of GMU 627, 18,569 of its 341,168 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 627?
Bremerton, Bainbridge Island and Port Orchard are inside the unit. Just outside: Ruston (2 miles), University Place (2 miles) and Fircrest (3 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 627
Beginning at the Hood Canal Bridge; E, S, N, and SE along the shore of the Kitsap peninsula to Point No Point; due E from Point No Point to Kitsap-Island county line in the Puget Sound; S along the Kitsap- Island county line to the Kitsap-Snohomish county line; S along the Kitsap-Snohomish county line to Kitsap-King county line; S along the Kitsap-King county line to the King-Pierce county line; S on the King-Pierce county line to the outlet of the Tacoma Narrows; S through the Tacoma Narrows, past Fox Island (which is included in this GMU), to Carr Inlet; NW up Carr Inlet around McNeil and Gertrude Islands (which are excluded from this GMU), to Pitt Passage; SW through Pitt Passage and Drayton Passage to the Pierce-Thurston county line in the Nisqually Reach; NW along the Pierce- Thurston county line to the Pierce-Mason county line; NW on the Pierce-Mason county line in the Nisqually Reach to North Bay; along the east shore of North Bay to State Route (SR) 3 at the town of Allyn; N on SR 3 to the Old Belfair Hwy at the town of Belfair; N on the Old Belfair Hwy to the Bear Creek-Dewatto Rd; W on the Bear Creek-Dewatto Rd to the Dewatto Rd West; N along the Dewatto Rd to Albert Pfundt Rd; N on the Albert Pfundt Rd to Anderson Creek; E down Anderson Creek to the east shore of the Hood Canal; N from Anderson Creek along the east shore of Hood Canal to the Hood Canal bridge 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 624 GMU 633