Mason GMU 633 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 9 black bears taken in GMU 633 Mason in 2025. 229 bear hunters reported 1,826 days here, a success rate of 4% by WDFW's count. GMU 633 is 14.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (28,434 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 landOther public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 633Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 203,811 acres (318 square miles) |
| Public land open to hunting | 14.2% (28,937 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 9 (11 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 229 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 10, Urban) |
| Towns in and near it | Shelton, Belfair, Skokomish, Bremerton, Olympia and Port Orchard |
Also for GMU 633: deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 633?
WDFW reports 9 black bears taken in GMU 633 in 2025, against 11 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 23, in 2019. WDFW's figures average 13 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 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 229 | 1,826 | 4% |
| 2024 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 227 | 1,870 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 305 | 2,407 | 6.6% |
| 2022 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 182 | 1,361 | 7.6% |
| 2021 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 211 | 1,870 | 4.2% |
| 2020 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 254 | 1,752 | 2% |
| 2019 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 212 | 1,781 | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 244 | 1,619 | 2% |
| 2017 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 163 | 1,053 | 2% |
| 2016 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 206 | 1,467 | 3.8% |
| 2015 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 210 | 1,379 | 5.2% |
| 2014 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 217 | 1,751 | 5.5% |
| 2013 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 212 | 1,578 | 3.8% |
| 2012 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 181 | 1,153 | 7.2% |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 245 | 1,865 | 2.9% |
| 2010 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 233 | 1,978 | 5.6% |
| 2009 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 230 | 1,631 | 6% |
| 2008 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 241 | 1,966 | 6% |
| 2007 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 213 | 1,830 | 5.6% |
| 2006 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 178 | 1,384 | 5.6% |
| 2005 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 167 | 2,006 | 3% |
| 2004 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 154 | 1,405 | 5.8% |
| 2003 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 171 | 1,254 | 5.8% |
| 2002 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 172 | 1,275 | 4.7% |
| 2001 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 176 | 1,377 | 6.3% |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 282 | 1,208 | 0% |
| 1999 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 311 | 1,655 | 1% |
| 1998 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 137 | 847 | 7% |
| 1997 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 70 | 227 | 17% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 633, 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 633 in 2026?
GMU 633 is in Bear Management Unit 10, Urban, which also takes in GMUs 407, 454, 504, 564, 624, 627, 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 633?
14.2% of GMU 633 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 28,937 of its 203,811 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 28,434 acres or 14% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 28,434 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 633 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 28,434 | 14% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 1,084 | 0.5% |
| WDFW land | 503 | 0.2% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 633, by WDFW's own boundaries: South Puget Sound Wildlife Area (615 acres here; units Skokomish and Union River).
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 633?
Highways through the unit: SR 3 (about 23 miles inside it), SR 106 (about 19 miles inside it), US 101 (about 18 miles inside it) and SR 300 (about 3 miles inside it). Towns inside: Shelton, Belfair, Skokomish, Grapeview, Union and Allyn. Nearby: Bremerton (5 miles), Olympia (8 miles), Port Orchard (9 miles) and McCleary (9 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 633?
GMU 633 touches 6 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 621 | Olympic | 73.2% | 36 | 354 |
| GMU 624 | Coyle | 9.3% | 6 | 99 |
| GMU 627 | Kitsap | 5.4% | 25 | 184 |
| GMU 636 | Skokomish | 56% | 8 | 186 |
| GMU 651 | Satsop | 2.8% | 3 | 129 |
| GMU 666 | Deschutes | 1.8% | 8 | 145 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 633 in 2026?
GMU 633 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 633?
WDFW reports 9 black bears taken in GMU 633 in 2025 (3 males, 6 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 23, in 2019.
How much public land is in GMU 633?
14.2% of GMU 633, 28,937 of its 203,811 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 633?
Shelton, Belfair and Skokomish are inside the unit. Just outside: Bremerton (5 miles), Olympia (8 miles) and Port Orchard (9 miles).
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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 621 GMU 624 GMU 627 GMU 636 GMU 651 GMU 666