Skokomish GMU 636 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 8 black bears taken in GMU 636 Skokomish in 2025. 186 bear hunters reported 1,549 days here, a success rate of 4.4% by WDFW's count. GMU 636 is 56% public land open to hunting, the largest share national forest (133,471 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 park or historic site (no hunting)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 636Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 241,230 acres (377 square miles) |
| Counties | Grays Harbor and Mason |
| Public land open to hunting | 56% (135,167 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 8 (5 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 186 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 12, Olympic Peninsula East) |
| Towns in and near it | Hoodsport, Shelton, McCleary and Montesano |
Also for GMU 636: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 636?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 636 in 2025, against 5 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 40, in 2008. WDFW's figures average 14 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 10 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 186 | 1,549 | 4.4% |
| 2024 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 157 | 1,322 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 198 | 1,302 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 151 | 926 | 12% |
| 2021 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 162 | 1,109 | 11.8% |
| 2020 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 134 | 983 | 10.4% |
| 2019 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 123 | 784 | 13% |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 142 | 919 | 4.2% |
| 2017 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 142 | 1,057 | 7% |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 165 | 1,235 | 3% |
| 2015 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 160 | 1,053 | 3.1% |
| 2014 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 179 | 1,441 | 3.4% |
| 2013 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 221 | 1,698 | 5% |
| 2012 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 213 | 1,597 | 8% |
| 2011 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 241 | 2,073 | 6.6% |
| 2010 | 26 | 18 | 8 | 260 | 2,055 | 10% |
| 2009 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 239 | 1,834 | 7% |
| 2008 | 40 | 29 | 11 | 293 | 2,345 | 14% |
| 2007 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 218 | 1,433 | 9.2% |
| 2006 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 242 | 1,736 | 5.4% |
| 2005 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 254 | 1,833 | 6.3% |
| 2004 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 260 | 1,745 | 7.3% |
| 2003 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 279 | 1,971 | 3.9% |
| 2002 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 322 | 2,678 | 3.7% |
| 2001 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 375 | 3,464 | 2.9% |
| 2000 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 584 | 2,711 | 2% |
| 1999 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 514 | 4,658 | 5% |
| 1998 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 342 | 2,045 | 6% |
| 1997 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 165 | 851 | 15% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 636, 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 636 in 2026?
GMU 636 is in Bear Management Unit 12, Olympic Peninsula East, which also takes in GMUs 603, 607, 618, 621 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 636?
56% of GMU 636 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 135,167 of its 241,230 acres. The largest share is national forest, 133,471 acres or 55.3% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 1,525 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 636 |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 133,471 | 55.3% |
| DNR state trust land | 1,525 | 0.6% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 492 | 0.2% |
| WDFW land | 171 | 0.1% |
| National park or historic site (no hunting) | 3 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 636, by WDFW's own boundaries: South Puget Sound Wildlife Area (68 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 636?
Highways through the unit: US 101 (about 6 miles inside it), SR 102 (about 2 miles inside it) and SR 119 (about 2 miles inside it). Towns inside: Hoodsport. Nearby: Shelton (on the line), McCleary (11 miles), Montesano (15 miles) and Elma (15 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 636?
GMU 636 touches 5 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 633 | Mason | 14.2% | 9 | 229 |
| GMU 638 | Quinault Ridge | 85.9% | 3 | 55 |
| GMU 648 | Wynoochee | 3.9% | 24 | 303 |
| GMU 651 | Satsop | 2.8% | 3 | 129 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 636 in 2026?
GMU 636 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 636?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 636 in 2025 (8 males, 0 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 40, in 2008.
How much public land is in GMU 636?
56% of GMU 636, 135,167 of its 241,230 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 636?
Hoodsport is inside the unit. Just outside: Shelton (on the line), McCleary (11 miles) and Montesano (15 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 636
Beginning on the Olympic National Park boundary and the North Fork of the Skokomish River; S along the North Fork Skokomish River to Lake Cushman; SE along the west shore of Lake Cushman to Standstill Dr (Power Dam Rd) at the Upper Cushman Dam; E on the Standstill Dr to State Route (SR) 119 (Lake Cushman Rd); SE on SR 119 to US Hwy (US) 101 at the town of Hoodsport; S on US 101 to the Shelton-Matlock Rd at the town of Shelton; W on the Shelton-Matlock Rd to the Matlock-Brady Rd; S on the Matlock-Brady Rd to Deckerville Rd south of the town of Matlock; W on Deckerville Rd to Boundary Rd (Middle Satsop Rd); W and S on Boundary Rd to Kelly Rd; N on Kelly Rd to US Forest Service (USFS) Rd 2368 (Simpson Timber 500 line); N on USFS Rd 2368 to USFS Rd 2260 (Simpson Timber 600 line); W on USFS Rd 2260 to USFS Rd 22 (Wynoochee Rd); NW and W on USFS Rd 22 to USFS Rd 2294, 1/4 mile east of Big Creek; NW on USFS Rd 2294, which parallels Big Creek, to junction with USFS Rd 2281; W on USFS Rd 2281, to the watershed divide between the Humptulips River watershed and the Wynoochee River watershed; N on the ridge between the Humptulips River watershed and Wynoochee River watershed to Olympic National Park boundary; E along the Olympic National Park boundary to the north fork of the Skokomish 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 621 GMU 633 GMU 638 GMU 648 GMU 651