Copalis GMU 642 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 25 black bears taken in GMU 642 Copalis in 2025. 104 bear hunters reported 1,086 days here, a success rate of 24% by WDFW's count. GMU 642 is 9.1% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (7,989 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)Military land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 642Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 177,546 acres (277 square miles) |
| Counties | Grays Harbor |
| Public land open to hunting | 9.1% (16,244 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 25 (11 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 104 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 13, Olympic Peninsula West) |
| Towns in and near it | Hoquiam, Ocean Shores, Humptulips, Aberdeen, Westport and Cosmopolis |
Also for GMU 642: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 642?
WDFW reports 25 black bears taken in GMU 642 in 2025, against 11 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 29, in 2008. WDFW's figures average 16 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 | 25 | 20 | 5 | 104 | 1,086 | 24% |
| 2024 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 63 | 899 | 17.4% |
| 2023 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 68 | 678 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 104 | 953 | 21.2% |
| 2021 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 92 | 846 | 10.8% |
| 2020 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 129 | 1,287 | 8.6% |
| 2019 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 93 | 793 | 20.4% |
| 2018 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 90 | 632 | 7.8% |
| 2017 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 109 | 813 | 11% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 72 | 830 | 2.8% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 85 | 641 | 1.2% |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 76 | 703 | 1.3% |
| 2013 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 100 | 760 | 6% |
| 2012 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 104 | 861 | 3.8% |
| 2011 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 1,390 | 7.1% |
| 2010 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 166 | 1,614 | 7.2% |
| 2009 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 126 | 1,371 | 6% |
| 2008 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 179 | 1,711 | 16% |
| 2007 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 158 | 1,264 | 6.3% |
| 2006 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 74 | 601 | 13.5% |
| 2005 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 107 | 998 | 8.4% |
| 2004 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 83 | 743 | 7.2% |
| 2003 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 96 | 947 | 10.4% |
| 2002 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 98 | 786 | 7.1% |
| 2001 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 120 | 1,011 | 15% |
| 2000 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 212 | 1,439 | 3% |
| 1999 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 162 | 1,617 | 5% |
| 1998 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 172 | 1,088 | 3% |
| 1997 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 91 | 295 | 2% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 642, 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 642 in 2026?
GMU 642 is in Bear Management Unit 13, Olympic Peninsula West, which also takes in GMUs 601, 602, 612, 615, 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 642?
9.1% of GMU 642 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 16,244 of its 177,546 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 7,989 acres or 4.5% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 7,989 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 642 |
|---|---|---|
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 17,814 | 10% |
| DNR state trust land | 7,989 | 4.5% |
| National forest | 7,001 | 3.9% |
| WDFW land | 1,254 | 0.7% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 101 | 0.1% |
| Military land (restricted) | 84 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 642, by WDFW's own boundaries: Johns River Wildlife Area (960 acres here; units Oyhut, Ocean Shores Airport and Humptulips-Grass 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 642?
Highways through the unit: SR 109 (about 32 miles inside it), US 101 (about 19 miles inside it) and SR 115 (about 3 miles inside it). Towns inside: Hoquiam, Ocean Shores, Humptulips, Copalis Beach, Ocean City and Moclips. Nearby: Aberdeen (3 miles), Westport (3 miles), Cosmopolis (5 miles) and Montesano (14 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 642?
GMU 642 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 638 | Quinault Ridge | 85.9% | 3 | 55 |
| GMU 648 | Wynoochee | 3.9% | 24 | 303 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 642 in 2026?
GMU 642 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 642?
WDFW reports 25 black bears taken in GMU 642 in 2025 (20 males, 5 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 29, in 2008.
How much public land is in GMU 642?
9.1% of GMU 642, 16,244 of its 177,546 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 642?
Hoquiam, Ocean Shores and Humptulips are inside the unit. Just outside: Aberdeen (3 miles), Westport (3 miles) and Cosmopolis (5 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 642
Beginning at the Quinault Indian reservation and US Hwy (US) 101 south of Lake Quinault; S on US 101 to the Hoquiam River in the city of Hoquiam; S along the Hoquiam River to the north shore of Grays Harbor; W along the north shore of Grays Harbor to the Pacific Ocean; N along the shore of the Pacific Ocean to the Quinault Indian reservation boundary; E and NE along the Quinault Indian reservation to US 101 south of Lake Quinault 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 638 GMU 648