Satsop GMU 651 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 3 black bears taken in GMU 651 Satsop in 2025. 129 bear hunters reported 1,240 days here, a success rate of 2.4% by WDFW's count. GMU 651 is 2.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (5,321 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 651Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 189,504 acres (296 square miles) |
| Counties | Grays Harbor, Mason and Thurston |
| Public land open to hunting | 2.8% (5,322 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 3 (8 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 129 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 13, Olympic Peninsula West) |
| Towns in and near it | Elma, McCleary, Satsop, Shelton, Montesano and Olympia |
Also for GMU 651: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 651?
WDFW reports 3 black bears taken in GMU 651 in 2025, against 8 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 11, in 2008. WDFW's figures average 5 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 5 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 129 | 1,240 | 2.4% |
| 2024 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 162 | 1,464 | 5% |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 178 | 1,414 | 4% |
| 2022 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 127 | 1,246 | 7% |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 148 | 1,309 | 0% |
| 2020 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 164 | 1,368 | 4.2% |
| 2019 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 162 | 2,240 | 5% |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 185 | 2,179 | 1% |
| 2017 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 159 | 1,342 | 3% |
| 2016 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 122 | 1,061 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 116 | 892 | 2.6% |
| 2014 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 122 | 1,057 | 4.1% |
| 2013 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 149 | 1,129 | 3.4% |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 143 | 1,121 | 0.7% |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 160 | 1,280 | 2.5% |
| 2010 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 182 | 1,458 | 4.4% |
| 2009 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 193 | 1,425 | 2% |
| 2008 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 228 | 2,052 | 5% |
| 2007 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 212 | 1,582 | 1.9% |
| 2006 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 196 | 1,503 | 3.1% |
| 2005 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 165 | 2,367 | 1.2% |
| 2004 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 234 | 2,009 | 3% |
| 2003 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 245 | 2,165 | 1.2% |
| 2002 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 280 | 2,231 | 1.1% |
| 2001 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 262 | 2,165 | 1.1% |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 621 | 3,419 | 0% |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 379 | 3,292 | 0% |
| 1998 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 311 | 1,225 | 1% |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 264 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 651, 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 651 in 2026?
GMU 651 is in Bear Management Unit 13, Olympic Peninsula West, which also takes in GMUs 601, 602, 612, 615, 642 and 648. 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 651?
2.8% of GMU 651 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 5,322 of its 189,504 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 5,321 acres or 2.8% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 5,321 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 651 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 5,321 | 2.8% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 308 | 0.2% |
| WDFW land | 1 | under 0.1% |
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 651?
Highways through the unit: SR 8 (about 21 miles inside it), US 101 (about 12 miles inside it), SR 108 (about 12 miles inside it) and US 12 (about 5 miles inside it). Towns inside: Elma, McCleary and Satsop. Nearby: Shelton (on the line), Montesano (3 miles), Olympia (6 miles) and Tumwater (6 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 651?
GMU 651 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 633 | Mason | 14.2% | 9 | 229 |
| GMU 636 | Skokomish | 56% | 8 | 186 |
| GMU 648 | Wynoochee | 3.9% | 24 | 303 |
| GMU 660 | Minot Peak | 15.8% | 29 | 238 |
| GMU 663 | Capitol Peak | 68.5% | 19 | 314 |
| GMU 666 | Deschutes | 1.8% | 8 | 145 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 651 in 2026?
GMU 651 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 651?
WDFW reports 3 black bears taken in GMU 651 in 2025 (3 males, 0 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 11, in 2008.
How much public land is in GMU 651?
2.8% of GMU 651, 5,322 of its 189,504 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 651?
Elma, McCleary and Satsop are inside the unit. Just outside: Shelton (on the line), Montesano (3 miles) and Olympia (6 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 651
Beginning at the US Hwy (US) 12 bridge on the Satsop River; N up the Satsop River to its junction with the west fork of the Satsop River; N up the west fork of the Satsop River to Cougar Smith Rd; E on Cougar Smith Rd to Boundary Rd (Middle Satsop Rd); N and E on Boundary Rd to Deckerville Rd; E on Deckerville Rd to Matlock-Brady Rd; N on Matlock-Brady Rd to the town of Matlock; E on Shelton-Matlock Rd to its junction with US 101 west of the town of Shelton; S on US 101 to its junction with State Route (SR) 8; W on SR 8 to its junction with US 12; W along US 12 to bridge over the Satsop 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 633 GMU 636 GMU 648 GMU 660 GMU 663 GMU 666