North River GMU 658 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 9 black bears taken in GMU 658 North River in 2025. 175 bear hunters reported 1,977 days here, a success rate of 5.2% by WDFW's count. GMU 658 is 5.1% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (5,067 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 landNational wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 658Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 163,605 acres (256 square miles) |
| Counties | Grays Harbor and Pacific |
| Public land open to hunting | 5.1% (8,401 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 9 (16 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 175 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 14, Willapa Hills) |
| Towns in and near it | Westport, South Bend, Cosmopolis, Aberdeen, Raymond and Hoquiam |
Also for GMU 658: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 658?
WDFW reports 9 black bears taken in GMU 658 in 2025, against 16 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 23, in 2023. WDFW's figures average 17 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 7 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 175 | 1,977 | 5.2% |
| 2024 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 166 | 2,028 | 9.6% |
| 2023 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 174 | 1,607 | 13.2% |
| 2022 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 141 | 1,229 | 13.4% |
| 2021 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 153 | 1,370 | 10.4% |
| 2020 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 132 | 1,103 | 3.8% |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 154 | 1,635 | 3.8% |
| 2018 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 164 | 1,772 | 4.8% |
| 2017 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 126 | 1,062 | 11% |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 127 | 1,479 | 2.4% |
| 2015 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 121 | 1,069 | 7.4% |
| 2014 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 133 | 1,679 | 4.5% |
| 2013 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 157 | 1,579 | 10.8% |
| 2012 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 164 | 1,314 | 9.8% |
| 2011 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 189 | 1,928 | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 202 | 1,844 | 5.9% |
| 2009 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 211 | 2,255 | 4% |
| 2008 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 230 | 2,504 | 6% |
| 2007 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 201 | 1,879 | 4.5% |
| 2006 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 183 | 1,721 | 3.3% |
| 2005 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 189 | 1,895 | 3.7% |
| 2004 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 168 | 1,473 | 10.7% |
| 2003 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 163 | 1,791 | 6.7% |
| 2002 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 169 | 2,305 | 4.1% |
| 2001 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 176 | 2,106 | 8.5% |
| 2000 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 301 | 1,713 | 2% |
| 1999 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 271 | 4,639 | 5% |
| 1998 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 253 | 971 | 5% |
| 1997 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 79 | 391 | 13% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 658, 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 658 in 2026?
GMU 658 is in Bear Management Unit 14, Willapa Hills, which also takes in GMUs 501, 506, 530, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681 and 699. The 2026 fall general season there runs August 15-November 15, and the bag limit is 1. 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 658?
5.1% of GMU 658 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 8,401 of its 163,605 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 5,067 acres or 3.1% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 5,067 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 658 |
|---|---|---|
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 11,638 | 7.1% |
| DNR state trust land | 5,067 | 3.1% |
| WDFW land | 3,334 | 2% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 2 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 658, by WDFW's own boundaries: Johns River Wildlife Area (5,995 acres here; units North Willapa Bay, Elk River, Johns River and South Grays Harbor).
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 658?
Highways through the unit: SR 105 (about 52 miles inside it) and US 101 (about 7 miles inside it). Towns inside: Westport, South Bend, Cosmopolis, Grayland, Ocosta and Cohassett Beach. Nearby: Aberdeen (on the line), Raymond (on the line), Hoquiam (3 miles) and Ocean Shores (4 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 658?
GMU 658 touches 3 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 660 | Minot Peak | 15.8% | 29 | 238 |
| GMU 672 | Fall River | 26% | 9 | 270 |
| GMU 673 | Williams Creek | 24.4% | 11 | 232 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 658 in 2026?
GMU 658 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 14 (Willapa Hills), where the 2026 fall general season runs August 15-November 15 with a bag limit of 1, 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 658?
WDFW reports 9 black bears taken in GMU 658 in 2025 (5 males, 4 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 23, in 2023.
How much public land is in GMU 658?
5.1% of GMU 658, 8,401 of its 163,605 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 658?
Westport, South Bend and Cosmopolis are inside the unit. Just outside: Aberdeen (on the line), Raymond (on the line) and Hoquiam (3 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 658
Beginning at the Pacific Ocean and the south shore of Grays Harbor at the Westport Jetty; E along the south shore of Grays Harbor to the mouth of the Chehalis River at the town of Aberdeen; E up the Chehalis River to the US Hwy (US) 101 bridge; S on US 101 to the Willapa River at the town of Raymond; W down the Willapa River to Willapa Bay; W along the north shore of Willapa Bay to the Pacific Ocean; N along the Pacific Coast to the south shore of Grays Harbor at the Westport Jetty and the point of beginning.
From WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, Game Management Unit Descriptions.
Get a Washington hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Washington are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Washington included.
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 660 GMU 672 GMU 673