Capitol Peak GMU 663 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 19 black bears taken in GMU 663 Capitol Peak in 2025. 314 bear hunters reported 2,539 days here, a success rate of 6% by WDFW's count. GMU 663 is 68.5% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (92,003 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 663Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 134,524 acres (210 square miles) |
| Counties | Grays Harbor and Thurston |
| Public land open to hunting | 68.5% (92,214 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 19 (18 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 314 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 14, Willapa Hills) |
| Towns in and near it | Malone, Porter, Oakville, McCleary and Elma |
Also for GMU 663: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 663?
WDFW reports 19 black bears taken in GMU 663 in 2025, against 18 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 25, in 2008. WDFW's figures average 18 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 15 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 314 | 2,539 | 6% |
| 2024 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 291 | 2,359 | 6.2% |
| 2023 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 313 | 2,212 | 6.8% |
| 2022 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 203 | 1,835 | 5% |
| 2021 | 24 | 17 | 7 | 258 | 2,644 | 9.4% |
| 2020 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 314 | 2,434 | 6.4% |
| 2019 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 293 | 2,369 | 5.8% |
| 2018 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 278 | 2,209 | 7.2% |
| 2017 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 244 | 1,995 | 5% |
| 2016 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 226 | 1,977 | 2.2% |
| 2015 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 220 | 1,530 | 4.5% |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 211 | 1,484 | 1.9% |
| 2013 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 243 | 1,766 | 2.5% |
| 2012 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 237 | 1,622 | 3% |
| 2011 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 255 | 1,698 | 3.5% |
| 2010 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 328 | 2,919 | 5.5% |
| 2009 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 285 | 2,486 | 1% |
| 2008 | 25 | 19 | 6 | 323 | 2,697 | 8% |
| 2007 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 336 | 2,495 | 2.7% |
| 2006 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 313 | 2,316 | 5.8% |
| 2005 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 327 | 2,539 | 3.1% |
| 2004 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 222 | 1,724 | 4.5% |
| 2003 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 245 | 1,967 | 3.7% |
| 2002 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 226 | 1,887 | 3.5% |
| 2001 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 294 | 2,663 | 3.4% |
| 2000 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 425 | 1,592 | 2% |
| 1999 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 444 | 2,984 | 4% |
| 1998 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 201 | 1,458 | 3% |
| 1997 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 105 | 452 | 2% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 663, 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 663 in 2026?
GMU 663 is in Bear Management Unit 14, Willapa Hills, which also takes in GMUs 501, 506, 530, 658, 660, 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 663?
68.5% of GMU 663 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 92,214 of its 134,524 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 92,003 acres or 68.4% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 92,003 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 663 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 92,003 | 68.4% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 1,192 | 0.9% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 737 | 0.5% |
| WDFW land | 211 | 0.2% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 663, by WDFW's own boundaries: Scatter Creek Wildlife Area (313 acres here; units Black River, Mima Creek and Glacial Heritage).
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 663?
Highways through the unit: SR 8 (about 21 miles inside it), US 12 (about 5 miles inside it) and US 101 (about 3 miles inside it). Towns inside: Malone and Porter. Nearby: Oakville (on the line), McCleary (on the line), Elma (on the line) and Tumwater (4 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 663?
GMU 663 touches 4 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 501 | Lincoln | 21.8% | 6 | 185 |
| GMU 651 | Satsop | 2.8% | 3 | 129 |
| GMU 660 | Minot Peak | 15.8% | 29 | 238 |
| GMU 666 | Deschutes | 1.8% | 8 | 145 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 663 in 2026?
GMU 663 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 663?
WDFW reports 19 black bears taken in GMU 663 in 2025 (10 males, 9 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 25, in 2008.
How much public land is in GMU 663?
68.5% of GMU 663, 92,214 of its 134,524 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 663?
Malone and Porter are inside the unit. Just outside: Oakville (on the line), McCleary (on the line) and Elma (on the line).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 663
Beginning at US Hwy (US) 12 and State Route (SR) 8 at the town of Elma; E on SR 8 to US 101; E on US 101 to Delphi Rd SW; S on Delphi Road SW to 110th Ave SW; E on 110th Ave SW to Littlerock Rd; S on Littlerock Rd to US 12; NW on US 12 to SR 8 at the town of Elma 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 501 GMU 651 GMU 660 GMU 666