Deschutes GMU 666 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 8 black bears taken in GMU 666 Deschutes in 2025. 145 bear hunters reported 1,031 days here, a success rate of 5.6% by WDFW's count. GMU 666 is 1.8% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (2,076 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 666Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 226,587 acres (354 square miles) |
| Counties | Thurston |
| Public land open to hunting | 1.8% (4,122 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 8 (8 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 145 |
| 2026 fall season | August 1-November 15, bag limit 2 (Bear Management Unit 10, Urban) |
| Towns in and near it | Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, Tenino, Roy and DuPont |
Also for GMU 666: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 666?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 666 in 2025, against 8 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 8, in 2025. WDFW's figures average 6 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 4 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 145 | 1,031 | 5.6% |
| 2024 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 99 | 925 | 8% |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 120 | 1,659 | 1.6% |
| 2022 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 77 | 946 | 10.4% |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 130 | 1,310 | 1.6% |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 101 | 944 | 5% |
| 2019 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 137 | 976 | 4.4% |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 120 | 1,267 | 1.6% |
| 2017 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 135 | 1,174 | 4% |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 164 | 1,338 | 0% |
| 2015 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 110 | 698 | 1.8% |
| 2014 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 119 | 891 | 6.7% |
| 2013 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 125 | 803 | 1.6% |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 134 | 909 | 0.7% |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 141 | 865 | 2.8% |
| 2010 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 168 | 1,156 | 3.6% |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 171 | 1,257 | 1% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 178 | 1,238 | 1% |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 152 | 1,134 | 0% |
| 2006 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 133 | 818 | 1.5% |
| 2005 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 137 | 859 | 2.2% |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 131 | 762 | 0% |
| 2003 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 124 | 722 | 1.6% |
| 2002 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 130 | 789 | 4.6% |
| 2001 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 135 | 1,750 | 3% |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 212 | 797 | 0% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 237 | 1,166 | 0% |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 330 | 0% |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 412 | 0% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 666, 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 666 in 2026?
GMU 666 is in Bear Management Unit 10, Urban, which also takes in GMUs 407, 454, 504, 564, 624, 627, 633, 652 and 684. 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 666?
1.8% of GMU 666 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 4,122 of its 226,587 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 2,076 acres or 0.9% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 2,076 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 666 |
|---|---|---|
| Military land (restricted) | 16,883 | 7.5% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 6,381 | 2.8% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 2,386 | 1.1% |
| DNR state trust land | 2,076 | 0.9% |
| WDFW land | 2,036 | 0.9% |
| National forest | 10 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 666, by WDFW's own boundaries: Scatter Creek Wildlife Area (3,372 acres here; units Scatter Creek, Violet Prairie and West Rocky Prairie) and South Puget Sound Wildlife Area (284 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 666?
Highways through the unit: I-5 (about 53 miles inside it), SR 510 (about 14 miles inside it), US 101 (about 13 miles inside it), SR 121 (about 8 miles inside it) and SR 507 (about 7 miles inside it). Towns inside: Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, Yelm, Rainier and Rochester. Nearby: Tenino (on the line), Roy (2 miles), DuPont (2 miles) and Bucoda (3 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 666?
GMU 666 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 501 | Lincoln | 21.8% | 6 | 185 |
| GMU 633 | Mason | 14.2% | 9 | 229 |
| GMU 651 | Satsop | 2.8% | 3 | 129 |
| GMU 652 | Puyallup | 1.1% | 15 | 148 |
| GMU 663 | Capitol Peak | 68.5% | 19 | 314 |
| GMU 667 | Skookumchuck | 13.8% | 21 | 462 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 666 in 2026?
GMU 666 is in WDFW's Bear Management Unit 10 (Urban), 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 666?
WDFW reports 8 black bears taken in GMU 666 in 2025 (5 males, 3 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 8, in 2025.
How much public land is in GMU 666?
1.8% of GMU 666, 4,122 of its 226,587 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 666?
Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater are inside the unit. Just outside: Tenino (on the line), Roy (2 miles) and DuPont (2 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 666
Beginning on US Hwy (US) 101 at the Mason- Thurston county line southeast of Oyster Bay; NE on the Mason-Thurston county line, through Tot- ten Inlet, Squaxin Passage and Dana Passage, to the Pierce-Thurston county line in the Nisqually Reach; SE through the Nisqually Reach along the Pierce-Thurston county line to the mouth of the Nisqually River; SE on the Nisqually River to State Route (SR) 507; SW on SR 507 to Old Hwy 99 SE at the town of Tenino; SW on Old Hwy 99 SE to SR 12 at Interstate Hwy-5; W on SR 12 to Littlerock Rd; N on the Littlerock Rd to 110th Ave SW; W on 110th Ave SW to Delphi Rd SW; N on Delphi Rd SW to US 101; NW on US 101 to the Mason-Thurston county line southeast of Oyster Bay 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 633 GMU 651 GMU 652 GMU 663 GMU 667