Williams Creek GMU 673 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 11 black bears taken in GMU 673 Williams Creek in 2025. 232 bear hunters reported 2,036 days here, a success rate of 4.8% by WDFW's count. GMU 673 is 24.4% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (39,925 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 673Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 168,363 acres (263 square miles) |
| Counties | Pacific |
| Public land open to hunting | 24.4% (41,153 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 11 (20 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 232 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 14, Willapa Hills) |
| Towns in and near it | Raymond, Naselle, Bay Center, South Bend, Long Beach and Ilwaco |
Also for GMU 673: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 673?
WDFW reports 11 black bears taken in GMU 673 in 2025, against 20 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 20, in 2024. WDFW's figures average 12 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 11 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Bears taken, general season | Males | Females | Bear hunters | Hunter days | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 232 | 2,036 | 4.8% |
| 2024 | 20 | 18 | 2 | 254 | 2,299 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 244 | 2,049 | 3.6% |
| 2022 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 181 | 1,715 | 8.8% |
| 2021 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 248 | 2,254 | 2% |
| 2020 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 204 | 2,357 | 5.8% |
| 2019 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 221 | 2,265 | 7.6% |
| 2018 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 196 | 2,016 | 7.2% |
| 2017 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 176 | 1,589 | 3% |
| 2016 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 162 | 1,567 | 5% |
| 2015 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 153 | 1,418 | 3.3% |
| 2014 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 190 | 1,787 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 190 | 1,519 | 4.2% |
| 2012 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 189 | 1,478 | 2.1% |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 198 | 1,609 | 3% |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 232 | 1,926 | 0.4% |
| 2009 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 232 | 1,991 | 2% |
| 2008 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 221 | 1,970 | 4% |
| 2007 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 213 | 2,015 | 5.2% |
| 2006 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 199 | 1,553 | 4% |
| 2005 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 205 | 1,858 | 5.9% |
| 2004 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 192 | 1,669 | 5.7% |
| 2003 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 168 | 1,529 | 6% |
| 2002 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 202 | 1,873 | 4.5% |
| 2001 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 230 | 2,107 | 2.6% |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 487 | 3,183 | 0% |
| 1999 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 365 | 3,311 | 2% |
| 1998 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 274 | 1,629 | 4% |
| 1997 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 105 | 521 | 4% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 673, 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 673 in 2026?
GMU 673 is in Bear Management Unit 14, Willapa Hills, which also takes in GMUs 501, 506, 530, 658, 660, 663, 672, 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 673?
24.4% of GMU 673 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 41,153 of its 168,363 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 39,925 acres or 23.7% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 39,925 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 673 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 39,925 | 23.7% |
| WDFW land | 1,228 | 0.7% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 142 | 0.1% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 79 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 673, by WDFW's own boundaries: Johns River Wildlife Area (1,482 acres here; units Naselle River, Nemah River-Estuary, Nemah Tidelands and Palix).
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 673?
Highways through the unit: US 101 (about 31 miles inside it), SR 4 (about 3 miles inside it) and SR 6 (about 2 miles inside it). Towns inside: Raymond, Naselle and Bay Center. Nearby: South Bend (on the line), Long Beach (9 miles), Ilwaco (10 miles) and Pe Ell (15 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 673?
GMU 673 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 506 | Willapa Hills | 16.6% | 35 | 347 |
| GMU 658 | North River | 5.1% | 9 | 175 |
| GMU 672 | Fall River | 26% | 9 | 270 |
| GMU 681 | Bear River | 5.2% | 11 | 116 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 673 in 2026?
GMU 673 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 673?
WDFW reports 11 black bears taken in GMU 673 in 2025 (11 males, 0 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 20, in 2024.
How much public land is in GMU 673?
24.4% of GMU 673, 41,153 of its 168,363 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 673?
Raymond, Naselle and Bay Center are inside the unit. Just outside: South Bend (on the line), Long Beach (9 miles) and Ilwaco (10 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 673
Beginning at US Hwy (US) 101 bridge crossing the Willapa River at the town of Raymond; S on US 101 to State Route (SR) 6; SE on SR 6 to the Trap Creek A line; S and W on the Trap Creek A line to power transmission lines; S and SW on the power transmission lines to Weyerhaeuser (Weyco) 5800 line (Section 22, T11N, R8W); SW along the Weyco 5800 line to Weyco 5000 line; N on Weyco 5000 line (Deep River mainline); SW on the Weyco 5000 line to the Salmon Creek Rd; SW along the Salmon Creek Rd to SR 4; W on SR 4 to US 101 at Johnson's Landing; W on US 101 to the Naselle River bridge; W down the Naselle River to Willapa Bay; N along the east shore of Willapa Bay to the Willapa River; SE and NE up the Willapa River to the US 101 bridge 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 506 GMU 658 GMU 672 GMU 681