Bear River GMU 681 black bear hunting: harvest, season and land
WDFW's harvest report shows 11 black bears taken in GMU 681 Bear River in 2025. 116 bear hunters reported 950 days here, a success rate of 9.4% by WDFW's count. GMU 681 is 5.2% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (2,273 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.
BLMDNR state trust landWDFW landNational wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 681Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 6, Coastal Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 70,298 acres (110 square miles) |
| Counties | Pacific and Wahkiakum |
| Public land open to hunting | 5.2% (3,625 acres) |
| Black bears taken, 2025 | 11 (14 in 2024) |
| Bear hunters, 2025 | 116 |
| 2026 fall season | August 15-November 15, bag limit 1 (Bear Management Unit 14, Willapa Hills) |
| Towns in and near it | Chinook, Ilwaco, Long Beach and South Bend |
Also for GMU 681: elk hunting, deer hunting.
How many black bears are taken in GMU 681?
WDFW reports 11 black bears taken in GMU 681 in 2025, against 14 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 21, in 2019. 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 | 9 | 2 | 116 | 950 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 120 | 775 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 171 | 1,299 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 103 | 962 | 11.6% |
| 2021 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 100 | 678 | 7% |
| 2020 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 116 | 1,112 | 6.8% |
| 2019 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 119 | 1,175 | 17.6% |
| 2018 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 81 | 566 | 14.8% |
| 2017 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 67 | 686 | 10% |
| 2016 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 100 | 779 | 6% |
| 2015 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 77 | 645 | 15.6% |
| 2014 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 98 | 748 | 12.2% |
| 2013 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 97 | 962 | 7.2% |
| 2012 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 92 | 735 | 6.5% |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 761 | 7.5% |
| 2010 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 98 | 767 | 12.2% |
| 2009 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 86 | 817 | 8% |
| 2008 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 90 | 744 | 10% |
| 2007 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 81 | 736 | 4.9% |
| 2006 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 81 | 700 | 9.9% |
| 2005 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 93 | 752 | 7.5% |
| 2004 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 95 | 924 | 15.8% |
| 2003 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 73 | 548 | 5.5% |
| 2002 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 89 | 893 | 4.5% |
| 2001 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 95 | 874 | 6.3% |
| 2000 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 245 | 1,477 | 3% |
| 1999 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 192 | 1,116 | 4% |
| 1998 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 137 | 814 | 6% |
| 1997 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 61 | 414 | 3% |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (black bear, GMU 681, 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 681 in 2026?
GMU 681 is in Bear Management Unit 14, Willapa Hills, which also takes in GMUs 501, 506, 530, 658, 660, 663, 672, 673 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 681?
5.2% of GMU 681 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 3,625 of its 70,298 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 2,273 acres or 3.2% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 2,273 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 681 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 2,273 | 3.2% |
| National wildlife refuge (refuge rules; not counted) | 1,868 | 2.7% |
| WDFW land | 1,351 | 1.9% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 728 | 1% |
| BLM | 1 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 681, by WDFW's own boundaries: Johns River Wildlife Area (1,319 acres here; units Chinook and Naselle River) and Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area (65 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 681?
Highways through the unit: SR 401 (about 20 miles inside it), US 101 (about 19 miles inside it) and SR 4 (about 8 miles inside it). Towns inside: Chinook. Nearby: Ilwaco (on the line), Long Beach (3 miles), South Bend (16 miles) and Cathlamet (17 miles).
Which GMUs border GMU 681?
GMU 681 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 506 | Willapa Hills | 16.6% | 35 | 347 |
| GMU 673 | Williams Creek | 24.4% | 11 | 232 |
| GMU 684 | Long Beach | 3% | 2 | 26 |
Questions hunters ask
When is bear season in GMU 681 in 2026?
GMU 681 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 681?
WDFW reports 11 black bears taken in GMU 681 in 2025 (9 males, 2 females). The most in one year since 1997 was 21, in 2019.
How much public land is in GMU 681?
5.2% of GMU 681, 3,625 of its 70,298 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 681?
Chinook is inside the unit. Just outside: Ilwaco (on the line), Long Beach (3 miles) and South Bend (16 miles).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 681
Beginning at the US Hwy (US) 101 bridge at the Naselle River; E on US 101 to State Route (SR) 4; SE on SR 4 to Deep River bridge; S down the Deep River to the Columbia River; W along the shore of the Columbia River to the mouth of the Wallacut River (including all islands in the Columbia both St, Alder St, and Mellen St) to Interstate Hwy (I)-5; N on I-5 to Old Hwy 99 SE; NE on Old Hwy 99 SE to SR 507; NE on SR 507 to the Nisqually River bridge 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 506 GMU 673