Big Bend GMU 248 deer hunting: harvest, seasons and permits
WDFW's harvest report shows 126 deer taken in GMU 248 Big Bend in 2025, 10 of them on special permits. General-season hunters numbered 551 (WDFW's archery, modern firearm, muzzleloader and multiple-season counts added together), with 2,347 hunter days. GMU 248 is 20.9% public land open to hunting, the largest share DNR state trust land (50,636 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 landBureau of ReclamationNational recreation areaMilitary land (restricted)Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies)GMU 248Neighboring GMUsLake or riverHighway
| WDFW region | Region 2, North Central Washington |
|---|---|
| Size | 330,253 acres (516 square miles) |
| Counties | Douglas and Grant |
| Public land open to hunting | 20.9% (68,885 acres) |
| Deer taken, 2025 | 126 (140 in 2024) |
| General-season hunters, 2025 | 551 |
| Modern firearm, 2026 | Oct. 17-27, any buck |
| Deer special permit hunts, 2026 | 6 hunts, 55 permits |
| Towns in and near it | Mansfield, Elmer City and Grand Coulee |
Also for GMU 248: black bear hunting.
How many deer are taken in GMU 248?
WDFW reports 126 deer taken in GMU 248 in 2025, against 140 in 2024. The most in one year since 1997 was 308, in 2020. WDFW's figures average 173 a year for 2021 to 2025, against 215 a year for 2016 to 2020.
| Year | Deer taken, all hunts | General season | Special permit | Antlered | Antlerless | General-season hunters | Hunter days | Deer per 100 general hunters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 126 | 116 | 10 | 121 | 5 | 551 | 2,347 | 21 |
| 2024 | 140 | 118 | 22 | 126 | 14 | 577 | 2,268 | 20 |
| 2023 | 135 | 116 | 19 | 108 | 27 | 696 | 2,803 | 17 |
| 2022 | 190 | 173 | 17 | 169 | 21 | 860 | 3,437 | 20 |
| 2021 | 273 | 253 | 20 | 248 | 25 | 812 | 3,064 | 31 |
| 2020 | 308 | 287 | 21 | 271 | 37 | 839 | 3,319 | 34 |
| 2019 | 220 | 195 | 25 | 191 | 29 | 675 | 2,593 | 29 |
| 2018 | 196 | 168 | 28 | 162 | 34 | 688 | 2,653 | 24 |
| 2017 | 162 | 134 | 28 | 134 | 28 | 610 | 2,535 | 22 |
| 2016 | 188 | 160 | 28 | 159 | 29 | 610 | 2,215 | 26 |
| 2015 | 290 | 259 | 31 | 256 | 34 | 604 | 2,124 | 43 |
| 2014 | 233 | 204 | 29 | 197 | 36 | 574 | 2,009 | 36 |
| 2013 | 219 | 182 | 37 | 179 | 40 | 550 | 1,899 | 33 |
| 2012 | 208 | 173 | 35 | 172 | 36 | 513 | 1,643 | 34 |
| 2011 | 188 | 156 | 32 | 157 | 31 | 577 | 2,098 | 27 |
| 2010 | 169 | 140 | 29 | 141 | 28 | 554 | 1,948 | 25 |
| 2009 | 155 | 115 | 40 | 114 | 41 | 609 | 2,332 | 19 |
| 2008 | 275 | 164 | 111 | 162 | 113 | |||
| 2007 | 190 | 190 | not split out | 186 | 4 | 756 | 2,562 | 25 |
| 2006 | 192 | 192 | not split out | 184 | 8 | 752 | 2,653 | 26 |
| 2005 | 193 | 193 | not split out | 191 | 2 | 745 | 2,489 | 26 |
| 2004 | 197 | 197 | not split out | 197 | 0 | 821 | 2,770 | 24 |
| 2003 | 167 | 167 | not split out | 162 | 5 | 793 | 2,680 | 21 |
| 2002 | 292 | 292 | not split out | 243 | 49 | 877 | 2,879 | 33 |
| 2001 | 269 | 269 | not split out | 228 | 41 | 768 | 2,372 | 35 |
| 2000 | 173 | 173 | not split out | 170 | 3 | 839 | 2,361 | 21 |
| 1999 | 223 | 223 | not split out | 201 | 22 | 966 | 3,442 | 23 |
| 1998 | 201 | 201 | not split out | 195 | 6 | 626 | 1,388 | 32 |
| 1997 | 113 | 113 | not split out | 111 | 2 | 746 | 2,109 | 15 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, GMU 248, 1997 to 2025), read through WDFW's Hunt Planner harvest table. "All hunts" is WDFW's general plus special permit total where it publishes one (from 2008), otherwise the general season. Where WDFW gives no all-weapon hunter count, the hunters and days shown are its per-weapon counts added together. Deer per 100 general hunters is worked out from WDFW's own two figures. The averages above are of WDFW's yearly figures.
How did each weapon do in GMU 248 in 2025?
The modern firearm general season drew the most deer hunters in GMU 248 in 2025: 421, who took 78 (18.6% success by WDFW's count).
| Weapon, 2025 general season | Hunters | Hunter days | Deer taken | Success (WDFW) | Days per animal (WDFW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 29 | 168 | 8 | 27.6% | 21 |
| Modern firearm | 421 | 1,692 | 78 | 18.6% | 22 |
| Muzzleloader | 43 | 174 | 18 | 41.8% | 10 |
| Multiple-season tag | 58 | 313 | 12 | 20.6% | 26 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer general season, 2025).
What size bucks come out of GMU 248?
WDFW counts antlered deer by the points on one side. In 2025, the most common was 3-point: 65 of 121 antlered deer.
| Year | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points | 4 points | 5 or more | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 3 | 65 | 36 | 15 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 | 5 | 75 | 36 | 7 | 14 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | 68 | 27 | 12 | 27 |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | 101 | 54 | 12 | 21 |
| 2021 | 1 | 2 | 158 | 74 | 13 | 25 |
Source: WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer, antler points).
When is deer season in GMU 248 in 2026?
General seasons for all hunters in GMU 248, by weapon: archery: Sept. 1-25 (any deer, white-tailed deer) and Sept. 1-25 (3 pt. min., mule deer); muzzleloader: Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (any buck, white-tailed deer) and Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (3 pt. min., mule deer); modern firearm: Oct. 17-27 (any buck, white-tailed deer) and Oct. 17-27 (3 pt. min., mule deer).
| Weapon | Season | Deer | 2026 dates | Legal deer | Who | WDFW's notes for GMU 248 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern firearm | General season | White-tailed Deer | Oct. 17-27 | Any buck | All hunters | |
| Modern firearm | General season | Mule Deer | Oct. 17-27 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | |
| Archery | Early archery season | White-tailed Deer | Sept. 1-25 | Any deer | All hunters | |
| Archery | Early archery season | Mule Deer | Sept. 1-25 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | White-tailed Deer | Sept. 26-Oct. 4 | Any buck | All hunters | |
| Muzzleloader | Early muzzleloader season | Mule Deer | Sept. 26-Oct. 4 | 3 pt. min. | All hunters |
Source: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 23, 24 and 25, with WDFW's April 2026 corrections. WDFW can change a season during the year: check WDFW's regulations page before you go.
Which special permit deer hunts include GMU 248?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 6 deer special permit hunts that take in GMU 248, with 55 permits in all. The applicant counts and average points are the ones WDFW prints for the 2025 drawing; the 2025 results are from WDFW's harvest report for each hunt number.
| Hunt | Name and category | Tag | 2026 dates | Legal deer | Unit or area | 2026 permits | 2025 applicants / average points (WDFW) | 2025 result: hunters, deer taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1223 | Big Bend Buck Deer | Archery | Dec. 1-8 | Any Buck | GMU 248 | 10 | 226 / 7 | 2 hunters, 1 taken |
| 1423 | Big Bend Second Deer | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Antlerless | GMU 248 | 10 | 534 / 6 | |
| 1524 | Bridgeport Youth only | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Any deer | GMUs 248, 260 | 20 | 140 / 2 | 9 hunters, 8 taken |
| 1620 | Bridgeport Hunters 65 or older | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Antlerless | GMUs 248, 260 | 5 | 101 / 6 | |
| 1720 | Bridgeport Hunters with disabilities | Modern | Oct. 17-27 | Antlerless | GMUs 248, 260 | 5 | 32 / 3 | |
| 1750 | Bridgeport Hunters with disabilities | Muzzleloader | Sept. 26-Oct. 4 | Antlerless | GMUs 248, 260 | 5 | 9 / 1 |
Sources: WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations, pages 30, 32, 36, 38 and 39; WDFW Game Harvest Reports (deer individual hunts, 2025). A hunt's 2025 result is shown only where the 2025 hunt had the same number and name.
How much public land is in GMU 248?
20.9% of GMU 248 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 68,885 of its 330,253 acres. The largest share is DNR state trust land, 50,636 acres or 15.3% of the unit. DNR trust land covers 50,636 acres; a Discover Pass is needed to hunt it.
| Manager | Acres | Share of GMU 248 |
|---|---|---|
| DNR state trust land | 50,636 | 15.3% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 6,243 | 1.9% |
| WDFW land | 5,809 | 1.8% |
| BLM | 4,353 | 1.3% |
| Military land (restricted) | 1,908 | 0.6% |
| National recreation area | 1,844 | 0.6% |
| Other public (parks, county, city, other agencies) | 12 | under 0.1% |
WDFW wildlife area land in GMU 248, by WDFW's own boundaries: Big Bend Wildlife Area (24,197 acres here), Columbia Basin Wildlife Area (6,493 acres here) and Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area (1,561 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 248?
Highways through the unit: SR 17 (about 22 miles inside it), SR 174 (about 22 miles inside it) and SR 172 (about 9 miles inside it). Nearby: Mansfield (on the line), Elmer City (on the line), Grand Coulee (on the line) and Coulee Dam (on the line).
Which GMUs border GMU 248?
GMU 248 touches 5 other GMUs. Their public land and WDFW's 2025 deer numbers, for comparison:
| GMU | Name | Public land | Deer taken, 2025 | General hunters, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 133 | Roosevelt | 11.5% | 282 | 1,079 |
| GMU 254 | Saint Andrews | 15.1% | 80 | 339 |
| GMU 260 | Foster Creek | 17.9% | 65 | 332 |
| GMU 262 | Withrow | 5.7% | 78 | 237 |
| GMU 272 | Beezley | 17.4% | 337 | 1,501 |
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in GMU 248 in 2026?
By WDFW's 2026 pamphlet, the general deer seasons open to all hunters in GMU 248 are archery: Sept. 1-25 (any deer, white-tailed deer) and Sept. 1-25 (3 pt. min., mule deer); muzzleloader: Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (any buck, white-tailed deer) and Sept. 26-Oct. 4 (3 pt. min., mule deer); modern firearm: Oct. 17-27 (any buck, white-tailed deer) and Oct. 17-27 (3 pt. min., mule deer).
How many deer are taken in GMU 248?
WDFW reports 126 deer taken in GMU 248 in 2025: 121 antlered and 5 antlerless. The most in one year since 1997 was 308, in 2020.
Which special permit deer hunts include GMU 248?
WDFW's 2026 pamphlet lists 6 deer permit hunts for GMU 248: 1223 Big Bend (10 permits), 1423 Big Bend (10 permits), 1524 Bridgeport (20 permits), 1620 Bridgeport (5 permits), 1720 Bridgeport (5 permits) and 1750 Bridgeport (5 permits). Applications for 2026 closed May 20.
How much public land is in GMU 248?
20.9% of GMU 248, 68,885 of its 330,253 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 248?
No town or Census-listed community is inside it. The nearest towns are Mansfield (on the line), Elmer City (on the line) and Grand Coulee (on the line).
WDFW's boundary description of GMU 248
Beginning on State Route (SR) 17 at the Chalk Hills Rd (K NE Rd); N on the Chalk Hills Rd (K NE Rd, L NE Rd) NE to the first intermittent stream crossed in Section 30, T30N, R27E; N on the first intermittent stream crossed in Section 30 T30N, R27E by the Chalk Hills Rd (L NE Rd) to the Columbia River; E up the Columbia River to the east end of the Grand Coulee Dam; W on the Grand Coulee Dam causeway access road (access restricted) to SR 155; SW on SR 155 to SR 174 at the town of Grand Coulee; NE on SR 174 to the Grand Coulee Dam feeder canal; SW up the Grand Coulee Dam feeder canal to Banks Lake; S along the west shore of Banks Lake to a point due east from Mold Rd (Rd 9 NE); W from the point due east of Mold Rd on the west shore of Banks Lake to Mold Rd (Rd 9 NE); W on Mold Rd (Rd 9 NE) to SR 17; N along SR 17 to SR 172; W on SR 172, through the town of Mansfield, to Bridgeport Hill Rd (Road B NE); N on the Bridgeport Hill Rd (Road B NE) to SR 17; E on SR 17 to the Chalk Hills Rd (K NE Rd) 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 deer by GMU Region 2 GMU 133 GMU 254 GMU 260 GMU 262 GMU 272