Black Bear Hunting in Washington

Forested units that score best for black bear — ranked by habitat and free to explore.

Washington has one of the healthiest black bear populations in the country, spread through the forested Cascades, Olympics, and northeast. Bears favor thick cover with berry fields, riparian bottoms, and timbered slopes — the same security-and-forage stack the habitat model weighs heavily for bear.

Most bear hunting is a general fall season, with a limited spring permit hunt in some areas; a bear tag is inexpensive relative to the big-game combo, making it a strong add-on to an elk or deer hunt. Confirm current seasons, tag limits, and any bait/hound rules (Washington prohibits both) with WDFW. The unit list below ranks graded GMUs by bear-specific habitat.

Score any spot on the map →

Best public-land black bear units on HuntVantage

Published game units ranked by black bear-specific habitat rating (re-weighted from cover, water, food, pressure, and diversity). The overall grade is shown for context — a unit can grade average overall and still rate highly for black bear.

#	Unit	Overall	Black Bear rating	Public
1	GMU 501 Lincoln	B	★★★★☆ 76	22%
2	GMU 336 Taneum	C+	★★★★☆ 75	73%
3	GMU 460 Snoqualmie	C+	★★★★☆ 75	63%
4	GMU 513 South Rainier	C+	★★★★☆ 75	93%
5	GMU 636 Skokomish	C+	★★★★☆ 75	56%
6	GMU 638 Quinault Ridge	C+	★★★★☆ 75	86%
7	GMU 245 Chiwawa	C+	★★★★☆ 74	89%
8	GMU 437 Sauk	C+	★★★★☆ 74	64%
9	GMU 448 Stillaguamish	C+	★★★★☆ 74	84%
10	GMU 516 Packwood	C+	★★★★☆ 74	93%
11	GMU 524 Margaret	C+	★★★★☆ 74	26%
12	GMU 568 Washougal	C+	★★★★☆ 74	60%

Black Bear region guides

NE Washington · Whitetail

Pend Oreille & the Selkirks, Washington

Far-NE-corner whitetail and moose country — Colville NF and the Salmo-Priest Wilderness.

South Washington · Elk

Mount Adams, Washington

South Cascades elk, blacktail, and bear country on the flanks of Mount Adams.

South Cascades · Elk & Goat

Goat Rocks Wilderness, Washington

High alpine crest country between Rainier and Adams — elk, deer, and mountain goat.

Central Washington · Elk

Teanaway, Washington

Central Cascades elk and mule deer country in the Teanaway near Cle Elum.

North Cascades · Mule Deer

Lake Chelan-Sawtooth, Washington

High-country migratory mule deer between the Methow Valley and Lake Chelan.

SW Washington · Elk

Mount St. Helens, Washington

One of the state's largest elk herds on the recovering slopes of Mount St. Helens.

North Cascades · Blacktail & Bear

Glacier Peak, Washington

Remote North Cascades wilderness — black-tailed deer, black bear, and mountain goat.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best black bear hunting in Washington?

The heavily timbered Cascade and Olympic units and the forested northeast hold the most bears. The ranked list below scores graded units by bear-specific habitat and shows public-land share.

Is black bear hunting in Washington general season?

Most bear hunting is a general fall season, with a limited spring permit hunt in some areas. Baiting and hounds are prohibited. Confirm current seasons and rules with WDFW.

Can you hunt bear and elk or deer on the same trip?

In many units, yes — a bear tag is an inexpensive add-on, and much of the best bear habitat overlaps elk and deer country. Check that seasons align for the unit you're hunting.