Washington Has No Bear Baiting or Hound Hunting, but a Long Fall Season Is Open Through Nov. 15
November 6, 2026
Bear hunting season in Washington 2026 comes down to one fall window, one over-the-counter license option, and a strict ban on the two methods many bear hunters expect: bait and hounds. You hunt on foot, by spot-and-stalk or still-hunting, and you answer for every bear you tag.
The rules below cover dates, weapons, units, licenses, tagging and reporting. Where a figure comes from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), it is linked to the agency or to the state’s own rule text. The pamphlet is effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027.
Bear Hunting Season Dates in Washington 2026
Black bear season is a fall general season. According to Washington’s published black bear regulations, most Black Bear Management Units (BBMUs) run August 1 to November 15. The Okanogan unit opens later, on August 15.
A state rule filing for the 2026 season also lists August 1 through November 15 for black bear in the GMU 101-124 hunt area, which matches the published dates.
| Black Bear Management Unit | Opens | Closes | Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBMU 1 Northeast | Aug. 1 | Nov. 15 | 2 |
| BBMU 2 Columbia Basin | Aug. 1 | Nov. 15 | 2 |
| BBMU 3 Southeast | Aug. 1 | Nov. 15 | 2 |
| BBMU 4 Okanogan Highlands | Aug. 1 | Nov. 15 | 2 |
| BBMU 5 Okanogan | Aug. 15 | Nov. 15 | 1 |
| BBMU 14 Willapa Hills | Aug. 15 | Nov. 15 | 1 |
Other units, including BBMU 8 North Cascades West, follow the August 1 to November 15 window with a limit of 2. Check the unit that contains your GMU before you go.
Bear Season by Weapon and Method in Washington: Archery, Muzzleloader and Firearm
Washington does not run separate dated archery, muzzleloader and modern firearm bear seasons the way it does for deer and elk. One fall general season covers all three. Under the state’s rule filing, hunters may use any lawful big game modern firearm, archery or muzzleloader equipment for black bear.
Some third-party sites list a September 1 archery start. The WDFW regulation text does not set a separate archery window, so treat the general season dates as your dates whatever you carry.
Pro Tip: Early August bears are on berries and ripe fruit at higher elevations. Late September and October hunters shift toward salmon streams and lower-elevation food sources.
Spring Bear Season in Washington
You will not find a spring bear season to plan around. Washington ended its spring permit hunts, and the fall general season is the only recreational bear hunt on the calendar.
Some older guides and aggregator pages still mention spring seasons. Ignore them and build your plan around the August to November window.
Bear Hunting Zones, Units and Management Areas in Washington
Washington splits bear hunting into Black Bear Management Units, and each BBMU is a group of game management units (GMUs). Your bag limit and opening date follow the BBMU, so start with the unit map and work down to the GMU.
- GMUs 157, 490 and 522 are closed to fall bear hunting, per the PNW Hunting and Fishing guide. Other 2026 summaries list additional closures, so confirm the full list in the WDFW pamphlet.
- GMU 485 requires a current special deer or elk permit to hunt bear.
- A mandatory bear identification test applies in listed GMUs, including 105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 121, 101, 204, 244 and the Okanogan units 203, 209, 215, 218, 224, 231, 242 and 243, as summarized by HuntingSeason.com.
The ID test exists because grizzly bears are protected under federal and state law and may not be shot or killed. Complete it before you hunt in any unit that lists it.
Bear Hunting License, Tag and Permit Requirements in Washington
You need a valid big game hunting license that includes black bear as a species option, according to Washington’s black bear regulations. Hunter education is required for anyone born after January 1, 1972 who is not otherwise exempt, so confirm your status with WDFW before buying.
One transport tag comes with the license. If you plan to take a second bear, you buy the second tag separately.
A standalone bear license has been listed at $32.86 for residents and $306.10 for nonresidents, with youth 16 and under at $17.68, but those figures come from a third-party summary rather than WDFW’s fee schedule. Check the agency’s license page for the current price before you buy.
Pro Tip: Buy licenses through WDFW’s licensing system before the opener and print or save your tag. You cannot hunt the August 1 opener on a license you plan to buy on the way to the unit.
Bear Permit Draws and Lotteries in Washington
General black bear hunting needs no draw. Fall bear tags are over the counter with the license, so there is no lottery to enter for a standard bear hunt.
The special-permit application period for other species ran from April 27 to May 27, 2026, according to Beckel Canvas. That window is closed for 2026, and a bear-only draw does not exist. The one place a permit touches bear is GMU 485, where you need a special deer or elk permit.
Nonresident Bear Hunting in Washington
Nonresidents hunt bear on the same fall general season and the same over-the-counter basis as residents. You need a big game license with the black bear option, hunter education proof, and the same tag.
The cost is the main difference. Third-party fee summaries put the nonresident bear license above $300, so confirm the exact amount with WDFW. Nonresidents are bound by the same BBMU limits, closures and ID test rules as residents.
Bear Bag Limit and Harvest Quota in Washington
The limit is two black bears per license year across all seasons, with one bear per year in BBMU 5 Okanogan and BBMU 14 Willapa Hills. Washington does not run a harvest quota for general fall bear hunting, so the season stays open through November 15 rather than closing early when a number is reached.
| Rule | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Annual limit | 2 bears per license year in most units |
| Okanogan and Willapa Hills | 1 bear |
| Second bear | Requires a separately purchased transport tag |
| Quota closure | None for fall general season |
The PNW Hunting and Fishing guide estimates 25,000 to 30,000 black bears statewide. That figure is a hunting guide’s estimate, not an official WDFW count.
Baiting Rules for Bear Hunting in Washington
Baiting is illegal. Washington’s regulations state that using dogs or bait for recreational hunting of black bear is prohibited statewide under RCW 77.15.245.
Voters passed Initiative 655 in 1996, which made it a gross misdemeanor to attract black bears with bait for the purpose of hunting them, according to a published court opinion. Do not set out food, salt or any other attractant near a stand.
The statute does carve out narrow exceptions for government agents and damage-control programs. Those do not apply to you as a recreational hunter.
Hunting Bears with Hounds in Washington
Hounds are banned for black bear hunting. The state’s hunting rules make it unlawful to use hounds to hunt black bear, cougar (with limited exceptions under RCW 77.15.245), coyote and bobcat year-round.
Dogs also cannot help you recover a wounded bear. WDFW’s rule allows one leashed dog to help recover wounded big game within 72 hours, but it excludes bear and cougar.
Common Mistake: Some aggregator sites still say hound hunting is permitted or that baiting is regulated by unit. Both claims contradict the state rule. Neither is legal for a recreational bear hunter.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Bear Hunting in Washington
Any lawful big game modern firearm, archery or muzzleloader equipment works for black bear. Your method options are spot-and-stalk, still-hunting, glassing from a ridge, and calling or stalking near natural food sources.
- Allowed: modern rifles, archery equipment, muzzleloaders.
- Not allowed: bait, hounds, night hunting, and party hunting for big game outside the disability exception.
Hunting hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. The same rule bans night hunting of any wildlife.
Legal Bears and Protected Bears in Washington
Black bears are legal game. Grizzly bears are protected and may not be shot or killed, so positive identification matters in the northeast and North Cascades, where both species can occur.
Cubs, meaning bears under one year old, and females with cubs are also protected. That rule is in effect for the 2026 season per the PNW Hunting and Fishing guide. Color phase does not matter: brown, cinnamon and blond black bears are legal, but you should be certain of species before you shoot.
Youth and Special Bear Hunts in Washington
Youth hunters follow the same fall season and the same unit rules as adults. The reduced youth license rate cited by third-party sources is $17.68 for hunters 16 and under, though WDFW’s fee schedule is the source to trust.
Hunters with a disability can take a black bear with the appropriate license under WAC 220-413-140, which also allows a designated hunting companion. That companion rule is the main special-hunt provision tied to bear.
Where to Hunt Bear in Washington: Public and Private Land
Washington has bears across almost every forested corner of the state. Western Washington has dense timber and logged-over ground with high bear densities, and the eastern side offers open slopes that suit glassing.
- Public land: national forests and WDFW wildlife areas hold most of the access, subject to GMU closures.
- Private land: get landowner permission and confirm whether the owner is enrolled in a WDFW access program.
Skip the closed GMUs entirely, and watch for units where a special permit or ID test applies. If you also chase other big game in the state, the Washington elk season guide and the Washington deer season guide cover overlapping units.
Best Time to Hunt Bear in Washington
WDFW’s own fall tips say September is prime berry season at higher elevations. Glass berry patches early and late in the day, then look for bears bedded in cool canyons or timbered north-facing slopes through midday.
WDFW’s hunting highlights note that the fall season opens with bears ahead of other big game. Salmon-stream hunts in September and October are a second productive window, per the PNW guide.
Plan around the elk and deer openers too. Bear hunting in October and November overlaps with modern firearm deer and elk seasons, when crowds are heavier. If you want a different pace, the Washington turkey season guide covers spring and fall bird hunts.
Bear Hunting Hours, Sunday Hunting and Blaze Orange in Washington
Legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, according to Chapter 220-413 WAC. Hunting at night is unlawful.
The rules do not restrict bear hunting on Sundays, so the same hours apply every day of the season. Blaze orange requirements in Washington are tied to modern firearm deer and elk seasons, so wear it any time you share the woods with those hunters. Check the pamphlet for the exact wording.
Tagging, Check-In and Reporting a Bear in Washington
Tag your bear right away and report your harvest. WDFW’s regulations call for a mandatory harvest report, and the agency also collects a tooth for aging.
- Validate your transport tag on the animal immediately after the kill.
- Keep the tag with the carcass during transport.
- Submit your mandatory harvest report to WDFW.
- Submit the premolar tooth sample as instructed. Age results can take up to six months after the fall season closes, per the WDFW regulations summary.
Hunters who fail to report face consequences, so file the report even if you did not hunt or harvest. For specifics on deadlines and the online system, use the WDFW big game hunting rules page.
Bear Hunting Season in Washington 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When Does Bear Season Open in Washington?
Most units open August 1 and close November 15. BBMU 5 Okanogan and BBMU 14 Willapa Hills open August 15.
Can You Bait or Use Dogs to Hunt Bears in Washington?
No. Both are prohibited for recreational black bear hunting statewide under RCW 77.15.245.
How Many Bears Can You Take?
Two per license year in most units, and one in Okanogan and Willapa Hills. A second bear requires a separately purchased transport tag.
Is There a Spring Bear Season?
No. The fall general season is the only recreational bear season.
Do You Need a Draw Permit?
No. A big game license with the black bear option is enough, except in GMU 485, where a special deer or elk permit is also required.
Do You Need to Take a Bear ID Test?
Yes, in the GMUs that list it. Complete it before hunting in those units, since grizzly bears are protected.
For other Washington game, see the guides for rabbit, dove and goose seasons.