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Sportsman’sIllustrated
Hunts/Washington/Black Bear

2026 / Good place to start

GENERAL BEAR

Fall Black Bear General Season

Sportsman’s Illustrated field note

A Washington black bear opportunity where unit dates, bait and dog restrictions, access, and current grizzly-bear precautions need to be checked together.

Regulatory record verified 2026-09-03
Tag pathBuy while available

unrestricted black bear opportunity

Legal animalOne or two black bears depending on management unit

Check license eligibility

2026 quotaCheck official source

Quota is not listed in this record; check limits and closure conditions

game management units and permit areasOpen Washington black bear management units

Open Washington black bear management units

01 / Season structure

When and how.

General methodsFall Black Bear General Season season in Open Washington black bear management units

Aug 1, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026

Do not stop at the dates.

Confirm tag availability, current regulations, boundaries, legal methods, ammunition rules, closures, and access before you act. The agency source and your issued tag control.

02 / Sportsman’s Illustrated notes

What to solve before opening day.

Access

A hunt boundary does not establish legal access. Confirm ownership, entry, closures, road conditions, and property-specific rules with the current land manager.

Plan

Confirm the exact unit dates and current bait, dog, electronic-call, motorized-access, and grizzly-bear rules before hunting.

Complexity

A relatively direct tag and season structure. Access and current conditions still require real homework.

03 / Regulatory record

Read the official material.

These sources establish the hunt record above. They can be updated after our verification date.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife2026 Washington Big Game Hunting Seasons and RegulationsOpen official source ↗