They at least listened for another year.
Good afternoon,
Thank you for contacting the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) regarding the Game Management Plan (GMP) and fall black bear hunting. We appreciate you contacting the Commission on matters that are important to you.
The GMP serves as the guiding framework for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) uses to manage game species for both regulated harvest and wildlife viewing, recognizing that both offer an avenue for people in Washington to connect with, enjoy, and appreciate wildlife. By including in the GMP the idea to consider both perspectives when managing black bears, we wanted to be transparent and acknowledge the diversity of public values associated with wildlife. WDFW has long taken this human dynamic into consideration during season-setting processes. Recently, the Commission had substantial debate and discussion about a potential change in the start of fall black bear season and decided to retain the Aug. 1 start date.
Any consideration of a hunting rule change requires a public rule making process. WDFW is currently engaged in 2026 hunting season setting, and the public comment period is open until March 12. There is not a change to the 2026 fall black bear hunting season start date in these proposals.
The Department encourages all interested individuals to participate in this, and other rule making processes and share their perspectives. Continued public engagement ensures that management decisions are well informed.
Jamie Caldwell
Fish and Wildlife Commission
1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia WA 98501 (Office)
P.O. Box 43200 Olympia, WA 98504-3200 (Mailing)
Office: (360) 902-2265
Web:
https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/commission
