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Before 1973, the State of Washington had a spring black bear (Ursus americanus) season from 1 April to 30 June throughout most of the area west of the Cascades in an attempt to alleviate damage to forest tree reproduction. Extensive efforts by professional control hunters were still needed to keep damage at an acceptable level. Indications that sport hunting might be more effective in controlling damage resulted in an effort to concentrate sport hunting in problem damage areas. The general spring season was discontinued and a system of special hunts, by unit, was established. The extent of the area open to hunting was reduced by about 75 percent. Success of the program was evaluated by comparing 3 years' data collected under the unit system with 3 years' data from the general open season. The bear kill increased from an average of 503 per year in the general open season to 740 per year under the unit system. Bear tag sales increased by 81 percent during the same period.