The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department (WDFW) offers in-depth details on hunting licenses and permits, plus precise hunting periods for different animal species. Knowing these hunting seasons and rules is helpful. It allows hunters to schedule their outings well. Plus, they help in preserving the numbers of various wildlife.
This guide is all about the 2025 Washington hunting season. We’ll cover the key stuff, like when to hunt, what your bag limits are, and what permits you need. Plus, you’ll find out about the best hunting spots, popular animals to hunt, and how to stay safe. Our goal is to help both seasoned and new hunters get all the facts, so they can have the best hunting season in Washington.
Washington’s Hunting Calendar and Guidelines
WA Hunting Seasons Overview
Deer Hunting
- Modern Firearm:
- Black-tailed: Oct 11–31, 2025
- White-tailed: Oct 11–24 (varies by GMU)
- Mule deer: Oct 11–21, 2025
- Late seasons:
- White-tailed: Nov 8–19
- Black-tailed: Nov 13–16
- Youth: Oct 18–24 (varies by GMU)
- Archery:
- Early: Sep 1–26 (GMU-dependent)
- Late: Nov 10–Dec 15 (species/GMU-specific)
- Muzzleloader:
- High Buck Hunts: Sep 15–25 (Wilderness areas)
- Early: Sep 27–Oct 5
- Late: Nov 20–Dec 8 (GMU-dependent)
- Tag Rules: One deer per year (additional permits may apply).
Elk Hunting
- Modern Firearm:
- Eastern WA: Oct 25–Nov 2 (some GMUs until Nov 15)
- Western WA: Nov 1–12, 2025
- Master Hunters: Aug 1–Jan 20 (select zones)
- Archery:
- Early: Sep 6–18, 2025
- Late: Nov 26–Dec 15 (region-specific)
- Muzzleloader:
- Early: Oct 4–10, 2025
- Late: Nov 26–Dec 15 (varies)
- Tag Rules: One elk per license (max two annually).
Black Bear
- General Season: Aug 1–Nov 15 (most areas)
- Restricted Zones: Aug 15–Nov 15 (select GMUs)
- Bag Limit: Two per year (one in certain units).
Cougar
- Season: Sep 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026 (or until quotas met)
- Bag Limit: One per year.
Turkey Hunting
Fall Season (2025)
- General: Sep 1–Dec 31
- Bag limits vary by zone (1–4 birds).
- Special permit areas: Nov 15–Dec 15 (GMU 335).
Spring Season (2026)
- Youth: Apr 1–7
- General: Apr 15–May 31
Furbearers & Small Game
Trapping (Nov 1–Mar 31, 2026)
- Beaver, marten, mink, muskrat, river otter.
Hunting:
- Bobcat: Sep 1–Mar 15
- Fox: Sep 1–Mar 15 (closed in some forests)
- Raccoon: Sep 1–Mar 15
- Coyote: Year-round
Upland Birds
Forest Grouse (Sep 15–Jan 15, 2026)
- Daily limit: 4 (max 3 per species).
Pheasant:
- Western WA:
- Youth: Sep 13–14
- General: Sep 20–Nov 30
- Eastern WA:
- General: Oct 18–Jan 19, 2026
Quail & Partridge:
- Mountain Quail: Sep 20–Nov 30 (West only)
- Chukar: Oct 4–Jan 31, 2026 (East)
Waterfowl
Ducks & Geese:
- General Duck: Oct 11–19 & Oct 22–Jan 25, 2026
- Scaup: Nov 1–Jan 25, 2026
- Goose (GMA-specific):
- Early: Sep 6–14 (most areas)
- Regular: Oct 11–Nov 30 + late seasons
Brant (Limited Dates):
- Jan 10–25, 2026 (county-specific).
Special Hunts & Permits
- Master Hunter: Extended elk/bear seasons.
- Falconry: Aug 1–Mar 15, 2026.
- Draw Hunts: Moose, goat, bighorn sheep (apply Apr–May).
All dates subject to regulations. Check local GMU rules.
WA Licenses and Permits
| Licenses | Resident | Non-Resident | Senior (R) | Youth | Disabled (R) | Disabled Veteran (N/R) |
| Big Game Annual Licenses | ||||||
| Get Outdoors | $236.18 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Deer + Elk + Bear + Cougar | $119.50 | $958.80 | $119.50 | $56.80 | $56.80 | $119.50 |
| Bear | $24.50 | $222.50 | $24.50 | $13.50 | $13.50 | $24.50 |
| Cougar | $24.50 | $222.50 | $24.50 | $13.50 | $13.50 | $24.50 |
| Deer + Elk | $85.50 | $740.00 | $85.50 | $41.50 | $41.50 | $85.50 |
| Deer | $45.40 | $434.80 | $45.40 | $22.30 | $22.30 | $45.40 |
| Big Game Special Hunt Licenses and Tags | ||||||
| Special Moose | $332.00 | $1,652.00 | $332.00 | $57.00 | $332.00 | $1,652.00 |
| Special Goat | $332.00 | $1,652.00 | $332.00 | $57.00 | $332.00 | $1,652.00 |
| Special Sheep | $332.00 | $1,652.00 | $332.00 | $57.00 | $332.00 | $1,652.00 |
| Multiseason Deer Tag | $139.10 | $139.10 | $139.10 | $139.10 | $139.10 | $139.10 |
| Multiseason Elk Tag | $182.00 | $182.00 | $182.00 | $182.00 | $182.00 | $182.00 |
| Small Game Annual Licenses | ||||||
| Small Game | $40.50 | $183.50 | $40.50 | $18.50 | $18.50 | $40.50 |
| Small Game Discount | $22.00 | $96.80 | $22.00 | $8.80 | $8.80 | $22.00 |
| Turkey Licenses and Tags | ||||||
| Turkey Tag | $15.90 | $44.50 | $15.90 | $0.50 | $15.90 | $44.50 |
| Additional Turkey Tags | $15.90 | $66.50 | $15.90 | $11.50 | $15.90 | $66.50 |
| Raffle Tickets | ||||||
| Raffle Types | Fees | |||||
| Deer, Elk, Moose & Mountain Goat | $6.00 | |||||
| Bighorn Sheep | $11.50 | |||||
| Multi Species (NE, SC, NC, 3 Deer) | $17.00 | |||||
| Multi Species (SE) | $22.50 | |||||
WA Hunting Regulation Summary
Deer
- Get a hunting license for big game, including deer.
- Pick a fitting deer transport tag for your method, be it modern firearm, muzzleloader, or archery.
- You’re allowed to hunt during the general season dates specific to your chosen method. If you’d like, you can apply for special permit hunts.
- Submit a report of your activities either online or through a phone call.
Deer Definitions
- 3 Point Rule: A deer needs three or more points on one side of their antlers. Antler Points: Only counted if they’re an inch or longer.
- Antlerless: This means a deer without any antlers, such as a doe or a fawn.
- Any Buck: This refers to a deer that has visible antlers, just not fawns.
- Black-tailed Deer: These are found to the west of a certain area.
- Mule Deer: Located east of a certain point. White-tailed Deer: This includes all white-tails, except for the Columbian variety.
Elk
- Go for a big game hunting permit, choose elk as your targeted species.
- Pick the elk tag that corresponds to your preferred area and method of hunting.
- Stick to hunting only within the general season dates for your chosen technique.
- If you want, apply for special permit hunts.
- After your hunting trip, submit a report of your activities either online or via a phone call.
Elk Definitions
- Minimum Points: Elk should have at least 3 pointed antlers on one side.
- Counting happens if the eye guards are an inch or more.
- Antler Guidelines: They must be at least one inch long to count.
- Specific Bull Elk Seasons: Only those Elk with antlers that can be seen (young bulls not allowed).
- Any Elk Rule: Any type of elk is fair game.
- Branch Definition: It is a part of the main antler that projects at least an inch, and it’s longer than its width.
- Guidelines for Spike Bulls: The elk’s antlers must have one pointed end without branches that don’t start over four inches from its skull.
- Spike Bull Rules: Both antlers shouldn’t have branches that start above four inches from the skull.
- Visible Antler Explanation: It is a horn-like growth that can be seen above the hairline.
Bear Identification Test
- Some GMUs mandate black bear hunting.
- Look at the WDFW website for these specific GMUs.
- An online test requiring at least an 80% score is mandatory.
Mandatory Bear Teeth Submission
- All victorious bear hunters need to give away the first premolar tooth from their catch.
- Utilize the pre-paid envelope provided by the WDFW office, or make a call.
- Send the tooth within five days post-harvest, or by the first of December.
Bear Sex Differentiation
- Don’t shoot female bears that are with cubs, as hunters should identify the bear’s sex.
- During the fall, females might have cubs with them.
Bear Shot Placement
- It’s best to aim just behind the upper arm when the bear is stepping forward – a broadside shot is recommended.
Tagging and Transporting Game
- Tag your big game right after the hunt.
- Next, erase the date of the kill from the tag.
- Make sure the tag is visibly fixed to the carcass.
- Move your game, with the correct tag attached.
- The tag should remain with the meat, even when frozen.
- If divided up, the tag should stick with the most sizeable part of the carcass.
- When sending it for taxidermy, fill out the record, keeping the tag with the meat at the processing place.
- The proof of the animal’s gender has to stay attached to the carcass until it’s processed or stored.
Possession and Use of Wildlife
- You need written permission to move someone else’s game parts.
- Game meat should not be wasted—it’s unlawful. Parts of wildlife that can’t be eaten—like antlers, hides, teeth, can be swapped or sold, but there are limits.
- You have to alert the WDFW if you find a dead animal on your land before you get rid of it.
- It’s okay to have antlers that deer, elk, and moose naturally shed.
Endangered and Protected Wildlife
- You’re not permitted to hunt, hold, bother, or eliminate creatures that are endangered or protected.
- This includes species like the pygmy rabbit, fisher, gray wolf and grizzly bear. Some whale species and the Columbian white-tailed deer are also on the endangered list.
- Additionally, there’s the wolverine, Mazama pocket gopher, ferruginous hawk, sea otter, and green sea turtle. These are known as protected species.
Baiting for Deer and Elk Hunting
- It’s against the law to use more than 10 gallons of bait to lure deer or elk for hunting. However, there are some exceptions.
- These include normal farming methods, naturally found food, odors, and inherent mineral deposits.
Mandatory Hunter Reporting
- Remember to log your hunting exploits online or call it in by January 31st.
- Report required for deer, elk, bear, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and turkey tags.
- If you get your report in by January 10th, you’re in the running for a bonus permit draw!
Top Washington Hunting Locations
Deer
- Olympic Peninsula: It’s a paradise for deer lovers, with widespread forests and clear open spaces. It’s best known for black-tailed deer. Popular spots? The Hoh, Quinault, and Olympic National Forests.
- Eastern Washington: This has vast public lands and is home to two kinds of deer – white-tailed and mule deer. Some key places? Colville National Forest and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
- Cascade Mountains: It’s got a mix of terrain which suits both black-tailed and mule deer. Top picks? Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Elk
- Northeastern Washington: is famous for big groups of elk. Two spots you should check out are the Colville National Forest and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Both are hotspots for elk.
- Olympic Peninsula: It’s not as famous for elk but you’ll still find them, mainly on the eastern side. Now, about Cascade Mountains.
- Cascade Mountains: You’re likely to spot elk there, especially in places that have a higher altitude.
Upland Bird
- Eastern Washington: This area is famed for its pheasant and quail numbers, making it a top destination for upland bird hunting. The Palouse region is a highlight.
- Western Washington: Despite having fewer birds than Eastern Washington, Western Washington still boasts admirable areas for upland bird hunting. This is particularly true within farming regions.
Waterfowl
- Puget Sound: A favorite among those who hunt waterfowl, this spot presents chances to pursue ducks, geese, and similar species.
- Eastern Washington: Known for its waterfowl hunting prowess, the Columbia Basin shines especially during migration seasons.
Author & Chief Editor at AskHunting.com
Eric Hale, a veteran hunter with more than a decade of experience, imparts his knowledge via AskHunting.com. He offers guidance for hunting, adding strategies, and delivers in-depth guides for the novice and the old hand. He loves family camping sessions, watching Marvel films with his spouse, and going on thrilling road journeys.
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