Washington Hunting Season 2025: Dates, Rules, Licenses&Places

*The hunting seasons in Washington state have been updated for 2025-2026

Based on research in recent years, Washington state is proud to have a lively community of about 300,000 hunters who invested approximately $1.1 billion in hunting. This substantial investment not only benefits local businesses but also guarantees sustainable wildlife populations and healthy ecosystems.

The state provides a wide range of terrains and habitats, making it a fantastic hunting location. To learn more about the newest Washington hunting season schedule in this state, let’s dive right in!

What Hunting Season Is It In Washington State?

First, check the month-by-month summary of what types of game animals you can hunt each month in Washington:

• January: Elk (limited areas), duck, goose, and other waterfowl, and small game
• February: Goose, and small game only (no general big game seasons)
• March: Small game only
• April: Turkey (spring season)
• May: Turkey (spring season)
• June: Year-round small game, like coyote
• July: Year-round small game, like coyote
• August: Small game, early upland birds (select species)
• September: Deer, elk, bear, small game
• October: Deer, elk, bear, upland birds, waterfowl
• November: Deer, elk, bear, waterfowl, upland birds
• December: Deer, elk, waterfowl, small game

When Is Deer Hunting Season In Washington State?

Washington offers various deer hunting opportunities, and each of them has specific limits on the types of deer you can hunt in different zones.

Compared to last year, the season schedules have been changed in certain units. Here is the breakdown of the 2025 deer seasons:

Modern Firearm General Deer Seasons

Archery General Deer Seasons

Muzzleloader General Deer Seasons

The bag limit for deer seasons is only one deer per hunter. Make sure to check the local news for the areas you are going to hunt, as some regions may have been detected with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

2025 Elk Seasons Washington State

📌Note: Only one Elk can be taken by each hunter. You can find large mature bulls in District 1, but they are not very abundant. So it is advisable to apply for special permit opportunities in District 3. For the highest harvest numbers and success rates, hunters should consider hunting in GMUs 121, 108, and 105.

Washington State Bear Seasons

Fall bear Season: August 1 – November 15

📌Note: Units 157, 490, and 522 are closed for black bear season. Each hunter can hunt 2 black bears at most. Stay clear of the target you shoot, as the Grizzly Bear is protected by state law.

Washington Turkey Seasons

Spring Youth Only: April 1 – 7

Spring General Season: April 15 – May 31

Fall General Season: Sept. 1 – Dec. 31

The bag limit is a total of 3 turkeys with visible beards only for spring seasons; with restrictions to 2 turkeys in Eastern Washington, and 1 turkey in Western Washington.

While the bag limit is separated for fall seasons. Here are the details for different hunting zones:

• 101 through 154, and 162 through 186: 2 beardless and 2 either sex turkeys
• 382, 388, 568 through 578: 2 either sex turkey
• 203 through 290: Only 1 either sex turkey

Migratory Game Bird Seasons In Washington

The hunting seasons for Washington’s migratory game birds can be quite complex, with various hunting periods for different species and areas. Each species has specific limits on how many game birds you can hunt each day and throughout the entire season.

To simplify this for you, we’ve created the following table to clearly outline the season schedules.

Washington Duck Hunting Seasons

• Western Washington Youth: Sept. 20, 2025
• Eastern Washington Youth: Sept. 27, 2025
• Youth, Veterans & Active Military: Jan. 31, 2026
• Statewide: Oct. 11 – 19 & Oct. 22 – Jan. 25, 2026

📌Note: Harvest rates for harlequin ducks exceeded the five percent threshold set by WDFW. Therefore, anyone who wants to hunt harlequin ducks will need to apply for a permit. If you have been chosen, you can get a harvest record card for the hunt.

Goose Hunting Seasons

Other Waterfowl Hunting Seasons

Washington Small Game Hunting Seasons

Washington provides many different small game species for hunting, giving plenty of chances for outdoor lovers all year round. Certain species have set hunting periods, while others are open for hunting all year.

• Bobcat: Sept. 1 – Mar. 15, 2026
• Fox: Sept. 1 – Mar. 15, 2026
• Raccoon: Sept. 1 – Mar. 15, 2026
• Coyote: Year-round
• Cottontail & Snowshoe Hare: Sept. 1 – Mar. 15, 2026
• Beaver, badger, weasels, marten, mink, muskrat, and river otter trapping: Nov. 1 – Mar. 31

There is a bag limit of 5 and a possession limit of 15 for Hare, and no limits for the rest small games.

Washington Hunting Regulations

To legally hunt in this state, there are some state laws to follow. We have summarized some important things for you to check:

1. You cannot place waterfowl decoys before 4:00 a.m.
2. It is illegal to place decoys on lands or waters controlled by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
3. Using live birds as decoys for hunting waterfowl or wild turkeys is prohibited.
4. You cannot hunt game birds with a shotgun that holds more than three shells or larger than a 10-gauge.
5. Fully automatic firearms are not allowed for hunting.
6. Turkeys may only be hunted with crossbows, shotguns using #4 shot or smaller, or legal handguns that meet specific requirements.
7. Hunting waterfowl, wild turkeys, or deer using electronic calls is illegal.
8. Hunting from a vehicle is not allowed, except for authorized disabled hunters.
9. You must stop and report at WDFW check stations.
10. Hunting or trapping on state park lands is prohibited.
11. Hunting under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal.
12. Every hunter must possess a valid hunting license and any required tags or permits. Sharing licenses is not allowed.
13. Hunting migratory birds with traps, snares, nets, rifles, pistols, or using bait is unlawful.
14. Hunter orange or fluorescent hunter pink is required when hunting big game and upland game birds, or other game animals when using modern firearms.

Washington Hunting Licenses

Washington state establishes license requirements and fees for each year. The prices include all fees and are subject to change; therefore it is important to stay informed about what licenses you need and how much they will cost.

How Much Does Washington Hunting License Cost?

Please be aware that there are no discounts for senior citizens on hunting licenses, tags, or permits.

While certain individuals, such as veterans with a service-connected disability, residents who use a wheelchair permanently, and those who are blind or have a developmental disability, can receive reduced fees when purchasing hunting licenses.

Compared to 2024, the costs for Washington hunting licenses have increased in 2025:

What Hunting Licenses Do You Need?

The state has different requirements for different game types.

Except for the general hunting license, if you plan to hunt migratory birds, you’ll need to obtain a Migratory Bird Permit. covering a variety of game, such as ducks, sea ducks, and Canada geese.

In addition to the basic permits, there are specialized harvest cards for specific species. For instance, if you’re hunting snow or white geese, a Snow Goose Harvest Card is required, particularly in designated areas.

Similarly, if you’re targeting Brant, you’ll need the Brant Harvest Card. The Canada Goose Harvest Card is also essential in certain hunting management areas.

For those interested in sea ducks, both a Migratory Bird Permit and a Sea Duck Harvest Card are necessary, along with a Federal Duck Stamp.

Every hunter who is going after migratory game birds like ducks, geese, doves, coots, and snipe must fill out a Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey at a license dealer and have a state migratory bird permit in possession.

You can buy licenses easily by calling 1-866-246-9453 or visiting the official site: fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov.

Where to Hunting In Washington?

Before starting your hunting in Washington, it’s crucial to know which Game Management Units (GMUs) provide the most favorable chances for different species. Based on the research of the state, we have found some popular areas for hunting different game animals for you.

Large Mature Bulls:

• District 1: Few available; better to apply for special permits in District 3.
• Highest harvest number and best success rate: GMU 121.

Moose:

• More frequently seen in GMUs 111 and 108 (south and central portions).

Elk:

• The population is increasing in GMU 603.

Black Bear:

• Best chances in GMUs 101 (Sherman), 117 (49 Degrees North), and 121 (Huckleberry).

Mule Deer:

• The top areas include GMUs 101 (Sherman), 121 (Huckleberry), and also 105, 108, and 111.

Turkey:

• Good populations in GMUs 128, 101, and 117.

Waterfowl:

• District 5 is best for public hunting.
• In District 2, focus on larger waterbodies and consider private agricultural lands for better opportunities.

Pheasant:

• District 2 accounts for about 15.8% of the statewide harvest, particularly the Whitman County.

With the Washington Hunt Planner, you can easily search for units that offer certain opportunities with specific game species, hunting methods. Check it out: WDFW Hunt Planner.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Washington hunting season offers excellent hunting opportunities for hunters to enjoy sports and also plays a crucial role in supporting wildlife management and balancing natural resources.

As you prepare for the upcoming hunting seasons, be sure to keep everything in mind, follow the rules, and create memorable hunting experiences. We would love to see you sharing your trophy photos with us!

More hunting season schedules for nearby states:

• When is Hunting Season in 50 States?
• Oregon Deer Seasons &Regulations
• Idaho Hunting Season Schedules
• Montana Hunting Seasons
• Nevada Hunting Season