Washington Hunting Guide 2026
Complete Washington hunting guide for 2026: seasons, license costs, draw odds, GMU boundaries, bag limits, and regulations. Compare every game species at a glance.
Wildlife Agency
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Hunter safety course required for first-time buyers
Washington Hunting Seasons
Mule Deer
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Oct 14 | Oct 29 |
| Archery | Sep 1 | Sep 24 |
| Muzzleloader | Oct 7 | Oct 13 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
General and special permit units. Mule deer in eastern Washington shrub-steppe. Blacktail deer in western Washington.
Elk
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Oct 28 | Nov 8 |
| Archery | Sep 1 | Sep 24 |
| Muzzleloader | Oct 7 | Oct 13 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Roosevelt elk in western Washington, Rocky Mountain elk in eastern. General season and special permit hunts.
Turkey
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Apr 15 | May 31 |
| Archery | Apr 1 | May 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 3 (spring)
Merriam's and Rio Grande turkeys in eastern Washington. Spring and fall seasons. Over-the-counter tags.
Bear
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Aug 1 | Nov 15 |
| Archery | Aug 1 | Nov 15 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
General season OTC tag. No hound hunting. Good populations in Cascade Range. Spring season also available.
Duck/Waterfowl
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Oct 14 | Jan 28 |
Bag limits: daily: 7, season: No season limit
Federal duck stamp and WA waterfowl stamp required. Pacific Flyway. Columbia Basin and Puget Sound are premier areas.
Whitetail Deer
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 1 | Sep 30 |
| Rifle | Oct 12 | Nov 20 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Eastern Washington only.
Mountain Goat
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 15 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per lifetime
Once-in-a-lifetime draw. Extremely limited tags.
Bighorn Sheep
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 30 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per lifetime (most states)
Extremely limited tags. Once-in-a-lifetime draw.
Mountain Lion
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall/Winter | Nov 1 | Mar 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Hound hunting legal in most western states. Quotas apply.
Planning Tools
- Tag-to-Trail Planner — interactive map: public land, harvest records, water, burns
- Hunt Cost Calculator — budget your full hunt cost
- Application Timeline — never miss an application deadline
- Preference Point Tracker — track points across all your states
Washington Hunting Guides
destinations
Washington Deer Hunting: Blacktail, Mule Deer, and Whitetail Options
methods
Columbia Blacktail Deer Hunting: The Pacific Coast's Native Deer
draw odds
Washington Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds: Fewer Than 30 Tags and What That Means for You
draw odds
Washington Elk Draw Odds: Special Permits, Point Systems, and Pacific Northwest Elk
planning
Washington Hunting Guide: Elk, Deer, and the Special Draw System
draw odds