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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Eastern Washington only.
Mountain Goat
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 15 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before you plan around them.
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 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before you plan around them.
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