Everything you need to plan your hunting trips in Washington, from maps and regulations to season dates, game animals, quotas, and hunt units. Plus much more! Start your research right here.
Overview
Known For
Washington is known for having three species of deer to hunt: mule deer, blacktail deer, and whitetail deer. Hunters can also hunt Rocky Mountain and Roosevelt elk, moose, mountain goats, Bighorn sheep, waterfowl, upland birds, and many other species.
Terrain
Washington’s terrain is about one-third rainy and lush in the west and much drier in the eastern two-thirds of the state, as the latter lies in the rain shadow of the Cascade Range. In the western part of the state, there are forested hills, rainforests, and coastal beaches. The semi-arid basin in the east is filled with intensive agriculture.
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Open in all GMU’s where black bear hunting is permitted. GMUs 157, 490, and 522 are closed to fall
bear hunting. A special deer/elk permit is required to hunt bear in GMU 485. See regulations for further details.
Aug 1, 2023
Nov 15, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 – Mar 15, 2024
Bobcat – Statewide Hunting
No limit. Pelts need to be sealed.
Sep 1, 2023
Mar 15, 2024
Sep 1, 2023 – Sep 29, 2023
Deer – Blacktail Early Archery
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Sep 1, 2023
Sep 29, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 – Sep 29, 2023
Deer – Whitetail Early Archery
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Sep 1, 2023
Sep 29, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 – Sep 29, 2023
Deer – Mule Deer Early Archery
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Sep 1, 2023
Sep 29, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 8, 2023
Deer – Blacktail Early Muzzleloader
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 8, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 8, 2023
Deer – Whitetail Early Muzzleloader
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 8, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 8, 2023
Deer – Mule Deer Early Muzzleloader
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 8, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Oct 31, 2023
Deer – Blacktail Gun
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Oct 14, 2023
Oct 31, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Oct 24, 2023
Deer – Whitetail Gun
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Oct 14, 2023
Oct 24, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Oct 24, 2023
Deer – Mule Deer Gun
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Oct 14, 2023
Oct 24, 2023
Nov 11, 2023 – Nov 19, 2023
Deer – Whitetail Late Gun
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Nov 11, 2023
Nov 19, 2023
Nov 16, 2023 – Nov 19, 2023
Deer – Blacktail Late Gun
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Nov 16, 2023
Nov 19, 2023
Nov 22, 2023 – Dec 15, 2032
Deer – Blacktail Late Muzzleloader
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Nov 22, 2023
Dec 15, 2032
Sep 1, 2023 – Oct 30, 2023
Dove – Statewide
Mourning dove bag limit 15 per day. Possession limit: 45.
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Sep 9, 2023
Sep 21, 2023
Sep 9, 2023 – Sep 21, 2023
Elk – West Early Archery
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Sep 9, 2023
Sep 21, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 13, 2023
Elk – East Early Muzzleloader
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 13, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 13, 2023
Elk – West Early Muzzleloader
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 13, 2023
Oct 28, 2023 – Nov 5, 2023
Elk – East Firearm (3rd season)
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Oct 28, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
Oct 28, 2023 – Nov 15, 2023
Elk – East Firearm (2nd season)
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Oct 28, 2023
Nov 15, 2023
Nov 4, 2023 – Nov 15, 2023
Elk – West Firearm
Specific districts. Dates vary between districts and sex of animal.
Nov 4, 2023
Nov 15, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 – Mar 15, 2024
Fox – Statewide Hunting
No limit. Certain areas restricted.
Sep 1, 2023
Mar 15, 2024
Sep 2, 2023 – Sep 7, 2023
Goose – Canada Goose Area 1, 3
Bag limit 5 per day.
Sep 2, 2023
Sep 7, 2023
Sep 2, 2023 – Sep 10, 2023
Goose – Canada Goose Area 2
Bag limit 5 per day.
Sep 2, 2023
Sep 10, 2023
Sep 23, 2023 – Sep 23, 2023
Goose – Western – Youth
Areas 1, 2, 3
Sep 23, 2023
Sep 23, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Mar 6, 2024
Goose – Management Area 2 – Inland
All areas except Ridgefield National Wildlife
Every day Oct. 14-29
Saturdays, Sundays, & Wednesdays only: Nov. 22 – Jan. 14 and Feb. 10 – Mar. 6
Oct 14, 2023
Mar 6, 2024
Oct 25, 2023 – Nov 8, 2023
Goose – Management Area 4
Saturdays, Sundays, & Wednesdays only
Oct 25, 2023
Nov 8, 2023
Jan 1, 2024 – Apr 30, 2024
Mountain Lion – Late Season
Guidelines vary in units. Dates may change during season depending on guidelines and quotas. A valid 2024-2025 cougar license/tag is required to hunt cougar in April 2023.
Jan 1, 2024
Apr 30, 2024
Sep 16, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Pheasant – Statewide (Youth)
Bag limit 2 per day in West and 3 in East
Sep 16, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Sep 16, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Quail – California (Valley) and Northern Bobwhite (Youth)
Youth Season. California and bobwhite bag limit of 10 per day
Sep 16, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 – Mar 15, 2024
Rabbit – Statewide
Cottontail and snowshoe hares bag limit 5 per day.
Sep 1, 2023
Mar 15, 2024
Apr 1, 2024 – Apr 7, 2024
Turkey – Spring (Youth)
The combined spring/youth spring season limit is three (3) birds. Only two (2) turkeys may be killed in Eastern Washington, except three (3) may be killed in Spokane county and only one (1) may be killed in Kittitas or Yakima counties. One (1) turkey may be killed per year in Western Washington outside of Klickitat County. Two (2) turkeys may be killed in Klickitat County. Male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards only.
Apr 1, 2024
Apr 7, 2024
Apr 15, 2024 – May 31, 2024
Turkey – Spring
Bag limit of 3 bearded turkeys. Gobblers (male) and Turkeys with visible beards ONLY
Apr 15, 2024
May 31, 2024
Sep 16, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Partridge – East (Youth)
Bag limit 6 chukar per day. Bag limit 6 gray per day
Sep 16, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
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Washington hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the official website of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Click below to view the website.
Every Washington hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Washington hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of hunt units, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Washington.
There are six different GMU Regions in Washington state, and each region is comprised of up to several dozen individual hunt units. Each big game species also has its own subset of hunt units in which the boundaries may overlap with more than one standard GMU hunt unit. Understanding the boundaries of each hunt unit is important for safe and legal hunting in Washington.
Click below to view Washington’s hunt units in more detail through an interactive map.
Over 2,500,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Washington. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
WA Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 21,000,000 acres in Washington. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.
SUBLAYERS (8)
WA Hunt Units
Washington Bighorn Sheep, Deer, Elk, Moose and Mountain Goat Hunt Areas; Game Management Units. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
Includes 8 Sublayers
Bighorn Sheep Hunt Units
Deer Hunt Units
Elk Hunt Units
Game Mgmt Units
Moose Hunt Units
Mtn. Goat Hunt Units
Goose Management Areas
Eastern and Western Hunt Regions
WA Possible Access
onX has mapped 4,000,000 acres of possible access lands in Washington including timber and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.
WA Private Lands Hunting Opportunities
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Private Lands Hunting Opportunities. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
