Hunting Seasons in Washington 2025: Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 WA hunt with our comprehensive guide—season dates, bag limits, licensing, and key game species from deer and elk to ducks and bighorn sheep. Washington’s diverse landscapes—from the rain‑soaked evergreen forests and rugged coastal fjords to the high desert plateaus and mountain ranges—offer unmatched hunting opportunities year‑round. Whether you’re glassing a herd of mule deer on Cascade foothills at dawn, calling turkey in fir‑lined clearings, setting decoys for ducks over tideflats, or drawing a special‑permit bighorn sheep tag in alpine country, the Evergreen State has seasons and regulations designed to sustain its wildlife and reward patient, ethical hunters. What Is There to Hunt in Washington? The state supports a rich array of game species: Big Game: Mule deer, white‑tailed deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, black bear, mountain goat, Dall and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, moose, cougar, bobcat, bison Small Game & Upland Birds: Ruffed, dusky and blue grouse; quail; pheasant; snowshoe hare; cottontail rabbit; squirrels Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks, geese, brant, coots, snipe, rails, mourning dove Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, raccoon, fox, beaver, muskrat, mink, wolverine, wolf What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in Washington? On private lands—in many areas, and subject to local restrictions—these species carry no closed season and no bag limits, aiding predator control and furbearer harvest: coyote, beaver, muskrat, raccoon, fox, mink, wolverine, wolf. Washington Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Washington divides its landscape into numerous Game Management Units (GMUs); always confirm your unit’s exact dates and tag requirements. Below are typical season windows for key big‑game species: Mule & White‑Tailed Deer Archery: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 Modern Firearm: Sept 15 – Dec 31, 2025 Muzzleloader: Oct 15 – Oct 31, 2025 Special Permit Hunts: Youth, disabled‑hunter, and trophy hunts by draw Elk Archery: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 Rifle: Oct 1 – Jan 31, 2026 Muzzleloader: Special‑opportunity hunts by GMU draw Pronghorn Antelope General: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 Limited‑Entry: Tier II permits by drawing application Black Bear Spring: Apr 15 – June 14, 2025 Fall: Aug 1 – Sept 30, 2025 Dall & Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat Archery: Aug 1 – Aug 31, 2025 Rifle: Aug 1 – Nov 30, 2025 (draw only; very limited tags) Moose General: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 (unit‑specific tags) Cougar, Bobcat Cougar: Sept 1 – Feb 15, 2026 (unit‑specific quotas) Bobcat: Oct 1 – Feb 28, 2026 Washington Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Upland Game Birds: Grouse & Partridge: Sept 1 – Dec 31 (snowshoe hare through Mar 31) Pheasant & Quail: Oct 1 – Feb 28 Mourning Dove & Rail/Snipe: Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 14; Dec 1 – Jan 31 Rails & Snipe: Sept 1 – Nov 9; Dec 26 – Jan 31 Waterfowl: Ducks: Sept 27 – Jan 9, 2026 (Pacific Flyway regulations) Geese & Brant: Sept 1 – Dec 31 (unit splits; check GMU closures) Shooting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset Bag Limits by Species Deer & Elk: 1 per season/tag Antelope, Moose: 1 per season (unit‑specific) Bighorn Sheep & Goat: 1 ram per lifetime; ewe tags by draw Black Bear: 2 per season (unit dependent) Grouse & Partridge: 6 per day, 12 in possession Pheasant & Quail: 3 & 10 per day, respectively Ducks & Geese: 7 & 5 per day, respectively; species sub‑limits apply Mourning Dove: 10 per day Coyote & Furbearers: No daily limit; reporting required for some furbearers License & Tags Information for Washington Hunters (2025–26) All hunters—resident and non‑resident—must carry the appropriate WDFW hunting license and tags: Big Game Tags: General, limited‑entry (Tier I & II) Special Permits: Youth, disabled, trophy, and seasonal draws HIP Registration & Federal Duck Stamp: Required for migratory‑bird hunts Hunter Education: Mandatory for hunters born on/after Jan 1 1972 (Fees, application windows, and special‑hunt details are in the 2025–26 Big Game Hunting Seasons & Rules pamphlet.) Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader Washington authorizes multiple weapon types: Archery: Compound, recurve, crossbows (in designated units) Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) Muzzleloaders: Special seasons by GMU draw Dogs & Bait: Allowed for turkey, bear, and some furbearers on private lands; public‑land rules vary Regulations & Resources Stay compliant with WDFW rules: Official Hunting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset (some seasons extend to legal sunset) Chronic Wasting Disease & GMU Closures: Check area‑specific CWD restrictions and closures Mandatory Harvest Reporting: Online or through registration stations for deer, elk, turkey, sheep, and goat Unit Maps & Boundaries: Carry printed or offline maps; use the WDFW Harvest Information Program Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW): https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/summary-of-seasons