Washington Regulations
Hunting and fishing regulations, seasons, species information, and public access resources for the state of Washington.
Overview
Washington offers diverse outdoor opportunities across coastal rainforests, mountains, farmland, sagebrush country, and the Puget Sound.
Below are quick links to seasons, species, licensing, and access information.
Season Information
- Black-tailed, Mule & Whitetail Deer (archery, muzzleloader, rifle)
- Elk (Roosevelt & Rocky Mountain — permit & general)
- Black Bear & Cougar
- Turkey seasons (spring & fall)
- Small game (rabbit, grouse, quail, pheasant)
- Waterfowl (Pacific Flyway)
- Fishing seasons (salmon, steelhead, trout, bass, sturgeon)
- Shellfish seasons (crab, clams, oysters)
Licensing
Washington requires appropriate licenses for hunting, fishing, and shellfishing activities.
- Hunting license (resident & non-resident)
- Fishing license (freshwater, saltwater, combo)
- Big-game tags (deer, elk, bear, cougar)
- Turkey permits
- Shellfish/seaweed license
- Discover Pass (required for many state lands)
- Harvest reporting (mandatory for big game & turkey)
Key Species
- Black-tailed, Mule & Whitetail Deer
- Elk (Roosevelt & Rocky Mountain)
- Black Bear & Cougar
- Turkey
- Salmon (Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, Pink, Chum)
- Steelhead
- Trout (rainbow, cutthroat, brown)
- Sturgeon, Bass, Walleye
- Crab, Clams, Oysters
Public Land & Access
Washington offers extensive public access through national forests, state lands, wildlife areas, and coastal waters.
- National Forests (Olympic, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, Gifford Pinchot, Colville)
- Washington DNR lands
- WDFW Wildlife Areas
- Puget Sound marine access
- Columbia River system
- Discover Pass access areas