Washington Hunting Season Dates
Recorded hunting windows for Washington, including historical and unverified entries.
Recorded dates, not hunting permission
Status assessment: 2026-10-14 UTC (static build snapshot). Static activity badges and day counts use this build assessment, not a live check. Interactive finder results show their own UTC assessment day.
1 of 8 recorded windows have date-review evidence. Other rows remain unverified. Historical records are retained and are not a current-season promise.
Check your current agency regulations, GMU or zone, hunt code, license and access restrictions before hunting. An agency link or successful publication fetch does not verify a row. Reviewed base dates do not cover every license-specific exception.
Date evidence: Official date source. Review dates apply only to the stated row scope, not an entire state or current license eligibility.
Washington Hunting Season Calendar
Find all hunting season dates for Washington including deer, elk, turkey, and waterfowl. Filter by species and hunting method.
Coming Up in Washington
Seasons opening in the next 60 days
Oct 17-30, 2026
Opens in 3 days
Recorded Season Windows
All Washington hunting seasons organized by species
Deer 4 seasons
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 6-26, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Early archery | |
| Rifle/Firearm | Oct 17-30, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | GMU101 Sherman private nontribal ordinary adult any-buck white-tailed bolt-action centerfire modern-firearm deer tag | Opens in 3d | Actual current2026 guide printed23/PDF22: GMU101 Sherman white-tailed any-buck Oct17–30, only private nontribal ordinary adult hunter with unused modern-firearm deer tag/deer hunting license, bolt-action centerfire .24 caliber/6mm or larger outside closures/firearm-restricted areas, not individual permission. Any buck visible antlers above hairline/fawns illegal, not mule-deer Oct17–27/three-point minimum or other-GMU whitetail calendar. Late modern Nov7–19 excludes101; archery101 throughDec15/muzzleloader/multiseason/raffle/special/second-deer/public/tribal/other-species/unit/method rights not imported. One base deer license-year, second-deer/special exceptions separate, not universal one-deer cap. Current unit boundaries/permission/tag/eligibility/bag/orange-pink/reporting/transport/CWD/local/rifle/ammunition/bait/closures/amendments need checks; dates not hunting-hour permission. Seven histories/license metadata retained/unverified. Actual publication index/current linked guide/April22 correction read; correction special elk revisions not borrowed as deer dates. Index says114pages but actual PDF118, no assumed page-count identity. Index/guide monitored; correction body/current-law/eregs/map/local updates manual, link/hash not semantic rule or statewide verification. | |
| Rifle/Firearm | Oct 11 - Nov 8, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | General modern firearm | |
| Muzzleloader | Oct 4-10, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Early muzzleloader | |
Elk 2 seasons
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 6-26, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | General archery | |
| Rifle/Firearm | Oct 25 - Nov 8, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | General modern firearm | |
Turkey 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Legal Method | Apr 15 - May 31, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Spring season | |
Bear 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Legal Method | Aug 1 - Nov 15, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Fall bear season | |
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Washington Hunting Regulations
License year, species, and agency information
- License Year
- Apr 1, 2025 - Mar 31, 2026
- Available Species
-
- Bear
- Deer
- Elk
- Turkey
- Hunting Methods
-
- Archery
- Rifle/Firearm
- Muzzleloader
- Any Legal Method
- Wildlife Agency
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
This information is for reference only. Always verify regulations with your state wildlife agency before hunting or fishing.
Important Note for Washington
Only GMU101 Sherman private nontribal ordinary adult hunter any-buck white-tailed bolt-action centerfire≥.24/6mm/unused modern-firearm deer tag Oct17–30 reviewed. Not mule-deer Oct17–27/three-point rule; late modernNov7–19 excludes101, archery/muzzleloader/multiseason/special/other-unit/species/public/tribal rights excluded. Visible antlers above hairline/fawns illegal; one base deer license-year, second-deer exceptions separate. Current license/tag/unit/bag/permission/orange-pink/reporting/CWD/firearm restrictions/local/amendments need checks, not individual permission. Seven histories/license metadata unverified; actual2026 guide/corrections read, correction body/current-law updates manual.
Hunting Method Legend
Washington Hunting FAQ
Common questions about hunting seasons in Washington
What are the hunting season dates for Washington?
Recorded Washington entries cover Bear, Deer, Elk, Turkey. Dates include history and unverified records; the recorded license-year metadata is not current verification. Check row evidence and current agency regulations and your license.
When does deer season start in Washington?
Recorded windows, not one continuous season: 2025-09-06 to 2025-09-26; 2026-10-17 to 2026-10-30; 2025-10-11 to 2025-11-08; 2025-10-04 to 2025-10-10. Historical and unverified records may be included. Check each row's evidence and your current GMU/hunt code and license before hunting.
Does Washington require a draw for hunting?
Draw requirements depend on species, GMU or zone, hunt code and license type. Recorded date windows do not establish eligibility. Check the current Washington agency rules and your actual license.
Which recorded windows include the assessment date 2026-10-14 UTC in Washington?
The next recorded window is Deer starting Oct 17, 2026. Check its row evidence and current regulations; the record may be unverified.
What should I know about hunting in Washington?
Only GMU101 Sherman private nontribal ordinary adult hunter any-buck white-tailed bolt-action centerfire≥.24/6mm/unused modern-firearm deer tag Oct17–30 reviewed. Not mule-deer Oct17–27/three-point rule; late modernNov7–19 excludes101, archery/muzzleloader/multiseason/special/other-unit/species/public/tribal rights excluded. Visible antlers above hairline/fawns illegal; one base deer license-year, second-deer exceptions separate. Current license/tag/unit/bag/permission/orange-pink/reporting/CWD/firearm restrictions/local/amendments need checks, not individual permission. Seven histories/license metadata unverified; actual2026 guide/corrections read, correction body/current-law updates manual.
Other States
Compare hunting seasons across states
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