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Welcome to 2026-27 Washington Hunting

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Cover of the 2026 Washington Big Game Hunting Regulations showing hunters in blaze orange with harvested deer and elk in multiple outdoor hunting scenes. — 2026 Washington Big Game Hunting Regulations cover featuring hunters in blaze orange, successful deer and elk hunts, and scenic outdoor landscapes across Washington state.

Message from WDFW

Portraits of Kelly Susewind, WDFW Director, and Mick Cope, Wildlife Program Director, shown side by side in professional headshots. — Kelly Susewind, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director, and Mick Cope, Wildlife Program Director, featured in official headshots.

For this year’s Big Game Pamphlet photo contest, we asked participants to submit images that showcase the experience and traditions of hunting in Washington. This is a pretty broad ask – and that was exactly the point. We know that there are so many unique and special traditions among Washington hunters, whether you live and hunt here or visit from out of state. We wanted to see what makes hunting in Washington special to you!

Maybe you want to highlight the harvest from your once-in-a-lifetime tag draw, or share a special memory of taking your child hunting for the first time. Some of you are the first to hit the woods on opening day of archery season, while others may go out several times through the fall to mentor friends and family. Maybe your special hunting tradition is making that big game recipe your family asks for every holiday! No matter your experience, background, or pursuit, there is a place here for you as a Washington hunter.

Washington’s hunting opportunities are as diverse as the hunters themselves. Residents and visitors alike marvel at the broad range of ecosystems you can find in our state, from coastal rainforests to high alpine meadows, sagebrush steppe to rugged mountaintops. These varied landscapes support all kinds of wild species, both rare and common, and hunters’ contributions support them all. Sustainable harvest promotes healthy game populations, and funds generated through hunting license sales and equipment excise taxes help fund the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) conservation work that supports Washington’s wildlife and people.

We knew our contest theme had the potential to bring in all kinds of photos – but you really outdid yourselves! We received about 350 photo submissions for this year’s contest. Fortunately for our contest judges, we decided this year to feature a collage of photos on the regulations cover, rather than a single image. I love that this allows us to showcase even more of your incredible images and highlight so many of the diverse ways Washington hunters participate. We’ve used contest submissions elsewhere in this pamphlet, too, so make sure to look through it all to see if your photo was featured!

Recent updates at WDFW might mean new experiences for Washington hunters. I want to highlight our MyWDFW app, an exciting new tool for WDFW license holders. The new app supports license purchases, displays active license privileges, and allows you to electronically tag your big game harvest. I know we’re all big on traditions, but I encourage you to visit our website (search for “MyWDFW mobile app”) to learn more about this new tool. I hope you consider opting in to becoming a mobile license holder for the 2026 hunting season – I made the leap myself! Many hunters have been asking for mobile licensing for a long time, and I’m excited we are bringing this update to Washington hunters this year.

As always – I appreciate our Washington hunting traditions, and I wish you safe and successful hunting seasons in 2026.

Mick Cope, Wildlife Program Director

Two hunters in blaze orange kneel beside a harvested deer in a forest, with a child in a backpack carrier smiling in the background. — Hunters in blaze orange pose with a harvested deer in a wooded area, joined by a young child in a backpack carrier during a family hunting outing. Photo Credit: Mike Albaugh.

Two hunters in camouflage and blaze orange sit on a hillside overlooking a forested valley, waiting quietly during a hunt. — Hunters in blaze orange and camouflage pause on a hillside, watching a misty forest landscape as they wait for a hunting opportunity. Photo Credit: Emery Osborn.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) logo with wildlife and nature elements including a deer, fish, trees, river, and crab.

Significant changes are red.

Noteworthy information is blue.

Report your big game and turkey hunting activity by January 31, 2027 by using the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reporting system or calling 360-902-2464.

WAC Summary Information

This pamphlet is a summary of the hunting regulations and seasons adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. This pamphlet does not contain, nor is it intended to contain all department regulations. Regulations specific to the hunting seasons described in this pamphlet are found in Sections 220-413-180 through 220-417-010; 220-200-130 through 220-400-010; and 220-413-140 of the Washington Administrative Code.

This program receives Federal assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discrimination on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability and sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, please contact the WDFW ADA Program Manager at P.O. Box 43139, Olympia WA 98504 or write to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chief, Public Civil Rights Division, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240.

Last Updated: July 29, 2026