Deer General Information

Name: eRegulations
Price range: $

NEW Possession, Transport, and Testing Rules:
If you hunt or salvage deer, elk, or moose in any WDFW management region where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been detected, you must submit a sample of the animal for testing and adhere to new transport rules.

Mule deer buck running through a field with snow-covered Washington mountains in the background, showcasing local wildlife and habitat. — A white-tail deer buck runs through open grassland with Washington’s snow-capped mountains in the background, highlighting native wildlife and habitat.

Photo Credit: John Smith

Significant changes are red.

To Hunt Deer in Washington:

Purchase a big game hunting license with deer as a species option. See License Information & Requirements page.
Choose the appropriate deer transport tag for one of the following hunting methods: modern firearm, muzzleloader, or archery. New transport rules apply, see Chronic Wasting Disease page for more information.
The general season dates for the hunting method you have chosen are listed on the following pages. Hunt only the seasons outlined for the hunting method on your tag.
You may apply for hunts that are open to hunters by special permit only. You may choose special permit hunt choices listed for the hunting method for your tag. See Deer Special Permits page for the list of available permit hunts. See Special Permit Application Instructions page.
When you are finished hunting you must report your hunting activity online or by calling 360-902-2464. See Raffle Permit Hunts page for more information.

Definitions:

3 Pt. Minimum: A legal deer taken in these GMUs must have at least 3 antler points on one side. A 3x3, 3x2, or 3x1 are legal in a 3 pt. min. unit. An antler point must be at least one inch to be counted.

Antler Points: To qualify as a point on a deer, an antler point must be at least one-inch long, measured on the longest side.

Antlerless: Deer without antlers. Doe or fawn deer are antlerless.

Any Buck: Any deer with visible antlers may be taken (fawns illegal).

Black-tailed Deer: Any member of black-tailed/mule deer (species Odocoileus hemionus) found west of a line drawn from the Canadian border south on the Pacific Crest Trail and along the Yakama Indian Reservation boundary in Yakima County to the Klickitat River; south down Klickitat River to the Columbia River.

Mule Deer: Any member of black-tailed/mule deer (species Odocoileus hemionus) found east of a line drawn from the Canadian border south on the Pacific Crest Trail and along the Yakama Indian Reservation boundary in Yakima County to the Klickitat River; south down Klickitat River to the Columbia River.

White-tailed Deer: Any white-tailed deer (member of the species Odocoileus virginianus), except the Columbian White-tailed Deer (species Odocoileus virginianus leucurus).

Hunter Prospects:

Check the WDFW website in August each year for updated hunting information.