Deer General Seasons

License Required:

A valid big game hunting license, which includes deer as a species option.

Tag Required:

Valid modern firearm deer or multi-season tag.

Hunting Method:

• Modern firearm tag holders can only hunt during modern firearm seasons and may use archery, muzzleloader, crossbow, or modern firearm equipment. Hunting equipment must meet regulations.
• Baiting Regulations for deer and elk have been adopted.

Bag Limit:

One (1) deer per hunter during the license year except where otherwise permitted by department rule, even if permits are drawn for more than one deer hunt category.

Hunter Orange and/or Fluorescent Hunter Pink:

Is required for anyone hunting in an area open to modern firearm general deer or elk seasons. See Deer Special Permits page.

Firearm Restrictions & Hunting Closures:

The GMU you hunt in may be affected by a firearm restriction or a hunting closure. See page 80 for a full list of Commission-designated firearm restrictions by county. See Hunting Access & Closures page for a list of restricted or hunting closure areas. Other firearm restriction or hunting closure areas are established by local ordinance. Consult your local sheriff or city for other restriction areas.

Season Overlap:

Early archery deer and early muzzleloader deer hunters hunt in common with modern firearm hunters in the high buck season in Wilderness Areas and Lake Chelan Recreation Area.

Early and late modern deer overlaps antlerless second deer permit hunts (which allow any legal hunt method) in GMUs: 411–415, 420, 422.

Night Hunting and Hound Hunting During Deer and Elk Hunting Seasons

Hunting at night:

• It is unlawful to hunt bobcat and raccoon at night during modern firearm deer or elk general seasons that occur in October and November in eastern and western Washington. A small game license is required to harvest a bobcat or raccoon.
• Hunting big game with the aid of an artificial light, spotlight, or night vision equipment is prohibited. Night vision equipment includes electronic light amplification devices, thermal imaging devices, and other comparable equipment used to enhance night vision. Coyote may be hunted at night with lights year round, EXCEPT it is unlawful to hunt coyote at night during modern firearm deer or elk general seasons that occur in October and November in eastern and western Washington.

Hound hunting:

• Dogs may be used to hunt raccoon, EXCEPT it is unlawful to hunt raccoons with dogs during modern firearm deer or elk general seasons that occur in October and November in eastern and western Washington.
• Dogs may be used to assist with the recovery of wounded big game except bear and cougar (see Prohibited Hunting Methods).

Small Game Seasons

• Will be published in the Game Bird and Small Game Regulations pamphlet in June.

License Required:

A valid big game hunting license which includes deer as a species option.

Tag Required:

Valid archery deer or multi-season tag.

Hunting Method:

• Archery Only. Archery tag holders can only hunt during archery seasons and must hunt with archery equipment. Archery equipment must meet regulations. Mechanical broadheads are legal to use for hunting.
• Baiting Regulations for deer and elk have been adopted.

Bag Limit:

One (1) deer per hunter during the license year except where otherwise permitted by department rule, even if permits are drawn for more than one deer hunt category.

Season Overlap:

Early archery deer overlaps modern firearm high buck hunt.

Early and late archery deer may overlap damage control hunts for elk in Elk Areas 3911 and 3912 in portions of GMUs: 328, 329, 334, 335, 336, 340, 342, 368.

Early archery deer overlaps modern firearm elk hunts in GMU 251 and Elk Area 2032.

Late archery deer overlaps late muzzleloader deer in GMUs: 407, 410-417, 419-422, 448, 454, 460, 564, 654, 666, 667.

Late muzzleloader elk seasons overlap late archery deer seasons in GMUs: 454, 505, 564, 618, 666, 667.

Early and late archery deer overlaps antlerless second deer permit hunts (which allow any legal hunt method) in GMUs: 411–415, 420, 422.

Hunter Orange and/or Fluorescent Hunter Pink:

Is required for anyone hunting in an area open to modern firearm general deer or elk seasons. See Deer Special Permits page.

Note: Grouse, black bear, cougar, mountain goat, and bighorn sheep seasons may be open concurrent with archery seasons.

Hound Hunting:

• Dogs may be used to assist with the recovery of wounded big game except bear and cougar (see Prohibited Hunting Methods).

License Required:

A valid big game hunting license which includes deer as a species option.

Tag Required:

Valid muzzleloader deer or multi-season tag.

Hunting Method:

• Muzzleloader tag holders can only hunt during muzzleloader seasons and must hunt with muzzleloader, crossbow, or archery equipment. Hunting equipment must meet regulations.
• Baiting Regulations for deer and elk have been adopted.

Bag Limit:

One deer per hunter during the hunting season, except for holders of second deer special permits and tags.

Season Overlap:

Muzzleloader high buck hunt overlaps the modern firearm high buck hunt.

Early muzzleloader deer may overlap damage control hunts for elk in Elk Areas 3911 and 3912 in portions of GMUs: 328, 329, 334, 335, 336, 340, 342, 368.

Late muzzleloader deer overlaps late archery deer in GMUs: 407, 410-417, 419-422, 448, 454, 460, 564, 654, 666, 667.

Early and late muzzleloader deer overlaps antlerless second deer permit hunts (which allow any legal hunt method) in GMUs: 411–415, 420, 422.

Hunter Orange and/or Fluorescent Hunter Pink:

Is required for anyone hunting in an area open to modern firearm general deer or elk seasons. See Deer Special Permits page.

Firearm Restrictions & Hunting Closures:

The GMU you hunt in may be affected by a firearm restriction or a hunting closure. See Firearm Restriction Areas for a full list of Commission-designated firearm restrictions by county. See the Hunting Access and Closures page for a list of restricted or hunting closure areas. Other firearm restriction or hunting closure areas are established by local ordinance. Consult your local sheriff or city for other restriction areas.

Hound Hunting:

• Dogs may be used to assist with the recovery of wounded big game except bear and cougar (see Prohibited Hunting Methods).