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Washington

Hunting

Hunting

Deer General Seasons

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.


Hunter in orange vest overlooks a scenic, forested valley in Washington under a bright sky, showcasing outdoor recreation and natural beauty.
A hunter in blaze orange takes in a panoramic view of a forested Washington valley, highlighting the beauty and serenity of outdoor recreation.

Photo by Paul La Pointe

Significant changes are red.

NEW TRANSPORT RULES: Importation Rules for Region 1 and Out-of-State Hunters

If you hunt or salvage deer, elk, or moose within the 100 series GMUs in WDFW’s Region 1, there are rules (WAC 220-413-030) regulating how you can transport your harvest within the state.

These rules also apply to deer, elk, moose, or caribou harvested or salvaged outside of Washington. You cannot bring whole carcasses into Washington. For more information on transport rules, see Washington Carcass Transportation Restrictions.

Modern Firearm General Deer Seasons

Hunt

Season

2025

Dates

Game Management Units (GMUs)

See Firearm Restriction Areas page

Legal

Deer

High Buck Hunts

(See Where To Get Maps page for information on U.S. Forest Service maps.)

Sept. 15-25

Alpine Lakes, Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Pasayten, Olympic Peninsula**, Henry Jackson Wilderness Areas and Lake Chelan Recreation Area

3 pt. min.

General Season

Black-tailed Deer

Oct. 11-31

407, 418, 426, 437, 448, 450, 454, 460, 466, 501 through 505, 506ad, 510 through 520, 524, 530ad, 550 through 560, 568, 572, 574, 601 through 621, 624 (except Deer Area 6020), 627 through 654, 658 through 699d

Any buck

Oct. 11-31

410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 564a*, 655 and Deer Area 6020

Any deer

Oct. 11-31

578d

3 pt. min.

White-tailed Deer

Oct. 11-24

101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117d, 121, 124

Any buck

Oct. 11-21

203 through 284

Any buck

Oct. 11-21

127 through 145, 149d, 154, 162 through 186

3 pt. min.

Oct. 11-21

373d, 379d, 381

Any deer

Mule Deer

Oct. 11-21

101 through 145, 149d, 154, 162 through 186, 203 through 272, 278d, 284, 328, 330 through 368, 372*, 373d, 379d, 381, 382*, 388

3 pt. min.

Late General Season

Black-tailed Deer

Nov. 13-16

407, 454, 466, 501 through 505, 506ad, 510 through 520, 524, 530ad, 550 through 560, 568, 572, 601 through 621, 624 (except Deer Area 6020), 627 through 654, 658 through 684, 699d

Any buck

Nov. 13-16

410 through 417, 419 through 424, 564a*, 655, Deer Area 6020

Any deer

White-tailed Deer

Nov. 8-19

105, 108, 111, 113, 117d, 121, 124

Any buck

youth General Seasons

White-tailed Deer

Oct. 18-24

124

Any deer

Oct. 18-21

127 through 142

3 pt. min. or antlerless

Permit Only Units:

The following GMUs require a special permit to hunt deer: 290 Desert, 329 Quilomene, 371 Alkali, and 485 Green River.

GMUs Closed to Deer Hunting:

157 Mill Creek Watershed, 490 Cedar River, and 522 Loo-wit

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:

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.

Archery General Deer Seasons

Hunt Season

2025 Dates

Game Management Units (GMUs)
See Firearm Restriction Areas

Legal Deer

Early Archery General Deer Seasons

Black-tailed Deer

Sept. 1-26

407, 410, 411h, 412h, 413h, 414h, 415h, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420h, 421, 422h, 423, 424, 426, 437, 448, 450, 454, 466, 501, 504, 505, 554, 564a*, 568, 621 through 636, 648 through 652, 654 through 673, 684d

Any deer

Sept. 1-26

460, 503, 574, 601 through 618, 638, 642, 653, 681 and 699d

Any buck

Sept. 1-26

578d

3 pt. min.

Sept. 1-21

510, 513, 516, 520, 524, 530ad, 556

Any deer

Sept. 1-21

506ad, 550, 560, 572

Any buck

White-tailed Deer

Sept. 1-26

101 through 124

Any buck

Sept. 1-26

204 through 250, 254 through 284d, 373d, 379d, 381

Any deer

Sept. 1-26

127 through 142, 145, 149d, 166, 169, 172, 175, 186

3 pt. min.

Sept. 1-22

154, 162, 163, 178, 181

3 pt. min.

Mule Deer

Sept. 1-26

101 through 136, 145, 149, 166 through 175, 186, 204 though 250, 254 through 278, 334, 382*, 388

3 pt. min.

Sept. 1-26

139, 142, 284, 372*, 373d, 379d, 381, Deer Area 3334

3 pt. min. or antlerless

Sept. 1-21

154, 162, 163,178, 181, 251, 328, 335, 336, 340, 346, 352, 356, 360, 364, 368

3 pt. min.

Late Archery General Deer Seasons

Black-tailed Deer

Nov. 26-Dec. 15

437, 466, 510 through 520, 524

Any deer

Nov. 26-Dec. 15

448, 460, 506ad, 530ad, 560, 572, 601, 603 through 618, 638, 642, 681, 699d

Any buck

Nov. 26-Dec. 31

407, 410, 411h, 412h, 413h, 414h, 415h, 416, 417, 419, 420h, 421, 422h, 423, 424, 454, 505, 564a*, 624, 627, 636, 648, 652, 654, 655, 660 through 672

Any deer

White-tailed Deer

Nov. 10-Dec. 15

101

Any buck

Nov. 25-Dec. 15

105, 108, 117d, 121, 124

Any buck

Nov. 25-Dec. 15

127

3 pt. min.

Nov. 20-Dec. 8

145, 163, 178, 272, 278d

3 pt. min.

Nov. 20-Dec. 8

373d

Any deer

Nov. 26-Dec. 15

204, 209, 215, 233, 243

Any deer

Mule Deer

Nov. 21-30

209, 215, 233, 243, 250

3 pt. min.

Nov. 26-Dec. 8

336, 342, 346, 352, 364, 388, Deer Area 3682

3 pt. min.

Nov. 20-Dec. 8

145, 163, 178, 272, 278

3 pt. min.

Nov. 20-Dec. 8

373d, Deer Area 3372

3 pt. min. or antlerless

Dec. 1-8

382*

3 pt. min.

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:

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:

Muzzleloader General Deer Seasons

Hunt Season

2025 Dates

Game Management Units (GMUs)

See Firearm Restriction Areas

Legal Deer

High Buck Hunts
(See Where To Get Maps for information on U.S. Forest Service maps.)

Sept. 15-25

Alpine Lakes, Glacier Peak, Pasayten, Mount Baker, Olympic Peninsula**, Henry Jackson Wilderness areas, and Lake Chelan Recreation Area

3 pt. min.

Early Muzzleloader General Deer Seasons

Black-tailed Deer

Sept. 27-Oct. 5

407, 418, 426, 437, 448, 450, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506ad, 510, 513, 516, 520, 530ad, 550, 554, 560, 568, 572, 574, 603, 607, 612, 615, 621, 624 (except Deer Area 6020), 633 through 651, 660, 663, 672, 673

Any buck

Sept. 27-Oct. 5

410, 411h, 412h, 413h, 414h, 415h, 416, 417, 419, 420h, 421, 422h, 423, 424, 454, 564a*, 627, 652, 655, 666, 684d, Deer Area 6020

Any deer

Sept. 27-Oct. 5

578d

3 pt. min.

White-tailed Deer

Sept. 27-Oct. 5

101 through 124, 203, 204, 209, 215, 231, 233, 239, 242 through 246, 247, 248, 250, 251, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278d, 284

Any buck

Sept. 27-Oct. 5

127, 130, 133, 136, 139, 142, 145, 149d, 175, 181, 186

3 pt. min.

Sept. 27-Oct. 5

373d, 379d

Any deer

Mule Deer

Sept. 27-Oct. 5

101 through 145, 149d, 175, 181, 186, 203, 204, 209, 215, 231, 233, 239, 242 through 246, 248, 250, 251, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278d, 284, 328, 330 through 342, 352 through 368, 373d, 379d

3 pt. min.

Sept. 27-Oct. 5

Deer Areas 3334 and 3372

3 pt. min. or antlerless

Late Muzzleloader General Deer Seasons

Black-tailed Deer

Nov. 26-Dec. 15

407, 410, 411h, 412h, 413h, 414h, 415h, 416, 417, 419, 420h, 421, 422h, 423, 424, 454, 504, 564a*, 633, 654, 666, 667, and 684d

Any deer

Nov. 26-Dec. 15

448, 460, 501, 602, 621, 651, 658, 673

Any buck

White-tailed Deer

Nov. 26-Dec. 8

113

Any buck

Nov. 25-Dec. 8

130, 133, 136, 139, 142

3 pt. min.

Nov. 20-Dec. 8

172, 181

3 pt. min.

Nov. 25-Dec. 8

379d, 381

Any deer

Mule Deer

Nov. 25-Dec. 8

379d, 381

3 pt. min.

Nov. 20-30

382*

3 pt. min.

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:

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:

Report your Big Game and Turkey hunting activity by January 31, 2026, by visiting the WDFW Fish and Hunt portal or calling 360-902-2464.

Deer Identification

Comparison chart showing identification features of Columbian white-tailed, black-tailed, white-tailed, and mule deer found in Washington.
Identification guide for Columbian white-tailed, black-tailed, white-tailed, and mule deer, highlighting key features for Washington hunters.
WDFW Police recruitment flyer showing officers in various outdoor settings, promoting careers in fish and wildlife law enforcement in Washington.
WDFW Police recruitment flyer highlighting diverse duties of Fish and Wildlife officers in Washington, from boating to backcountry patrols.