Elk General Seasons

License Required:

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

Elk Tag:

You must choose either an eastern or western Washington modern firearm elk tag. Multi-season tags can also be used. Elk tag areas are shown on the map on Elk General Information.

Hunting Method:

• You may use modern firearm, archery, crossbow, or muzzleloader, during modern firearm seasons. Hunting equipment must meet regulations on Equipment & Hunting Methods.
• Baiting Regulations for deer and elk have been adopted (see Baiting for the Purposes of Hunting Deer or Elk).

Bag Limit:

One elk per hunter during the hunting season, except for successful Master Hunter special permit applicants and where otherwise permitted by department rule. No more than 2 elk may be harvested per license year.

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 Firearm Restriction Areas 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.

Hunter Orange and/or Hunter Pink:

Is required for anyone hunting in an area open to modern firearm deer or elk general seasons. See Mandatory Hunter Reporting.

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 Elk Seasons
Elk Tag Area	2023 Dates	Game Management Units (GMUs) See Firearm Restriction Areas for Firearm Restrictions	Legal Elk
Early Archery General Elk Seasons
Eastern Archery	Aug. 1-31	Master Hunters Only: 371. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink.	Antlerless only
	Sept. 9-21	101 through 142, 117d, 204, 243, 247, 249, 250, 272, 278, 284, 290, 373d, 379d, 381, 382 (except CLOSED in Deer Area 5382***), 388	Any elk
	Sept. 9-21	145, 149d, 154, 163, 178, 181, 334, 335, 371	Spike bull or antlerless
	Sept. 9-21	162, 166, 169, 172, 175, 186, 251, 328, 329, 336, 340, 352, 356, 364	Spike bull
Western Archery	Sept. 9-21	407, 454, 564, 666, 684, Elk Area 6014	Any elk
	Sept. 9-21	448, 460, 466, 506a, 510, 513, 516, 524, (except closed in Elk Area 5066), 530ad, 601 through 618, 624 (except for Elk Area 6071), 627, 633, 638 (except Master Hunters only in Elk Area 6064), 642 through 651, 658	3 pt. min.
	Sept. 9-21	Elk Area 4601***, 501 through 505, 520, 550, 554, 560, 568, 572, 574, 578d, Elk Area 6061, 652 (Except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 654, 660, 663, 667 through 673, 681, and 699d	3 pt. min. or antlerless
Late Archery General Elk Seasons
Eastern Archery	Aug. 1, 2023–Jan. 20, 2024	Master Hunters Only: Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink.	Antlerless only
	Oct. 28-Nov. 15	203, 209 through 248, 250, 254 through 272, 278d, 284, 290, 379d, 381. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink.	Any elk
	Nov. 20-Dec. 8	178	Antlerless only
	Nov. 25-Dec. 8	101, 105, 108, 117, 121, 204	Any bull
	Nov. 25-Dec. 8	124, 127, 373d, 382*** (except CLOSED in Deer Area 5382), 388	Any elk
	Nov. 22-Dec. 8	334, 335	Spike bull or antlerless
	Nov. 22-Dec. 8	249, 251, 336, 342, 346, 352, 364, Elk Area 3681	Spike Bull
	Dec. 9-31	Master Hunters Only: 127, 130	Antlerless only
	Dec. 9-Jan. 30, 2024	163	Antlerless only
Western Archery	Nov. 22-Dec. 15	Elk Area 4601***, 503, 505, 506a, 530ad, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 663, 667, 672, 681, and 699d. Master hunters only in Elk Area 6064 portion of GMU 638.	3 pt. min. or antlerless
	Nov. 22-Dec. 15	454, 564d, 666, Elk Area 6014	Any elk
	Nov. 22-Dec. 15	448, 603, 612, 615, 638 (except for Elk Area 6064), 648	3 pt. min.
	Nov. 25-Dec. 15	407	Any elk
a See Big Game Closures on Hunting Access & Closures. d Visit http://www.fws.gov/ for information about hunting on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge lands. *** These areas are mainly private property. Hunters are advised to research ownership and access before hunting in these units.

License Required:

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

Elk Tag:

You must choose either an eastern or western Washington archery elk tag. Multi-season tags can also be used. Elk tag areas are shown on the map on Elk General Information.

Hunting Method:

• Archery only. Archery tag holders can only hunt during archery elk seasons and must hunt with archery equipment. Hunting equipment must meet archery regulations on page Equipment & Hunting Methods. Mechanical broadheads are legal to use for hunting.
• Baiting Regulations for deer and elk have been adopted (see Baiting for the Purposes of Hunting Deer or Elk).

Bag Limit:

One elk per hunter during the hunting season, except for successful Master Hunter special permit applicants and where otherwise permitted by department rule. No more than 2 elk may be harvested per license year.

Hunter Orange and/or Hunter Pink:

Is required for anyone hunting in an area open to modern firearm deer or elk general seasons. See Mandatory Hunter Reporting.

Season Overlaps:

Early archery elk season overlaps the modern firearm damage control Elk Area 3911 Fairview hunt in portions of GMUs: 328, 329, 334, 335

Late archery elk season overlaps late muzzleloader elk in GMUs: 203, 209–248, 250, 254–290, 278, 379, 381, 448, 454, Elk Area 4601, 564, 666, 667, 503, 505, 652

Late archery elk season overlaps modern firearm elk in GMUs: 203, 209–248, 250, 254–290, 278, 379, 381

Note: Grouse, bear, goat, and 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).

Muzzleloader General Elk Seasons
Elk Tag Area	2023 Dates	Game Management Units (GMUs) See Firearm Restriction Areas for Firearm Restriction Areas	Legal Elk
Early Muzzleloader General Elk Seasons
Eastern Muzzleloader	Aug. 1-31	Master Hunters Only: 371. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink.	Antlerless only
	Oct. 7-13	101 through 121, 117d, 204, 247	Any bull
	Oct. 7-13	124 through 142, 245, 250, 272, 278, 284, 290, 379d	Any elk
	Oct. 7-13	145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 172, 175, 178, 181, 336 through 342, 352 through 368	Spike bull
	Oct. 7-13	249, 251, 328, 329, 334, 335, Elk Area 2051	True spike bull
Western Muzzleloader	Oct. 7-13	407, 454, 564a, 666, 684d	Any elk
	Oct. 7-13	448, 460, 466, 506a, 510, 513, 516, 520, 524, (except closed in Elk Area 5066), 530ad, 550, 554, 560, 568, 572, 574, 578d, 602, 603, 607, 612, 615, 624 (except for Elk Area 6071), 627, 633, 638 (except for Elk Area 6064), 642, 648, 660, 672, 673, 681	3 pt. min.
	Oct. 7-13	501, 503, 504, 505, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), Elk Area 6014, 654, 663, 667, Elk Area 4601	3 pt. min. or antlerless
Late Muzzleloader General Elk Seasons
Eastern Muzzleloader	Aug. 1, 2023–Jan. 20, 2024	Master Hunters Only: Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink.	Antlerless only
	Oct. 28-Nov. 15	203, 209 through 248, 250, 254 through 272, 278d, 284, 290, 373d, 379d, 381. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink.	Any elk
	Nov. 25-Dec. 8	130 through 142***	Any elk
	Dec. 9-31	Master Hunters Only: 127, 130. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink.	Antlerless only
Western Muzzleloader	Dec. 16-31	407	Any elk
	Nov. 22-Dec. 8	Elk Area 4601***, 501, 503, 504, 505, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 667	3 pt. min. or antlerless
	Nov. 22-Dec.15	454, 564a, 666, 684d, Elk Area 6014	Any elk
	Nov. 23-30	568, 574, 578d	3 pt. min.
	Nov. 22-Dec. 15	448, 601, 618, 651, 658	3 pt. min.
a See Big Game Closures on Hunting Access & Closures. d Visit http://www.fws.gov/ for information about hunting on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge lands. *** These areas are mainly private property. Hunters are advised to research ownership and access before hunting in these units.

License Required:

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

Elk Tag:

You must choose either an eastern or western Washington muzzleloader elk tag. Multi-season tags can also be used. Elk tag areas are shown on the map on Elk General Information.

Hunting Method:

• Muzzleloader tag holders can only hunt during muzzleloader seasons and must hunt with muzzleloader or archery equipment. Hunting equipment must meet regulations.
• Baiting Regulations for deer and elk have been adopted (see Baiting for the Purposes of Hunting Deer or Elk).

Bag Limit:

One elk per hunter during the hunting season, except for successful Master Hunter special permit applicants and where otherwise permitted by department rule. No more than 2 elk may be harvested per license year.

Season Overlap:

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

Late muzzleloader elk seasons overlap late archery elk seasons in GMUs: 203, 209–248, 250, 254–290, 278, 379, 381, 448, 454, 564, 666, 667, 503, 505, 652

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 Hunting Access & Closures 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.

Hunter Orange and/or Hunter Pink:

Is required for anyone hunting in an area open to modern firearm deer or elk general seasons. See Mandatory Hunter Reporting.

HOUND HUNTING:

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