Skip to main content
Washington

Game Bird Hunting

Game Bird Hunting

Falconry

If a raptor captures any species of wildlife (quarry) in a closed season, the falconer must release the quarry if it is not seriously injured. If the quarry is seriously injured or killed, the quarry must be left at the site, but the raptor may feed on the kill.

If the accidentally killed wildlife is a Washington State Candidate species (including jackrabbit), the falconer must immediately record on a WDFW form or facsimile: the falconer’s name, falconry permit number, date, species and sex (if known) of the quarry, and the location of the kill (as accurately as possible).

Total accidental take of Candidate species cannot exceed 5/season; falconers must cease hunting for the day if a candidate species is taken.

A list of candidate species can be found at: wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/listed

All reports of accidental take must be submitted to the WDFW falconry permit coordinator by April 1 each year.

Released quarry are not considered “take.” Federal and state laws to not permit the take of endangered, threatened, sensitive or other protected species.

For more information on Falconry, visit https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/requirements/falconry/overview

2023-2024 Falconry Seasons

Species

Area

Season Dates (inclusive)

Daily Bag Limit

Possession Limit

Turkey

Eastern Washington

Sept. 1 - Feb. 15 (falconry)

1 turkey, either sex, per turkey tag with a maximum of 2 turkeys per season

2 (tag required for each turkey)

Upland Game Birds & Forest Grouse

Statewide

Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 (falconry)

2 pheasants (either sex), 6 partridge,
5 California (valley) quail or bobwhite,
2 mountain quail (W. WA only), &
3 forest grouse

Twice the daily bag

Cottontail and
Snowshoe hare

Statewide

Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 (falconry)

5 cottontail or snowshoe hares, straight or mixed bag

15 mixed bag

Jackrabbit, pygmy rabbit, sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, ptarmigan - Closed statewide

Mourning Dove

Statewide

Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (falconry)

3 mourning doves, straight or mixed bag with snipe, coots, ducks, and geese during established seasons

Three times the daily bag

Ducks, Coots, Snipe and Geese (except Brant)

Statewide

Same season dates for each species in each area listed previously (falconry)

3, straight or mixed bag including duck, coots, snipe, geese and mourning doves during established seasons

Three times the daily bag

Ducks, Coots & Geese (extended falconry)

Western Washington

Sept. 23

3, straight or mixed bag including duck, coots, Canada and White-fronted Geese

Same as the daily bag

Eastern Washington

Sept. 30

3, straight or mixed bag including duck, coots, Canada and White-fronted Geese

Same as the daily bag

Statewide

Feb. 3

3, straight or mixed bag including duck, coots and all geese

Same as the daily bag