Small Game Seasons

Name: eRegulations
Price range: $

Other Small Game Seasons
Small Game Species	Bag Limit	Season Dates	Notes and Exceptions
Bobcat	None	Statewide: Sept. 1 - Mar. 15	Sealing of pelt required. Submission of lower jaw required for sealing. Bobcat may not be hunted with dogs. Pelt Sealing Requirements: Successful hunters/trappers must contact a WDFW office for pelt sealing and submit the associated harvest report to the department by April 20, 2026. The bobcat hide must not be frozen so a seal may be attached. Submission of the dried lower jaw is required at the time of pelt sealing in order to receive your pelt seal. No one may possess an open WDFW bobcat seal unless it has been cut by a licensed taxidermist or fur dealer who has received and invoiced the pelt for processing. It is unlawful to hunt bobcat with dogs. Night hunting for bobcat is prohibited in the following GMUs: 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 203, 204, 215, 218, 224, 231, 233, 242-247, 250, 426, and 450.
Fox	None	Statewide: Sept. 1 - Mar. 15	CLOSED within the exterior boundaries of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, Okanogan, Wenatchee, and Gifford Pinchot National Forests.
Raccoon	None	Statewide: Sept. 1 - Mar. 15	Dogs may be used to hunt raccoon, EXCEPT it is unlawful to hunt with dogs during the months of October or November during the dates established for modern firearm deer and elk general seasons in eastern and western Washington.
Coyote	None	Year round.	Coyote may not be hunted with dogs. A small game or big game hunting license is required.
Beaver, badger, weasels, marten, mink, muskrat, and river otter			May only be taken by trapping with a trapping license during the trapping season (Nov. 1 - Mar. 31). Trappers must contact a WDFW office for pelt sealing of river otter and submit all harvest reports to the Department by April 20, 2026. For complete guidelines, refer to the official WDFW trapping regulations.
Species	Area	Season Dates	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit
Cottontail & Snowshoe Hare	Statewide	Sept. 1 - Mar. 15	5 mixed bag	15 mixed bag
Jackrabbit, Pygmy Rabbit, Lynx & Fisher	Closed Statewide

Night Hunting, Hound Hunting and Permits

Hunting at night:

Night Hunting for Bobcat is prohibited in the following GMUs: 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 203, 204, 215, 218, 224, 231, 233, 242-247, 250, 426, and 450.
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.
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:

The use of dogs to hunt black bear, bobcat, coyote, and cougar is prohibited year-round (RCW 77.15.245).
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.

Hunting Contest Permits:

A hunting contest permit is required for all organized hunt contests. For full details on application requirements and regulations, visit the WDFW hunting contest permit page.

Report small game harvests online

All small game hunters are required to report their hunting activity online by March 31 to remain in compliance with Washington state regulations.

Bobcat Pelt Sealing and Jaw Submission

The entire raw pelt of a bobcat must be presented to an authorized department employee, or authorized individual under permit with the department, for sealing by April 20, 2026. The submitter must provide the harvester's name and WILD ID, date and location of the kill, sex of the animal, and harvest method.

Hunters must provide a cleaned and air-dried complete lower jaw (both sides) of the bobcat for aging before the pelt can be sealed. If a bobcat is sent to a taxidermist or sold to a fur buyer, it may be sealed first if the harvester signs a statement confirming it will go to a WDFW licensed taxidermist or fur buyer, and that the jaw will be submitted by the April 20 deadline.

Before submitting the lower jaw, remove as much flesh as possible and allow it to air dry in a cardboard box or paper bag, or store it in a plastic bag with salt or borax to prevent decay. Please do not use bleaching agents on the lower jaw before submission. Clearly label the pelt and jaw with the harvester's information. Contact lists for individuals who can assist with jaw removal are available at WDFW offices.

For information on bobcat pelt sealing and jaw collection requirements—including a helpful video guide on how to remove a jaw—please refer to the bobcat regulations and season details provided by WDFW.

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease – Guidance for Rabbit Hunters

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV1 and RHDV2) is a contagious, often fatal disease in rabbits. It is classified as a foreign animal disease and is not known to infect humans or dogs, though they can spread the virus. RHDV spreads by direct contact with infected rabbits, and the virus can remain active for months in the environment. Please take extra precautions to reduce the risk of spreading this virus:

Don't release non-native domestic rabbits into the wild.
Don't move wild rabbits between areas.
Prevent contact with dead rabbits; if contact is unavoidable, wash hands thoroughly and disinfect clothing with a 10% bleach solution or sterilizing wash.
If hunting rabbits, bury or discard remains appropriately. Double-bag remains if discarded in the trash.
Always wash hands after handling rabbits or rabbit meat, domestic or wild.
If you are using hunting gear from states where cases of RHDV2 in wild lagomorphs have been reported, be sure to follow the USDA’s disinfection guidelines for RHDV2 prevention to help stop the spread of disease.
Don't move rabbit carcasses unless for consumption.
Do not feed rabbit carcasses to falcons or bring them from out of state.
If you have pet rabbits, take extra disinfecting precautions before and after entering the field.

For additional details on Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD), refer to the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s official fact sheet. Diseased rabbits may not show outward signs, or they may display bright red blood around the nose and mouth. If you notice more than 3 dead rabbits in close proximity, please reach out to a WDFW Wildlife Veterinarian.

Small Game Harvest Reporting is Online!

Hunters can now report small game hunting activity online through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Sharing details like species pursued, hunting dates, counties visited, days afield, and number of animals harvested plays a vital role in supporting small game population management across the state. Even if you did not hunt or harvest, your report is essential. Hunters can log their harvest activity throughout the season until March 31. For complete guidelines and reporting instructions, visit the WDFW harvest reporting page.