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Washington

Game Bird Hunting

Game Bird Hunting

Small Game Seasons

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. 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, 2024. The bobcat hide must not be frozen so a seal may be attached. 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 GMUs that fall within the lynx management zones identified by the department (see information below).

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, 2024. See Trapping Regulations at wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/trapping

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 that fall within the Lynx management zones: 101, 105, 111, 113, 117, 203, 204, 215, 218, 224, 231, 233, 242 through 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.
  • 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: