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 their local WDFW office for a pelt sealing appointment and submit the associated harvest report to the department by April 20, 2025. 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 their local WDFW office for a pelt sealing appointment of river otter and submit all harvest reports to the Department by April 20, 2025. 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: 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.
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 hunt contests. Please refer to the WDFW hunting contest permit website at wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/hunting/hunt-contest.

Report small game harvests online

Report your small game hunting activity online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov by March 31st.

NEW Bobcat Jaw Submission

Hunters who harvest a bobcat must provide a cleaned and air-dried complete lower jaw (both sides) for aging before a pelt can be sealed. Remove as much flesh as possible before bringing in the lower jaw and allow it to dry in the open air. To prevent decay, do not store or transport in any closed container made of plastic — use a cardboard box or paper bag. Label the pelt and jaw so it’s clear which individual harvested bobcat they came from and submit to any WDFW office or permitted pelt sealer.