Mandatory Hunter Reporting
Photo Credit: Quentin Brown
Hunting Activity Reporting
By January 31, midnight, hunters must report their hunting activity for EACH special permit acquired AND each deer, elk, bear, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and turkey tag purchased in 2025 even if you did not hunt. You are required to report hunting activity for cougar, please see requirements on the Cougar General Season Page. For each transport tag you will owe a general season hunting activity report AND you will also owe a hunting activity report for EACH big game special permit awarded. The special hunt permit reports should be completed at the end of the special permit season. You must complete ALL reports to avoid the $10 penalty. Hunters who do not meet the deadline must pay a $10 penalty before they can buy a license the following year. If your hunting season (including special permits) extends beyond January 31, your hunter report is due within 10 days of the close of that season or on March 31st, which ever date occurs first. You will receive a confirmation number for each successfully submitted hunter report. Be sure to keep all of your confirmation numbers. Do not send in your tags or licenses to WDFW, as they do not fulfill the reporting requirement. You are not required to report cougar transport tags unless you harvest a cougar (see hide sealing requirements).
Incentive Permit Drawing for Early Reporting
Hunters who report harvest by January 10 will be entered into a drawing for a special incentive permit. The nine special permits include two any elk permits for western Washington, two any elk permits for eastern Washington, and five statewide any deer permits. If your special permit hunting season extends beyond January 31, you will be included in the incentive drawing if you make a report within 10 days of the close of that season. The incentive drawing is usually held in April.
Incentive Permit Season
Incentive permits are valid for areas open to general hunting seasons or special permit hunting seasons. The hunt dates are September 1 through December 31. The permits require a hunter to use archery equipment during archery season, muzzleloader equipment during muzzleloader season, and any legal hunt method at other times if there are no firearm restrictions. Hunting equipment must meet regulations.
Paying for Incentive Permits
Hunters who win the special incentive permit must provide the appropriate license fee to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Headquarters office in Olympia. Hunter may do so by mailing in a check to WDFW Licensing, or calling Licensing at 1 (866) 246-9453. WDFW will then mail the license and transport tag to the permit winners address on file.
Reports Required
Hunter reports are required from Deer, Elk, Black Bear, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, and Turkey Hunters.
Reports Due By:
January 31, 2026
Two Ways to Report:
Call 360-902-2464, M-F, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; Hunter harvest reports will be taken 24/7 during the month of January ONLY through an after-hours call center.
Note: Reports are not accepted by mail or Email.
Hunter Orange and/or Fluorescent Hunter Pink
Under the following conditions a minimum of 400 square inches of fluorescent hunter orange and/or fluorescent hunter pink exterior clothing is required. It must be worn above the waist and be visible from all sides. A hat, by itself, does not meet this requirement.
- It is unlawful to hunt upland birds or rabbits with a firearm, other than a muzzleloading firearm, during any upland game bird season unless the hunter is wearing fluorescent hunter orange and/or fluorescent hunter pink clothing.
- It is unlawful to hunt big game, except bear and cougar, with modern firearm equipment at any time in any manner unless the hunter is wearing fluorescent hunter orange and/or fluorescent hunter pink clothing.
- It is unlawful to hunt wildlife, except migratory birds, during those times and in those places open to taking of deer or elk during nonmaster hunter, modern firearm general seasons, unless the hunter is wearing fluorescent hunter orange and/or fluorescent hunter pink clothing.
Hunter Orange and/or Fluorescent Hunter Pink Clothing is NOT Required:
- During an upland game bird season for anyone hunting upland game birds with a muzzleloading firearm, bow and arrow, or falconry.
- While hunting in a muzzleloading or archery only season and possessing a valid muzzleloading or archery deer or elk tag.
- See WAC 220-414-080.
Hunters Contributing to Conservation
In 2024, volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) gathered in the southeast corner of the state to continue a long-standing tradition by collaborating with WDFW to complete the 21st annual Asotin RMEF Volunteer Work Project. It took place on the Smoothing Iron Ranch within the Asotin Wildlife Area. Forty-two RMEF volunteers of all ages participated. They replaced water troughs and repaired water guzzlers damaged by the 2021 Lick Creek Fire that burned more than 80,000 acres of wildlife habitat. These guzzlers supply life-sustaining water to species ranging from elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep to small mammals, wild turkeys and songbirds. Additionally, RMEF volunteers removed more than four miles of old barbed wire fencing so wildlife can more easily and safely travel across the landscape.
Founded in 1984 by four elk hunters, RMEF’s mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage. Over that time, RMEF worked with partners to conserve or enhance 9.1 million acres of habitat and open or improve public access to 1.6 million acres all across elk country. In Washington alone, RMEF has about 11,000 members across 23 statewide chapters where the organization helped protect or enhance more than 518,00 acres of habitat and opened or improved access to nearly 131,000 acres. The combined value of that and other projects supporting wildlife management and hunting is more than $135.8 million.
Volunteers play a vital role to RMEF’s fundraising efforts and can participate in a variety of hands-on volunteer projects in Washington throughout the year. Membership is not required to get involved. For more information, visit the RMEF volunteer page.
