WashingtonSB 55832025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Concerning recreational fishing and hunting licenses.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

17 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 11 costs, 1 mixed.

Hunters face updated license and drawing fees

Since July 1, 2025, Washington sets fees for hunting licenses, tags, permits, and drawing applications. Deer licenses cost $53.82 for residents and $542.34 for nonresidents; small-game licenses cost $48.30 and $227.70. The big-game package costs $117.30 for residents and $1,076.40 for nonresidents; a resident elk license costs $60.72. Special licenses for moose, mountain goat, or bighorn sheep cost $414 for residents and $2,070 for nonresidents. Covered special hunts require a paid license, and each permit drawing entry requires an application fee. Resident special-hunt applications cost $8.28, or $16.56 for a quality hunt; nonresident applications commonly cost $138. Listed resident multiple-season tags and second-animal fees, such as second deer or elk fees, cost $82.80.

Missed wildlife reports can bring higher penalties

Since July 1, 2025, the commission can set penalties for missed wildlife harvest, effort, or crab reports without the old $10 cap. It can require an overdue report and payment before issuing a new hunting license or covered Puget Sound crab card. The law does not set a replacement penalty amount. License holders must follow the reporting rules that apply to their activities.

Fifteen-year-olds no longer need fishing licenses

Since July 1, 2025, anyone under 16 counts as a youth for fishing and hunting. The personal-use fishing license age rises from 15 to 16. Fifteen-year-olds no longer need a covered freshwater, saltwater, combination, or temporary fishing license. This applies to fishing for, or possessing, personal-use fish taken from state or offshore waters. The personal-use shellfish and seaweed license age also rises to 16.

Hunters and anglers gain discount options

Since July 1, 2025, the commission can create combined hunting and fishing licenses for one or more license years. Their price cannot exceed the total price of the included licenses; senior and qualifying disability discounts are also authorized. The commission can offer first-time resident hunters a one-time discount of up to $20 after Washington hunter education. The department director can offer temporary promotional prices for fishing, hunting, or wildlife viewing. These authorities do not guarantee a discount, and the law sets no promotional dates or amounts.

Hunter training rules become less restrictive

Since July 1, 2025, hunter education courses no longer have to last at least 10 hours. Certification still applies to buyers under 18 and first-time buyers born after January 1, 1972. Qualifying current or retired U.S. military members can skip the firearms-skills portion of online training. The exemption also covers specified Washington peace officers and current or retired federal peace officers. These groups must still meet the remaining hunter education requirements.

Fishing fees support targeted fishery programs

Since July 1, 2025, 6.8% of freshwater and combination license revenue supports warm water game fish. Saltwater and combination revenue sends 12% to recreational fisheries enhancement and 1.8% to rockfish research. Freshwater, saltwater, and combination revenue sends 2.3% to regional fisheries enhancement groups; temporary combination licenses count where specified. Dungeness crab endorsement revenue sends 11% to abandoned shellfish gear removal and disposal, replacing the former $1 allocation. The rest supports recreational crab education, sampling, monitoring, and management. These funds add to, rather than replace, other funding. The department must keep separate crab accounts and report annually by January 1. These allocation rules do not themselves change license or endorsement prices.

Hunting fees support pheasants and turkeys

Since July 1, 2025, 5% of each small-game license fee goes to the eastern Washington pheasant enhancement account. Two-thirds of turkey tag revenue goes to the limited fish and wildlife account solely for turkey or upland bird management. The remaining turkey revenue goes to the fish, wildlife, and conservation account. Turkey allocations cannot replace existing funding for those purposes. These rules direct how revenue is used, rather than add a separate charge.

Anglers pay catch card and crab fees

Since July 1, 2025, the first catch record card remains free; each later or duplicate card costs $15.18. A halibut card costs $6.90 with an annual saltwater or combination license; youth halibut cards are free. Halibut cards are also free with a one-day temporary combination license or one-day temporary charter stamp. A Puget Sound Dungeness crab endorsement costs $10.35, or $4.14 with a one-to-three-day temporary license; youth endorsements are free. Cards issued with temporary charter or guide stamps are exempt from card and crab endorsement fees when attached before fishing.

Bird hunters need permits and authorizations

Since July 1, 2025, hunters age 16 or older need a migratory bird permit to hunt migratory birds. Hunters of band-tailed pigeon, brant, sea duck, snow goose, or southwest Canada goose also need a migratory bird authorization. The provided material does not give the permit or authorization prices.

Eligible residents pay more for discounted fishing

Since July 1, 2025, eligible residents pay $6.90 for a reduced-rate combination fishing license, up from $5. Their hunting licenses remain priced at the youth fee, and they must apply in writing. Eligible groups include veterans age 65 or older with the required discharge and service-connected disability, and residents with at least 30% service-connected disability. Permanent wheelchair users, blind or visually impaired residents, and residents with a physician-documented developmental disability also qualify. Nonresident veterans meeting the law's specified criteria may pay the same rates as nondisabled Washington residents.

Families lose shared weekend fishing license

Since July 1, 2025, the $20 family fishing weekend license is no longer available. It covered up to six household anglers during periods set by department rules. Households that used it must rely on other license options or applicable license exemptions.

Fishing license prices set by category

Since July 1, 2025, Washington sets fishing license prices by residency and age. Resident seniors are age 70 or older; youth are under 16. Annual freshwater licenses cost $34.50 for residents, $103.50 for nonresidents, and $6.90 for resident seniors. Annual saltwater licenses cost $35.19, $72.45, and $7.59, respectively. Annual shellfish and seaweed licenses cost $13.80, $37.26, and $6.90. Annual combination fishing licenses cost $62.79, $149.73, and $21.39; youth licenses are free. For residents, nonresidents, and resident seniors, one-day combination licenses cost $11.73, $22.77, and $11.73. Two-day licenses cost $17.25, $33.81, and $17.25; three-day licenses cost $21.39, $42.09, and $21.39. Youth short-term combination licenses are free. Annual razor clam licenses cost $11.04 for residents and seniors, and $20.70 for nonresidents. Three-day razor clam licenses cost $6.90. A two-pole endorsement, when authorized by rule, costs $17.94, or $6.90 for seniors. One-day charter and guide stamps each cost $11.73. Temporary licenses and charter stamps carry a separate $0.50 surcharge for rockfish research.

Guard members lose free special-species licenses

Since July 1, 2025, eligible resident state guard and National Guard members retain specified free hunting licenses. These include small game, the supplemental migratory bird permit, and the covered regular big-game license. The free big-game benefit no longer includes the special-species license. Members must be active full-time employees or required to attend part-time drill training. They must apply in writing, and the department must verify eligibility.

Hunting and fishing surcharges authorized for 2027

Beginning September 1, 2027, the commission can add an equal percentage surcharge to covered fish and wildlife fees. It can adopt the surcharge by rule by November 1 of an odd-numbered year when needed. The percentage cannot exceed what offsets Legislature-approved compensation, central services, and other operating cost increases in the two-year budget. Transaction fees, commercial application fees, and dealer fees are excluded. The law does not set a surcharge rate or require one.

Hunting raffle tickets can cost more

Since July 1, 2025, numbered hunting raffle tickets can cost up to $30 each, up from the $25 cap. Covered raffles award permits or access to hunt big game or wild turkeys. Organizers can charge less, but cannot charge more than $30 per ticket.

Master hunters face higher permit fees

Since July 1, 2025, resident master hunter permits cost $69 initially and $34.50 to renew. The law removes the former $50 initial-fee cap and $25 renewal cap. Program money goes to the fish and wildlife enforcement reward account and can only pay for program administration. The program can also require criminal background checks.

Hunter training deferrals ease but cost more

Since July 1, 2025, the director can grant a hunter education deferral once per lifetime, for one license year. The applicant must hunt with a nondeferred Washington-licensed hunter age 18 or older. That companion no longer needs three years of prior Washington hunting licenses. The application fee is $24, and the former $20 cap is removed. Fee money goes to the fish and wildlife enforcement reward account solely to run the deferral program.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Marko Liias
Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

June Robinson
Democratic • Senate
T'wina Nobles
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 76 • No: 70

House vote • 4/23/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 51 • No: 46 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 3/26/2025