Washington Administrative Code

(1) It is unlawful to hunt for big game or possess big game taken on property in an access contract between the landowner or land manager and the department, unless:(a) The hunter possesses a valid access permit provided on a standard form by the department, and issued to the hun…

It is unlawful to hunt for a wild bird or wild animal, except big game, or possess any wild bird or wild animal, except big game, taken on property in an access contract between the landowner or land manager and the department, unless:(1) The hunter possesses a valid access permi…

(1) Definitions:(a) "Hunter with a disability" means a person who has been granted a disability designation and who possesses a valid disabled hunter endorsement issued by the department.(b) "Disabled hunter endorsement" means an endorsement to a license issued by the department …

The taking or hunting of big game or grouse within the Colville Indian Reservation boundaries is prohibited. The trapping of furbearers within the Colville Indian Reservation boundaries is prohibited.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.…

(1) This rule establishes an interim enforcement and management line intended to address a long-standing dispute over the location of the southern boundary of the area ceded by the tribes signatory to the Treaty of Medicine Creek, 10 Stat. 1132. This interim line will guide the e…

(1) RESTRICTED HUNTING AREAS.It is unlawful to hunt in the following restricted hunting areas unless otherwise provided:(a) Parker Lake (GMU 117, Pend Oreille County): All United States Forest Service lands south of Ruby Creek Road (USFS Road 2489), north of Tacoma Creek Road (US…

Electronic dog retrieval collars containing functioning treeing switches (devices consisting of a mercury switch mechanism that results in a change in the transmitted signals when the dog raises its head to a treed animal) are prohibited.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04…

(1) Definitions:(a) "Trapper with a disability" means a person who has been granted a disability designation and who possesses a valid disabled trappers endorsement issued by the department.(b) "Disabled trapper endorsement" means an endorsement to a license issued by the departm…

(1) It is unlawful to hunt all big game with the aid of infrared night vision equipment or with laser sights (not to include range finders) capable of projecting a beam onto the target, while in possession or control of a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow.(2) It is unlawful to …

(1) It is unlawful to hunt any big game with:(a) A fully automatic firearm.(b) A centerfire cartridge less than 22 caliber for cougar.(c) A centerfire cartridge less than 24 caliber for any other big game.(d) A shotgun, provided that it is a 20 gauge, or larger shotgun, using she…

(1) For the purposes of this section: "Bait" is any substance that could serve as a lure, food, or attraction for deer, elk, or moose, including natural or synthetic scents that contain or are derived from cervid urine and glandular extracts.(2) Except as otherwise provided in th…

(1) It is unlawful to possess shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for muzzleloading) other than nontoxic shot when hunting for waterfowl, coot, or snipe. Nontoxic shot includes the following approved types:Approved Nontoxic Shot Type*Percent Composition by Weightbismuth-t…

(1) It is unlawful to have in possession more than 15 shotgun shells or to fire (shoot) more than 15 shells in one day on the following areas:(a) The Island Unit of the Skagit Wildlife Area in Skagit County.(b) The Spencer Island Unit of the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area in Snohomish …

(1) Definitions.(a) Muzzleloader: A firearm that is loaded from the muzzle and uses black powder or a black powder substitute as recommended by the manufacturer for use in all muzzleloading firearms. The term load refers to the powder charge and projectile and both must be loaded…

(1) The following provisions apply to all archery hunting seasons:(a) It is unlawful for any person to carry or have in his possession any firearm while archery hunting in the field during an archery season specified for that area, except for modern handguns carried for personal …

(1) 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.(2) It is unlawful to hunt big game, except bea…

(1) It is unlawful to hunt waterfowl, wild turkeys, or deer with the use or aid of battery-powered or other electronic devices as decoys.(2) It is unlawful to hunt waterfowl, wild turkeys, or deer with the use or aid of electronic calls, except electronic calls may be used for le…

The following provisions apply to hunting with a crossbow:(1) It is unlawful to hunt big game with a crossbow outside of a modern firearm or muzzleloader season.(2) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a crossbow with a draw weight less than 125 pounds and a trigger safet…

The following areas are defined as deer areas:Deer Area No. 1008 West Wenaha (Columbia County): That part of GMU 169 west of USFS trail 3112 from Tepee Camp (east fork of Butte Creek) to Butte Creek, and west of Butte Creek to the Washington-Oregon state line.Deer Area No. 1009 E…

It is unlawful to fail to comply with the bag, possession, and season limits described below.Bag Limit: One (1) deer per hunter during the license year except where otherwise permitted by department rule.Hunting Method: Hunters must select one of the hunting methods: Modern firea…

It is unlawful to fail to comply with the bag, possession, and season limits described below.Deer Special Permit Hunting Seasons (Open to Permit Holders Only)Hunters must purchase a deer hunting license prior to purchasing a permit application. Hunters may only apply for permits …

The following areas are defined as elk areas:Elk Area No. 1008 West Wenaha (Columbia County): That part of GMU 169 west of USFS trail 3112 from Tepee Camp (east fork of Butte Creek) to Butte Creek, and west of Butte Creek to the Washington-Oregon state line.Elk Area No. 1009 East…

It is unlawful to fail to comply with bag, possession, and season limits described below.Bag Limit: One elk per hunter during the license year, except where otherwise permitted by department rule. Any combination of seasons, tags, and permits set by the department will not exceed…

It is unlawful to fail to comply with the bag, possession, and season limits described below.Special Elk Permit Hunting Seasons (Open to Permit Holders Only)Hunters must purchase an elk hunting license prior to purchasing a permit application. Hunters may only apply for permits c…

(1) It is unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions of this section.(2) Moose Permit Hunts(a) Who May Apply:(i) Any antlered bull moose category: An individual may only harvest one moose under the "any antlered bull moose" or "any moose" category during his or her lifetime. …

It is unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions of this section.Who May Apply: Anyone with a valid Washington big game license, which includes black bear as a species option.Hunt Areas, Permit Levels, and Season Dates for Each License Year:Hunt NameHunt AreaPermitsSeason Dat…

It is unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions below.Black Bear Management Unit (BBMU)Hunt Area (GMU)Season DatesBag Limit1 - Northeast105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 121, 124August 1 - November 1522 - Columbia Basin127, 130, 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, …

It is unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions below.(1) As used in this section and in the context of general cougar hunting seasons, "cap" is based on the best available estimate of independent-aged cougar density and growth rate. Cougar mortalities that count towards the…

(1) For the purpose of this section, horns are defined as the hollow sheath of bighorn sheep ram. The horns do not have to be paired and may include one horn.(2) It is unlawful for a person who kills a bighorn sheep ram taken in Washington to fail, within 10 days after acquisitio…

(1) It is unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions of this section.(2) Bighorn Sheep Permit Hunts(a) Who May Apply: Anyone may apply, EXCEPT those who previously harvested a bighorn sheep in Washington state. An individual may only harvest one bighorn ram during his or her …

(1) Hunters must comply with the provisions of this section.(2) Mountain Goat Permit Hunts(a) Who May Apply:(i) Mountain goat special permit category: Anyone may apply, except those who harvested a mountain goat in Washington state after 1998. An individual may only harvest one m…

A valid small game license is required to hunt all species listed below, except forest grouse, coyote, and crow may be hunted with a valid big game or small game license. Hunters must comply with official established hunting hours for each species and the provisions of this secti…

(1) The following tables show the lawful hunting hours (1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset) for big game animals, rabbits, hares, fox, and forest grouse (ruffed, blue, spruce) during established seasons.(2) Exception: Hunting hours for falconry seasons (except for m…

It is unlawful to hunt waterfowl and wild turkeys with the use or aid of live birds as decoys.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 25-17-008 (Order 25-12), s 220-416-030, filed 8/7/25, effective 9/7/25; WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-0…

(1) HUNTING PREDATORY BIRDS:(a) It is unlawful to hunt predatory birds without a hunting license except as allowed under RCW 77.36.030.(b) It is unlawful to hunt crows outside established hunting seasons.(c) All other predatory birds except magpies may be hunted throughout the ye…

(1) A person may hunt for migratory game birds (duck, goose, coot, snipe, mourning dove, and band-tailed pigeon); upland birds (pheasant, quail, partridge); and turkey during established seasons. The tables below in subsections (3) through (9) of this section contain the legal hu…

All migratory waterfowl, coot, snipe, mourning dove and band-tailed pigeon are closed to harvest unless season dates are specified in this section. Hunters must comply with the bag, possession, and season limits described in this section.DUCKSStatewide: Oct. 17-25, 2026, and Oct.…

It is unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl, coot, and snipe on or within the following described areas:(1) Waters and land below the mean high water mark of Bachelor Island Slough of the Columbia River. Bachelor Island Slough is further defined as those waters starting at the sou…

It is unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl, coot, and snipe within the following regulated access areas managed by the department, except under the following restrictions:(1) Dungeness (North Olympic Wildlife Area - Dungeness Unit):(a) Allowed in hunting zones or sites designated…

It is unlawful to hunt waterfowl, coot or snipe from a moving boat or any free-floating device that is not in a fixed position which is either anchored or secured to shore in Port Susan Bay, Skagit Bay, Padilla Bay, and Samish Bay.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 7…

It is unlawful to hunt game birds by the aid of baiting, on or over any baited area, or on or over any area posted as an upland bird feeding site, where a person knows or reasonably should know that the area is or has been baited. As used in this section, the following definition…

It is unlawful to possess game birds acquired from a licensed game farmer for the purpose of training dogs, field trials, or hunting unless the birds are marked in the following manner:(1) Captive reared waterfowl shall be physically marked in at least one of the following manner…

It is unlawful to take bullfrogs except by angling, hand dip netting, spearing (gigging) or with bow and arrow. There is no daily limit on the number of bullfrogs that may be taken, no possession limit, and no size restrictions.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.0…

(1) Statewide trapping seasons:SPECIESSEASON DATESRESTRICTIONSBadger, Beaver, Bobcat, Mink, Muskrat, Raccoon, River Otter, and WeaselNov. 1 - Mar. 31 during the current license year MartenNov. 1 - Mar. 31 during the current license yearCLOSED in Clallam, Jefferson, Mason, and Gra…

All trappers purchasing a trapping license must report their trapping activity, regardless of trapping success or whether they trapped or not.(1) Trappers must report trapping activity by April 20.(2) Reports must be made using the department's designated Trapper's Report of Catc…

(1) The trapping season authorizes the taking of furbearing animals for their hides and pelts only. Furbearers may not be taken from the wild and held alive for sale or personal use without a special permit from the director.(2) Any wildlife trapped for which the season is not op…

(1) As used in this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following definitions apply:(a) "Airport operator" means any municipality as defined in RCW 14.08.010(2) or state agency which owns and/or operates an airport.(b) "Body-gripping trap" as defined by RC…

"Abatement" is the use of trained raptors to abate depredation problems caused by migratory birds and other wildlife."Captive-bred raptor" means the progeny of a mating of raptors in captivity."Falconry" means the possession and use of raptors for the purpose of hunting or free f…

(1) The director may issue permits for the taking and possession of raptors for falconry, captive propagation, and for the possession, transfer, use, and disposition of raptors, except for those species restricted by the state or that appear on the federal endangered species list…

(1) Throughout this chapter, reporting of falconry activities is a requirement of regulations. All raptor acquisitions, captures, purchases, gifting, sales, transfers, releases, banding, escapes, loss by death, and all other changes in raptor status are to be reported to the depa…