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Hunting in Washington
Hunting in Washington
Washington State offers some of the most diverse and spectacular hunting in the western United States. From the fog-shrouded rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula to the rolling wheat fields of the Palouse, the dramatic Cascade Range to the shrub-steppe of the Columbia Basin, Washington’s varied landscapes support extraordinary populations of deer, elk, black bear, cougar, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and a diverse array of upland birds and waterfowl. Hunters in Washington enjoy world-class opportunities in landscapes of breathtaking beauty.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife manages hunting across the state’s 42,000 square miles. With nearly 13 million acres of public land including two national forests, several wilderness areas, and extensive BLM and state Department of Natural Resources lands, Washington offers outstanding public hunting access for hunters at all budget levels. The state’s elk hunting is particularly renowned, with the Blue Mountains in the southeast producing exceptional bull elk in a landscape reminiscent of Montana.
Washington’s waterfowl hunting is exceptional, with the Columbia Basin’s lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands providing outstanding duck and goose hunting along the Pacific Flyway. Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca support excellent sea duck hunting, while the agricultural lands of eastern Washington draw large concentrations of Canada geese and other waterfowl during fall migration. Pheasant and chukar hunting in eastern Washington’s rolling hills and canyon lands round out an already impressive list of hunting opportunities.
Key Insights
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- Washington has nearly 13 million acres of public hunting land, ranking 9th nationally for huntable public land acreage.
- The Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington produce world-class Rocky Mountain elk and are consistently rated among the best elk hunting in the Pacific Northwest.
- Washington has significant tribal land holdings (2.8 million acres), and tribal co-management of wildlife is an important part of the state’s hunting framework.
- The Okanogan Highlands and Colville National Forest are renowned for producing trophy mule deer bucks in northeastern Washington.
- Eastern Washington’s Columbia Basin provides outstanding pheasant, chukar, and waterfowl hunting along the Pacific Flyway.
Table of Contents
Hunters (Based on Hunting Licenses)
Land Types (Acres)
Washington ranks 15th among all 50 states for percentage of private land.
Washington Hunting Seasons
For the most accurate information on Washington Hunting Seasons, along with the state’s requirements for tag and bag limits, it’s a good idea to check with the Washington DNR. We’ve provided their contact information below, along with links to helpful resources, including licensing.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
1111 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA 98501
- (360) 902-2200
Popular Game in Washington
Washington’s hunting is headlined by elk, deer, and waterfowl, with additional opportunities for black bear, cougar, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and a variety of upland birds. Rocky Mountain elk in the Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington and Roosevelt elk in the Cascade Range and Olympic Peninsula provide hunters with outstanding trophy opportunities. Black-tailed deer on the west side and mule deer on the east side offer diverse deer hunting across the state’s different ecological zones. The Columbia Basin’s pheasant and chukar hunting is renowned throughout the West.
Small Game Hunting in Washington
Washington’s small game hunting is highlighted by ring-necked pheasant and chukar partridge in the eastern part of the state. The Palouse hills and Columbia Basin agricultural areas support excellent pheasant hunting, with wild bird populations supplemented by WDFW stocking on public lands. Chukar hunting in the canyon lands along the Snake and Columbia Rivers provides challenging and rewarding hunting for those willing to pursue these hard-running birds into rugged terrain.
Waterfowl hunting is outstanding throughout Washington. The Columbia Basin’s potholes, lakes, and reservoirs provide exceptional duck hunting along the Pacific Flyway, with mallards, pintails, teal, and diving ducks all abundant during fall migration. Canada geese are extremely numerous in the agricultural areas of eastern Washington, and early season hunting before the main migration can be exceptional. Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca support impressive sea duck concentrations, and hunting for eiders, scoters, and goldeneye is popular during the winter months.
Dove hunting is popular in eastern Washington’s agricultural areas, and blue grouse hunting in the high country provides exciting upland hunting for mountain hunters. Ruffed grouse are found in aspen and alder habitats in the mountains, and spruce grouse inhabit the dense coniferous forests of the Cascades.
Big Game Hunting in Washington
Washington’s elk hunting is world-class, with both Rocky Mountain elk in the Blue Mountains and Roosevelt elk on the west side of the Cascades and Olympic Peninsula. The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness and surrounding Umatilla National Forest in the Blue Mountains produce exceptional bull elk, and Washington’s elk hunting is consistently rated among the best in the Pacific Northwest. Both general and special permit tags are available, giving hunters options at all experience levels.
Deer hunting in Washington includes black-tailed deer in the wet forests of the Cascades and Coast Range, mule deer in the arid eastern counties, and a mix of both near the Cascade crest. The Okanogan Highlands in northeastern Washington are renowned for producing trophy mule deer bucks, while the Olympic Peninsula’s Columbian black-tailed deer hunting offers a unique experience in temperate rainforest habitat. Black bear hunting is excellent across the state’s forested mountains, with both spring and fall seasons available.
For once-in-a-lifetime trophies, Washington offers limited permit hunts for bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain goat, and moose in select locations. These permits require years of preference point accumulation but reward successful hunters with the chance to pursue spectacular trophy animals in Washington’s most remote mountain terrain. Cougar hunting with dogs is also available in designated areas.
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Hunting Areas in Washington
Washington offers great hunting opportunities across the state, both on public and private land. We’ve included some of the best areas for public hunting below and as we have access we’ll be adding more private land too.
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We’re working with landowners all across Washington to provide private land access for more activities. Add your information below to stay up to date.
Public Land Hunting in Washington
Washington has nearly 13 million acres of public hunting land including national forests, BLM lands, and state Department of Natural Resources lands. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in north-central Washington is the largest national forest in the state, providing outstanding hunting for mule deer, elk, black bear, and upland birds across nearly 4 million acres of diverse mountain terrain. The Umatilla National Forest in southeastern Washington’s Blue Mountains is famous for its world-class elk hunting.
The Colville National Forest in northeastern Washington provides exceptional mule deer and elk hunting in a remote and wild setting near the Canadian border. This area is known for producing large-bodied mule deer bucks and is a favorite destination for serious mule deer hunters in the Pacific Northwest. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest on the west side of the Cascades provides Roosevelt elk hunting and black bear opportunities in dramatic volcanic terrain near Mount St. Helens.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife manages over 1 million acres of Wildlife Areas providing public hunting access across the state. These properties include everything from wetland complexes in the Columbia Basin to upland shrub-steppe habitat in the channeled scablands to forest lands in the Cascades, offering diverse hunting opportunities for all game species.
1. Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
2. Colville National Forest
3. Umatilla National Forest (WA portion)
4. Gifford Pinchot National Forest
5. Columbia Basin Wildlife Areas
Hunting Private Land in Washington
Since a large portion of Washington is private land, getting access for hunting can be very appealing. When you hunt private land, it’s not only less crowded, the animals also tend to be less skittish and this means you’ll have a better day out in the field. Traditionally, accessing private land for hunting has been complicated and expensive. You either needed to join a club, hire a guide, or start knocking on doors.
Fortunately Wing It is simplifying this for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts of all types. We’re adding new land every day and if we have some in your area, you’ll see some options below.