- Can I use electronic decoys or electronic calls to hunt game species during open seasons?
It is illegal to hunt waterfowl, wild turkeys, or deer with the use or aid of battery-powered or other electronic devices as decoys. It is illegal to hunt waterfowl, wild turkeys, or deer with the use or aid of electronic calls. Restrictions do not currently exist for other game species.
- Who needs a hunting license in Washington?
A hunting license is required for anyone to hunt wildlife in Washington. See the WDFW Licensing website for all details about residents, non-residents, Hunter Education requirements, etc. If a person is behind child-support payments, it is likely that his or her privileges to hunt in Washingt ...
- Is it legal to use spotlights to hunt bobcat, raccoon, or coyote at night in Washington?
Yes. Bobcat and raccoon may be hunted at night during established bobcat and raccoon seasons, except that it is unlawful to hunt bobcat and raccoon at night during the months of September, October, and November in any area open to a centerfire rifle deer or elk season. Coyote may be hunted a ...
- Where can I hunt in Washington?
Consult the appropriate Hunting Regulation Pamphlet for open seasons by species and area (Big Game Hunting Regulation pamphlet; Spring Wild Turkey pamphlet; Upland Bird and Waterfowl pamphlet). Contact your local WDFW Regional Office for tips on hunting areas, or the WDFW Wildlife Program at (3 ...
- Is it OK to spotlight deer if no hunting equipment is in my vehicle?
Yes. But if you have any firearms, archery equipment, or crossbows in your vehicle, whether or not they meet legal hunting requirements, you are considered to be hunting and could receive a citation and be arrested. It is illegal to use any vehicle to pursue, concentrate, or harass wild animals ...
- Can I remove a dead deer from my property and keep the antlers?
You may remove and dispose of wildlife found dead on your property or on an adjoining public roadway, but you must first notify WDFW. Dead wildlife can only be removed for disposal, not for personal use or consumption (WAC 232-12-287, for disposal of dead wildlife see WAC 246-203-121). You cann ...
- Who needs to take a hunter education course?
All hunters born after January 1, 1972, are required to show proof of successfully passing a hunter education course, or a previous Washington hunting license, before purchasing a new hunting license. All hunter education training certificates issued by any of the other 49 state fish and wildli ...
- Can I legally tag a deer or elk found dead along a roadway during open season?
No. You cannot possess wildlife that you did not legally harvest. In most cases, road-killed animals are extremely bruised due to the trauma of impact, and/or they have spoiled and have little edible meat, anyway.
- What is the definition of "wastage," and when does it apply?
You may not allow game animals or game birds you have taken to recklessly be wasted. You must make a reasonable attempt to remove and use all edible meat from the carcass of harvested game fish, game birds, and game animals.
- How old do I have to be in order to hunt unaccompanied?
General hunting seasons have no requirement for hunters of a certain age to be accompanied while legally hunting. If you were born after January 1, 1972, you must have either successfully passed a hunter education course or obtained a one-year, once-in-a-lifetime hunter-education deferral in or ...
- Can I apply deer/elk urine, beaver musk, skunk urine, fish oil, or any other type of wildlife/fish scent on my clothing while bear hunting?
No. All such attractants are considered baiting and can’t be used while bear hunting. “Bait” means a substance placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting black bears to an area where one or more persons hunt or intend to ...
- If I draw a special permit for spring bear, goat, sheep, or moose, do I need to wear hunter-orange while hunting?
No. Special permits for spring bear, goat, sheep, or moose do not require hunters to wear 400 square inches of fluorescent hunter-orange clothing. However, people hunting in an area that is open for modern firearm deer or elk hunting must meet hunter-orange requirements if they are hunting any ...
- Can I use fluorescent hunter-orange camouflage clothing measuring at least 400 square inches to meet hunter-orange requirements?
Yes, but the amount of camouflage clothing that is actually fluorescent hunter-orange in color must still total 400 square inches or more on the exterior, and be worn above the waist and visible from all sides. This means the total size of the garment(s) being worn will be considerably larger th ...
- When and how can I train my upland bird hunting dogs
A person can purchase pen raised upland birds and release them on private property for the purpose of shooting (bird dog training). However, only those banded or clipped birds that were purchased can be killed. If a person was to accidently kill a wild bird it would be considered a closed season ...
- Can I use laser sights or night vision devices to hunt?
It is illegal to hunt deer and elk 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, muzzleloading firearm or crossbow. This rule does not c ...
- What are the rules about shooting from a road?
A person is guilty of unlawful use of a loaded firearm if the person negligently shoots a firearm from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway (RCW 77.15.460). It is unlawful to shoot a bow and arrow from a vehicle or from, across, or along the maintained portion of a publi ...
- If I remove the head from my legal bull elk or buck deer, but I leave the antlers attached, does this meet "evidence of sex" requirements in Washington?
No. It is illegal to possess or transport big game animals unless evidence of the animal’s gender is left naturally attached to the carcass until the carcass is processed or stored for consumption. For a bull elk and buck deer, evidence of gender includes EITHER: the head with antlers int ...
- When would I or wouldn’t I be allowed to exchange tags?
If a hunter wishes to exchange the tag for a different area or a different weapon type, these requests must be made prior to specific deadlines. For archery tag holders the request deadline is before September 1st, muzzleloader tag holders the request deadline is before September 20th, and mode ...
- Do I need to purchase a mountain goat, bighorn sheep, or moose hunting license and tag prior to purchasing a special hunt permit application for mountain goat, bighorn sheep, or moose?
Mountain goat, bighorn sheep, or moose special hunt permit applications do not require the purchase of the appropriate hunting license unless the applicant is successfully drawn. However, this restriction does apply for all deer, elk, bear, cougar or turkey special permit applications, where yo ...
- If I'm hunting in a WDFW Wildlife Area for wild turkey or forest grouse, do I need to use nontoxic shot?
It depends upon which Wildlife Area and/or portion of the Wildlife Area are being hunted. See WAC 232-12-068 and the Migratory Waterfowl & Upland Game Season pamphlet to determine whether nontoxic shot regulations apply to the hunting of wildlife on the Wildlife Area you plan to hunt. WDFW' ...
