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The Department made some changes to cougar hunting seasons and we wanted to inform you why these changes were made. With over a decade of cougar research in Washington we are now at the turning point of making some substantial improvements on how we manage cougars and recreational hunting opportunity. The biggest change is shifting away from using season length or permit seasons to manage the number of cougar harvested and instead using a standard liberal season coupled with harvest guidelines. The intent is to have a longer season, without any weapon restrictions, and only close cougar season in specific areas if harvest reaches or exceeds a harvest guideline for a sustainable cougar population. To accomplish that, we established a series of hunt areas all with a Sept. 1 to Mar. 31 standard season dates. Starting Jan. 1, hunt areas that meet or exceed the harvest guideline may be closed. If you plan on hunting cougar after Jan 1, please take a moment to confirm that the cougar season is open in the area you plan to hunt.
In hunt areas with a harvest guideline, the Director may close the cougar late hunting season after January 1 in one or more GMUs if cougar harvest meets or exceeds the guideline. Starting January 1, cougar hunters may hunt cougar from January 1 until the hunt area harvest guideline has been reached and the GMU(s) is closed by the Director or March 31, whichever occurs first. All cougars killed by licensed hunters during the early and late hunting seasons, and seasons authorized under WAC 232-12-243 shall be counted toward the harvest guideline. It is each cougar hunter’s responsibility to verify if the cougar late hunting season is open or closed in hunt areas with a harvest guideline. Cougar hunters can verify if the season is open or closed by calling the toll free cougar hunting hotline (1-866-364-4868) or visiting this website. The hotline and website will be updated weekly beginning January 9, 2013.
Information last updated: April 9, 2013
| Hunt Area |
Late Hunting Season |
Harvest
Guideline |
Status |
| GMU 101 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
7-9 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMU 105 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
2 |
Closed 01/15/2013 |
| GMU 108, 111 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
5-6 |
Closed 01/15/2013 |
| GMU 113 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
4-6 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMU 117 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
6-8 |
Closed 01/15/2013 |
| GMU 121 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
5-6 |
Closed 01/15/2013 |
| GMUs 124, 127, 130 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
7-9 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 454, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284, 290, 330, 334, 371, 372, 373, 379, 381 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
none |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 145, 166, 175, 178 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
3-4 |
Closed 01/15/2013 |
| GMU's 149, 154, 157, 162, 163 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
4-6 |
Closed 01/15/2013 |
| GMUs 169, 172, 181, 186 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
3-4 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMU 203 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
4-6 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMU 204 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
6-8 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 209, 215 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
4-5 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 218, 231 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
4-6 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 224 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
2-3 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 233, 239 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
3-4 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 242, 243 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
4-6 |
Closed 01/30/2013 |
| GMUs 244, 246, 247 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
5-6 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 245, 250 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
5-6 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 249, 251 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
5-6 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 328, 329, 335 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
6-8 |
Closed 01/15/2013 |
| GMUs 336, 340, 342, 346 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
5-7 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 352, 356, 360, 364, 368 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
5-7 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 382, 388 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
3-4 |
Closed 02/13/2013 |
| GMU 407 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
none |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 418, 426, 437 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
11-15 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 448, 450 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
9-13 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMU 454 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
none |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMU 460 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
5-7 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
GMUs 466, 485a, 490
a Special deer permit required to hunt cougar in GMU 485 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
2-3 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
7-10 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 503, 505, 520, 550 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
6-8 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 510, 513 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
3-4 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMU 516 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
3-5 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 522, 524, 554, 556 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
3-4 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMU 560 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
5-6 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMU 564, 568 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
3-4 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMU 572 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
3-4 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 574, 578 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
3-5 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 601, 602, 603, 612 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
5-7 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 607, 615 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
4-5 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 618, 636, 638 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
4-5 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 621, 624, 627, 633 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
none |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 642, 648, 651 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
6-8 |
Closed 01/15/2013 |
| GMUs 652, 666 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
none |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 653, 654 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
4-6 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMUs 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681, 684, 699 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
9-12 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| GMU 667 |
Jan 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 |
3-4 |
Closed 03/31/2013 |
| a Special deer permit required to hunt cougar in GMU 485 |
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