Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife MIGRATORY WATERFOWL AND UPLAND GAME SEASONS AND RULES FAQ
FAQ

Summary of 2008-2009 Falconry Seasons

A falconry license and a current small game hunting license are required for hunting with a raptor. In addition, a Western Washington Pheasant Permit is required to hunt pheasant in western Washington; and federal and state migratory bird stamps or authorizations are required to hunt migratory birds. If a raptor captures any species of wildlife (quarry) in a closed season, the falconer must release the quarry if it is not seriously injured.

If the quarry is seriously injured or killed, the quarry must be left at the site, but the raptor may feed on the kill. If the accidentally killed wildlife is a Washington State Candidate species (including jackrabbit), the falconer must immediately record on a WDFW form or facsimile: the falconer’s name, falconry permit number, date, species and sex (if known) of the quarry, and the location of the kill (as accurately as possible). Total accidental take of Candidate species cannot exceed 5/season; falconers must cease hunting for the day if a candidate species is taken. All reports of accidental take must be submitted to the WDFW falconry permit coordinator by April 1 each year. Released quarry are not considered “take.” Take of species protected under federal or state endangered or threatened species laws is not permitted.

Species

Area

Falconry
Season Dates
(inclusive)

Daily Bag Limit

Possession Limit

Upland Game Birds and Forest Grouse

Statewide

Aug. 1, 2008-Mar. 15, 2009
(falconry)

2 pheasants (either sex), 6 partridge.
5 CA quail or bobwhite,
2 mountain quail (W.WA only), and
3 forest grouse

Twice the daily bag limit

Mourning Dove

Statewide

Sept. 1-Dec. 16, 2008
(falconry)

3 mourning doves, straight or mixed bag with snipe, coots, ducks, and geese during established seasons

Twice the daily bag limit

Cottontail and Snowshoe hare

Statewide

Aug. 1, 2008-Mar. 15, 2009
(falconry)

5 cottontail or snowshoe hares, straight or mixed bag

15

Ducks, Coots and Snipe

Statewide

Oct. 11-15, 2008 and Oct. 18, 2008 – Jan. 25, 2009 statewide (falconry)

3, straight or mixed bag with geese and mourning doves during established seasons

Twice the daily bag limit

Geese

Goose Mgmt
Area 1

Oct. 11, 2008 – Jan 25, 2009 for snow, Ross’, or blue geese. Oct. 11-23, 2008 and Nov. 1, 2008 – Jan. 25, 2009 for other geese. (falconry)

3 geese, (except Brant) straight or mixed bag with ducks, coots, snipe, and mourning doves during established seasons

Twice the daily bag limit

Goose Mgmt
Area 2A

Sat., Sun., and Wed. only, Nov 8-23, 2008 and Dec, 3, 2008 – Jan. 25, 2009 (falconry)

3 geese, (except Brant) straight or mixed bag with ducks, coots, snipe, and mourning doves during established seasons

Twice the daily bag limit

Goose Mgmt
Area 2B

Sat. and Wed. only, Oct. 11, 2008 – Jan. 10, 2009 (falconry)

3 geese, (except Brant) straight or mixed bag with ducks, coots, snipe, and mourning doves during established seasons

Twice the daily bag limit

Goose Mgmt
Areas 3-5

Oct. 11 – 23, 2008 and Nov. 1, 2008 – Jan 25, 2009 (falconry)

3 geese, (except Brant) straight or mixed bag with ducks, coots, snipe, and mourning doves during established seasons

Twice the daily bag limit

Turkey

Eastern Washington

Sept. 1, 2008-Feb. 15, 2009
(falconry)

2, one turkey, either sex, per turkey tag with a maximum of 2 turkeys per season

two (2)

Jackrabbit, pygmy rabbit, sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, ptarmigan

Closed Statewide


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