Essential Apps for Hunting and Fishing in Washington

The MyWDFW mobile app is now available in Apple and Google Play app stores.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife offers two mobile apps to support outdoor recreation across the state. Fish Washington® is tailored for anglers, providing fishing regulations, digital catch cards, and license management. MyWDFW serves both hunters and anglers, offering electronic tagging, harvest reporting, and access to licenses and permits. Both apps are designed to make your outdoor experience easier and more efficient.

Hunters or anglers

The MyWDFW app is a comprehensive mobile licensing tool for both hunters and anglers. It supports license purchases, displays active license privileges, and enables electronic tagging for a wide range of game species, including deer, elk, turkey, and bear. Users can report migratory bird harvests and submit end-of-season harvest reports, with most features available offline. Like Fish Washington, it includes catch record cards for select fish species and an Enforcement View for WDFW officers, along with access to your licensing (WILD) profile.

Learn more about the MyWDFW app

Anglers only

The Fish Washington® app is designed specifically for anglers. It offers an interactive map with up-to-date fishing regulations, streamlined license purchasing, and digital catch record cards (CRCs) for salmon, steelhead, halibut, sturgeon, and crab. It is usable both online and offline. The app also provides access to your licensing profile and includes an Enforcement View for WDFW officers to verify license privileges, tags, endorsements, and permits in the field. For fishing only, use the Fish Washington® app. 

Learn more about the Fish Washington® app

App features 

With the Fish Washington® app, you can:

  • Display an interactive map with fishing regulations
  • Enter catch into an electronic catch record card (salmon, steelhead, halibut, sturgeon, crab) online or offline
  • View and display all active privileges, tags, endorsements, permits via a tailored view, referred to as Enforcement View, when visiting with WDFW Police
  • View licensing system profile information

With the MyWDFW mobile app, you can: 

  • Electronic-tag (E-tag) harvest (deer, elk, turkey, goat, moose, sheep, cougar, bear) online or offline
  • Enter harvest into an electronic migratory bird report card online or offline
  • Enter catch into an electronic catch record card (salmon, steelhead, halibut, sturgeon, crab) online or offline
  • Complete end-of-season harvest reports online only
  • Buy licensing products
  • View and display all active privileges, tags, endorsements, permits via Enforcement View
  • View licensing system profile information

How to get these apps

The app can be downloaded for free from Google Play and Apple's App Store. Users who already have the Fish Washington® app should see an automatic update to the new version.

Become a mobile licensing customer

Before customers buy their first license product for a given license year, recreational hunters and anglers can select to be a mobile or paper license holder in their WILD profile. 

Choosing either paper or mobile means you are making that selection for all your recreational licensing purchases for that license year, which begins April 1 and ends March 31 annually. Customers can select their preference again at the beginning of the following license year.  

Choosing mobile means all license purchases for that license year will be electronic. Once mobile is selected, it cannot change for the license year.  Mobile license holders can switch back to being paper customers the following license year.

Choosing paper means all license purchases for that license year will be paper. Paper customers can switch to mobile during the license year if they have not used their tags or catch record cards. They will be required to turn in their paper tags or catch record cards before the request to switch them to mobile can be processed. Contact licensing@dfw.wa.gov for assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What features do MyWDFW and Fish Washington® have?

Anglers can choose between the Fish Washington® app or the new MyWDFW app; hunters must use MyWDFW for harvest reporting.

  • The MyWDFW mobile app allows app users to purchase licenses, use hunter e-tagging, report migratory bird harvests, submit fish and crab harvest data, complete annual harvest surveys, and display active licenses directly from their smartphones.
  • The Fish Washington® mobile app supports fish and crab catch record card reporting and displays active licenses, but it does not include functionality for migratory bird reporting or e-tagging of game species.

Which app do I need?

It depends on your outdoor activities in Washington:

  • Fishing only: Use the Fish Washington® app. It includes up-to-the-minute fishing regulations and helps anglers avoid duplicate license or harvest reporting.
  • Hunting only: Use the MyWDFW app.
  • Both hunting and fishing: You may choose to use only the MyWDFW app. Some people may also keep using the Fish Washington® app for quick access to fishing regulations.

Can I use both apps?

Yes. Both apps connect to the same WDFW licensing system. Many hunters and anglers will find that using just one app is easier, but it’s fine to use both.

Paper vs. Mobile Licensing

How and when do I choose to be a mobile or paper license holder?

You’ll make your selection at the time of purchase.

  • Starting with the 2026 license year (on sale December 2025): Customers can choose either mobile or paper licenses when buying through a dealer, online, or in the app.
  • Once selected, that choice applies to all eligible license products for the license year.

Can I continue using paper licenses?

Yes. Paper licenses remain an option.

  • For the current 2025 license year, only paper licenses are available.
  • Beginning with the 2026 license year (on sale in December 2025), customers may choose either mobile or paper licenses.

This means you’ll continue to use paper throughout the remainder of the 2025 license year, but you’ll be able to select mobile when purchasing your 2026 licenses.

Switching between mobile and paper licensing

Customers who originally selected paper licensing may switch to mobile only if they have not used any physical tags or catch record cards. To make the switch:

  1. Email WDFW Customer Service at: licensing@dfw.wa.gov
  2. Use the subject line: “Switch from paper to mobile”
  3. Attach a photo of your unused and voided tags and catch record cards.
  4. Once approved, you’ll be able to download the MyWDFW app or Fish Washington® app and access your license products digitally.

This switch cannot be processed at dealer locations.

Switching from mobile to paper

Once a customer selects mobile licensing and completes a purchase, they cannot switch back to paper until the start of the next license year.

Customers should carefully consider their preference before making their first purchase.

Where can I buy my license?

  • Mobile license holders: You can still purchase your license from a dealer, online through the WILD web portal, or in the mobile app (which redirects to the WILD web portal). Your license will then appear digitally in the app.
  • Paper license holders: You can continue to purchase from a dealer or online through the WILD web portal, and you will receive paper license documents.

Can I switch between mobile and paper licenses?

  • Paper to mobile: Allowed if you haven’t used any tags or catch cards. You can switch once during a license year.
  • Mobile to paper: Not allowed until the next license year begins. 

Using the Apps

Do I have to turn in harvest and catch record cards digitally?

  • Mobile license holders: Yes, you must submit catch and harvest data digitally.
  • Paper license holders: You will continue to submit paper harvest and catch cards as usual.

Will commercial licenses be available through the apps?

Yes, but only certain ones. Taxidermy, Trapper, Fur Dealer, and Crew Member licenses will be available in digital form in the apps.

When you buy these licenses, the app will seamlessly redirect you to the WILD web portal to complete your transaction. Once the purchase is confirmed, your license will appear digitally in the app.

At this time, no other commercial licenses are available in the apps.

How will Enforcement check mobile licenses?

Both apps display the required license and harvest information for field compliance checks.

Will the apps work offline?

Yes. Data entered offline is stored on your device and will sync automatically when you’re back in service.

Do the apps track my location?

No. The apps do not track or store GPS coordinates. When recording a harvest, you’ll be asked to select a waterbody or game management unit.

Do the apps store my payment information?

No. Just like the WILD web portal, the apps do not retain payment data.

How quickly will licenses appear in the app after purchase?

Licenses purchased through the app should appear immediately if your device has an internet connection. If the license products do not show up immediately, press the “Sync Account” option in the menu.

What devices support the apps?

Both apps will be available for download from the Apple App Store (iOS devices such as iPhone and iPad) and the Google Play Store (Android smartphones and tablets).

 Vehicle Access Pass (VAP)

  • Customers receive a confirmation email with a link to print a PDF VAP on standard 8.5 x 11 paper
  • They must handwrite up to two license plate numbers on the pass
  • If no printer is available, customers may write the confirmation number and plate number on a blank sheet of paper
  • The pass must be placed visibly on the vehicle dashboard while parked

Companion Cards (Designated Harvester, Hunter, Trapper)

  • Viewable in the mobile app under active privileges
  • A printable PDF is sent via confirmation email and can be:
    • Shared digitally with the companion (email or text)
    • Printed on 8.5 x 11 paper for physical use
  • Duplicate PDFs are available in the customer’s order history

Discover Pass

  • Still printed at dealer locations for mobile customers
  • Online purchases fulfilled by customer service staff
  • Mobile customers still need to display the physical Discover Pass placards in their vehicles