The current cougar hunting season runs from September 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025.
Cougar hunters may hunt cougar through March 31, except in Game Management Units (GMUs) where the harvest cap has been reached and the WDFW director has closed the Population Management Unit (PMU) for cougar hunting for the season.
It is each cougar hunter's responsibility to verify if the cougar hunting season is open or closed in hunt areas with a harvest cap. Cougar hunters can verify if the season is open or closed by referencing this webpage or calling the toll-free Cougar Hotline at 1-866-364-4868 (press 2 after greeting).
Cougar hunters must adhere to the following requirements;
- All hunters must report their harvest within 72 hours via the toll-free Cougar Hotline (1-866-364-4868, press 3 after greeting).
- Cougars must be sealed at any WDFW office within five days of harvest. Cougar must be unfrozen with proof of sex attached.
- All hunters purchasing a cougar tag must report their hunt activity (successful or unsuccessful) via the WILD licensing system by March 31, 2025. More information on harvest reporting is available on WDFW's Reporting your harvest webpage.
See the Cougar General Seasons section of the Big Game Hunting pamphlet for more information.
The table below is updated only when a new PMU closes. Hunters must check this webpage or call the hotline to check the status of a PMU before their daily hunt.
PMU | Hunt Area | Hunting Season | Status |
---|---|---|---|
1 | GMU 101 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed October 23 |
2 | GMU 105 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed November 19 |
3 | GMUs 108, 111 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed November 06 |
4 | GMU 113 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
5 | GMU 117 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed October 15 |
6 | GMU 121 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed October 22 |
7 | GMUs 124, 127, 130 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed October 1 |
8 | GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284, 290, 330, 334, 371, 372, 373, 379, 381 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
9 | GMUs 145, 166, 175, 178 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
10 | GMUs 149, 154, 162, 163 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
11 | GMUs 169, 172, 181, 186 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
12 | GMU 203 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
13 | GMU 204 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
14 | GMUs 209, 215 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
15 | GMUs 218, 231 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
16 | GMU 224 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
17 | GMUs 233, 239 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
18 | GMUs 242, 243 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
19 | GMUs 244, 246, 247 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
20 | GMUs 245, 250 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
21 | GMUs 249, 251 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
22 | GMUs 328, 329, 335 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed November 19 |
23 | GMUs 336, 340, 342, 346 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
24 | GMUs 352, 356, 360, 364, 368 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed November 6 |
25 | GMUs 382, 388 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
26 | GMU 407 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
27 | GMUs 418, 426, 437 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
28 | GMUs 448, 450 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
29 | GMU 454 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
30 | GMU 460 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
31 | GMUs 466, 485a | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
32 | GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
33 | GMUs 503, 505, 520, 550 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
34 | GMUs 510, 513 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
35 | GMU 516 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
36 | GMUs 524, 554, 556 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
37 | GMU 560 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
38 | GMU 564 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed September 1 |
39 | GMU 568 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed October 29 |
40 | GMU 572 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
41 | GMUs 574, 578 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed November 02 |
42 | GMUs 601, 602, 603, 612 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
43 | GMUs 607, 615 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
44 | GMUs 618, 636, 638 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
45 | GMUs 621, 624, 627, 633 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
46 | GMUs 642, 648, 651 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed October 29 |
47 | GMUs 652, 666 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
48 | GMUs 653, 654 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
49 | GMUs 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681, 684, 699 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Open |
50 | GMU 667 | Sept. 1 - March 31 | Closed November 15 |
a Only hunters possessing a deer or elk special permit for GMU 485 may hunt cougar in this unit during that permit hunt.