The cougar hunting season is split into an early (Sept. 1 – Dec. 31) and late (Jan. 1 – April 30) season. The early cougar season opens Sept. 1, 2022.
Starting Jan. 1, 2023, cougar hunters may hunt cougar through April 30, except in GMUs where the harvest guideline has been reached and the WDFW director has closed the PMU for cougar hunting for the season.
All cougars killed by licensed hunters during the early and late hunting seasons, and seasons authorized under WAC 220-440-030 shall be counted toward the harvest guideline when it takes effect January 1st.
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. After Jan. 1, 2023, all hunters must report their kills via the cougar hotline within 72 hours (press 3 after the recording), and kills must sealed by WDFW staff within 5 days of making the kill (unfrozen, with proof of sex attached). Also, regardless of harvest, please report your early & late season hunt activity separately via WILD. These are 3 separate requirements.
See the Cougar General Seasons section of the Big Game Hunting pamphlet for more information.
Hunt Area | Late Hunting Season | Status |
---|---|---|
GMU 101 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Closed |
GMU 105 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 108, 111 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 113 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 117 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 121 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 124, 127, 130 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284, 290, 330, 334, 371, 372, 373, 379, 381 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 145, 166, 175, 178 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Closed |
GMUs 149, 154, 157, 162, 163 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 169, 172, 181, 186 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 203 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 204 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 209, 215 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Closed |
GMUs 218, 231 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 224 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 233, 239 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 242, 243 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 244, 246, 247 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 245, 250 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 249, 251 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 328, 329, 335 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 336, 340, 342, 346 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 352, 356, 360, 364, 368 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 382, 388 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 |
Closed |
GMU 407 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 418, 426, 437 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 448, 450 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 454 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 460 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 466, 485a, 490 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 503, 505, 520, 550 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 510, 513 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 516 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 522, 524, 554, 556 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Closed |
GMU 560 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 564 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 568 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 572 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 574, 578 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Closed |
GMUs 601, 602, 603, 612 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 607, 615 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 618, 636, 638 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 621, 624, 627, 633 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 642, 648, 651 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Closed |
GMUs 652, 666 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 653, 654 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMUs 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681, 684, 699 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
GMU 667 | January 01 - April 30, 2023 | Open |
a Only hunters possessing a deer or elk special permit for GMU 485 may hunt cougar in this unit during that permit hunt.