Cougar hunting area openings and closures

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.
• Regardless of harvest success, please report your early & late season hunt activity separately via the WILD licensing system. More information on harvest reporting is available here: Reporting your harvest webpage

See the Cougar General Seasons section of the Big Game Hunting pamphlet for more information.

^a Only hunters possessing a deer or elk special permit for GMU 485 may hunt cougar in this unit during that permit hunt.