Cougar hunting area openings and closures

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. 01, 2023.

Starting Jan. 1, 2024, 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, 2024, 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 AreaLate Hunting SeasonStatus
GMU 101January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMU 105January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 108, 111January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMU 113January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMU 117January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMU 121January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 124, 127, 130January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284, 290, 330, 334, 371, 372, 373, 379, 381January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 145, 166, 175, 178January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 149, 154, 157, 162, 163January 1 - April 30, 2024Closed 
GMUs 169, 172, 181, 186January 1 - April 30, 2024Closed
GMU 203January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMU 204January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 209, 215January 1 - April 30, 2024Closed
GMUs 218, 231January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMU 224January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 233, 239January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 242, 243January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 244, 246, 247January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 245, 250January 1 - April 30, 2024Closed 
GMUs 249, 251January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 328, 329, 335January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 336, 340, 342, 346January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 352, 356, 360, 364, 368January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 382, 388January 1 - April 30, 2024Closed
GMU 407January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 418, 426, 437January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 448, 450January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMU 454January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMU 460January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 466, 485a, 490January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 503, 505, 520, 550January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 510, 513January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMU 516January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 522, 524, 554, 556January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMU 560January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMU 564January 1 - April 30, 2024Closed 
GMU 568January 1 - April 30, 2024Closed 
GMU 572January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 574, 578January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 601, 602, 603, 612January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 607, 615January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 618, 636, 638January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 621, 624, 627, 633January 1 - April 30, 2024Open 
GMUs 642, 648, 651January 1 - April 30, 2024Closed
GMUs 652, 666January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 653, 654January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMUs 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681, 684, 699January 1 - April 30, 2024Open
GMU 667January 1 - April 30, 2024Open

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