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.
  • 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.

PMUHunt AreaHunting SeasonStatus
1GMU 101Sept. 1 - March 31Closed October 23
2GMU 105Sept. 1 - March 31Closed November 19
3GMUs 108, 111Sept. 1 - March 31Closed November 06
4GMU 113Sept. 1 - March 31Open
5GMU 117Sept. 1 - March 31Closed October 15
6GMU 121Sept. 1 - March 31Closed October 22
7GMUs 124, 127, 130Sept. 1 - March 31Closed October 1
8GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284, 290, 330, 334, 371, 372, 373, 379, 381Sept. 1 - March 31Open
9GMUs 145, 166, 175, 178Sept. 1 - March 31Open
10GMUs 149, 154, 162, 163Sept. 1 - March 31Open 
11GMUs 169, 172, 181, 186Sept. 1 - March 31Open
12GMU 203Sept. 1 - March 31Open
13GMU 204Sept. 1 - March 31Open
14GMUs 209, 215Sept. 1 - March 31Open
15GMUs 218, 231Sept. 1 - March 31Open
16GMU 224Sept. 1 - March 31Open
17GMUs 233, 239Sept. 1 - March 31Open
18GMUs 242, 243Sept. 1 - March 31Open
19GMUs 244, 246, 247Sept. 1 - March 31Open
20GMUs 245, 250Sept. 1 - March 31Open
21GMUs 249, 251Sept. 1 - March 31Open
22GMUs 328, 329, 335Sept. 1 - March 31Closed November 19
23GMUs 336, 340, 342, 346Sept. 1 - March 31Open
24GMUs 352, 356, 360, 364, 368Sept. 1 - March 31Closed November 6
25GMUs 382, 388Sept. 1 - March 31Open
26GMU 407Sept. 1 - March 31Open
27GMUs 418, 426, 437Sept. 1 - March 31Open
28GMUs 448, 450Sept. 1 - March 31Open
29GMU 454Sept. 1 - March 31Open
30GMU 460Sept. 1 - March 31Open
31GMUs 466, 485aSept. 1 - March 31Open
32GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530Sept. 1 - March 31Open
33GMUs 503, 505, 520, 550Sept. 1 - March 31Open
34GMUs 510, 513Sept. 1 - March 31Open
35GMU 516Sept. 1 - March 31Open
36GMUs 524, 554, 556Sept. 1 - March 31Open
37GMU 560Sept. 1 - March 31Open
38GMU 564Sept. 1 - March 31Closed September 1
39GMU 568Sept. 1 - March 31Closed October 29
40GMU 572Sept. 1 - March 31Open
41GMUs 574, 578Sept. 1 - March 31Closed November 02
42GMUs 601, 602, 603, 612Sept. 1 - March 31Open
43GMUs 607, 615Sept. 1 - March 31Open
44GMUs 618, 636, 638Sept. 1 - March 31Open
45GMUs 621, 624, 627, 633Sept. 1 - March 31Open
46GMUs 642, 648, 651Sept. 1 - March 31Closed October 29
47GMUs 652, 666Sept. 1 - March 31Open
48GMUs 653, 654Sept. 1 - March 31Open
49GMUs 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681, 684, 699Sept. 1 - March 31Open
50GMU 667Sept. 1 - March 31Closed 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.