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 Area | Early Hunting Season | Status |
---|---|---|
GMU 101 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 105 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 108, 111 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 113 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 117 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 121 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 124, 127, 130 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284, 290, 330, 334, 371, 372, 373, 379, 381 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 145, 166, 175, 178 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 149, 154, 157, 162, 163 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 169, 172, 181, 186 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 203 | September 01-December 31, 2023 |
Open Sept 01 |
GMU 204 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 209, 215 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 218, 231 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 224 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 233, 239 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 242, 243 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 244, 246, 247 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 245, 250 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 249, 251 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 328, 329, 335 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 336, 340, 342, 346 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 352, 356, 360, 364, 368 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 382, 388 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 407 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 418, 426, 437 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 448, 450 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 454 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 460 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 466, 485a, 490 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 503, 505, 520, 550 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 510, 513 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 516 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 522, 524, 554, 556 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 560 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 564 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 568 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 572 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 574, 578 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 601, 602, 603, 612 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 607, 615 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 618, 636, 638 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 621, 624, 627, 633 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 642, 648, 651 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 652, 666 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 653, 654 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMUs 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681, 684, 699 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
GMU 667 | September 01-December 31, 2023 | Open Sept 01 |
a Only hunters possessing a deer or elk special permit for GMU 485 may hunt cougar in this unit during that permit hunt.