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 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.