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.

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