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. 1, 2022.

Starting Jan. 1, 2023, 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, 2023, 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 Late Hunting Season Status
GMU 101 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Closed
GMU 105 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 108, 111 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 113 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 117 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 121 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 124, 127, 130 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284, 290, 330, 334, 371, 372, 373, 379, 381 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 145, 166, 175, 178 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Closed
GMUs 149, 154, 157, 162, 163 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 169, 172, 181, 186 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 203 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 204 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 209, 215 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Closed
GMUs 218, 231 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 224 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 233, 239 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 242, 243 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 244, 246, 247 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 245, 250 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 249, 251 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 328, 329, 335 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 336, 340, 342, 346 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 352, 356, 360, 364, 368 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 382, 388 January 01 - April 30, 2023

Closed

GMU 407 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 418, 426, 437 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 448, 450 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 454 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 460 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 466, 485a, 490 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 503, 505, 520, 550 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 510, 513 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 516 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 522, 524, 554, 556 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Closed
GMU 560 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 564 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 568 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 572 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 574, 578 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Closed
GMUs 601, 602, 603, 612 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 607, 615 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 618, 636, 638 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 621, 624, 627, 633 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 642, 648, 651 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Closed
GMUs 652, 666 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 653, 654 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMUs 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681, 684, 699 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open
GMU 667 January 01 - April 30, 2023 Open

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