The following are summaries for the modern firearm, archery, and muzzleloader elk seasons. For more information, see the Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations pamphlet.
Elk: Modern Firearm General Season
| Elk Tag Area | 2020 Dates | Game Management Units (GMUs) | Legal Elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington | Aug. 1 - Oct. 15 | Master Hunters Only: 371. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink. | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Washington | Aug. 1 - Jan. 20, 2021 | Master Hunters Only: Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink. | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Washington | Sept. 12-27 | Elk Area 3722* | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 31 - Nov. 8 | 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 121, 204 | Any bull |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 31 - Nov. 8 | 145 through 154, 162 through 169, 172 (except Elk Area 1040), 175 through 186, 249, 336 through 368 | Spike bull |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 31 - Nov. 8 | 251, 328, 329, 334, 335 | True spike bull |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 31 - Nov. 8 | 124 through 142, 372, 382, 388 | Any elk |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 31 - Nov. 15 | 203, 209 through 248, 250, 254 through 290, 373, 379, 381 | Any elk |
| Eastern Washington | Dec. 9-31 | Master Hunters Only: 127, 130 | Antlerless only |
| Western Washington | Nov. 7-18 | 407, 448, 564, 666 | Any elk |
| Western Washington | Nov. 7-18 | 454 | Any bull |
| Western Washington | Nov. 7-18 | 460, 466, 503, 505 through 520, 524 (except CLOSED in Elk Area 5066), 530, 550, 560, 568, 572, 574, 578, 601 through 618, 624 (except for Elk Area 6071), 627, 633, 638 (except master hunters only in Elk Area 6064 portion of GMU 638), 642 through 651, 652 (except for Elk Area 6014), 654, 658, 660, 667 through 684. | 3 pt. min. |
| Western Washington | Nov. 7-18 | 501, 504, 663, Elk Area 6014 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless |
*GMU 372 and Elk Area 3722 are mainly private property. Hunters are not advised to try hunting these areas without making prior arrangements for access.
Elk: Archery
Early Archery General Elk Seasons
| Elk Tag Area | 2020 Dates | Game Management Units (GMUs) | Legal Elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington | Sept. 12-24 | 101 through 142, 204, 243, 247, 249, 250, 373, 379, 381, 388 | Any elk |
| Eastern Washington | Sept. 12-24 | 145, 149, 154, Elk Area 1010, Elk Area 1013, 163, 178, 181 | Spike bull or antlerless |
| Eastern Washington | Sept. 12-24 | 162, 166, 169, 172 (except Elk Area 1040), 175, 186, 336, 340, 352, 356, 364 | Spike bull |
| Eastern Washington | Sept. 12-24 | 328, 329 | True spike bull |
| Eastern Washington | Sept. 12-24 | 334, 335 | True spike bull or antlerless |
| Western Washington | Sept. 12-24 | 407, 448, 454, 564, 666, 684, Elk Area 6014 | Any elk |
| Western Washington | Sept. 12-24 | 460, 466, 506, 510, 513, 516, 524 (except CLOSED in Elk Area 5066), 530, 601 through 618, 624 (except for Elk Area 6071), 627, 633, 638 (except Master Hunters only in Elk Area 6064), 642 through 651, 658 | 3 pt. min. |
| Western Washington | Sept. 12-24 | 501 through 505, 520, 550, 554, 560, 568, 572, 574, 578, Elk Area 6061, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 654, 660, 663, 667 through 673, 681, 699 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless |
Late Archery General Elk Seasons
| Elk Tag Area | 2020 Dates | Game Management Units (GMUs) | Legal Elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington | Aug. 1 - Jan. 20, 2021 | Master Hunters Only: Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink. | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Washington | Aug. 1 - Oct. 15 | Master Hunters Only: 371. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink. | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 31 - Nov. 15 | 203, 209 through 248, 250, 254 through 290, 379, 381. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink. | Any elk |
| Eastern Washington | Nov. 20 - Dec. 8 | 178 | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Washington | Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 | 101, 105, 108, 117, 121, 204 | Any bull |
| Eastern Washington | Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 | 124, 127, 373, 388 | Any elk |
| Eastern Washington | Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 | 334, 335 | True spike bull or antlerless |
| Eastern Washington | Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 | 336, 342, 346, 352, 364, Elk Area 3681 | Spike bull |
| Eastern Washington | Dec. 9-31 | Master Hunters Only: 127, 130 | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Washington | Dec. 9 - Jan. 30, 2021 | Elk Area 1010, 163 | Antlerless only |
| Western Washington | Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 | Elk Area 4601, 503, 505, 506, 530, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 663, 667, 672, 681, and 699. Master hunters only in Elk Area 6064 portion of GMU 638 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless |
| Western Washington | Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 | 448, 454, 564, 666, Elk Area 6014 | Any elk |
| Western Washington | Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 | 603, 612, 615, 638 (except for Elk Area 6064), 648 | 3 pt. min. |
| Western Washington | Nov. 25 - Jan 20, 2021 | 407 | Any elk |
*GMU 372 and Elk Area 3722 are mainly private property. Hunters are not advised to try hunting these areas without making prior arrangements for access.
Elk: Muzzleloader
Early Muzzleloader General Elk Seasons
| Elk Tag Area | 2020 Dates | Game Management Units (GMUs) | Legal Elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 3-9 | 101 through 121, 204, 247 | Any bull |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 3-9 | 124 through 142, 245, 250 | Any elk |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 3-9 | 145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 172 (except Elk Area 1040), 175, 178, 181, 336 through 342, 352 through 368 | Spike bull |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 3-9 | 328, 329, 334, 335, Elk Area 2051 | True spike bull |
| Western Washington | Oct. 3-9 | 407, 448, 454, 564, 666, 684 | Any elk |
| Western Washington | Oct. 3-9 | 460, 466, 506, 510, 513, 516, 520, 524 (except CLOSED in Elk Area 5066), 530, 550, 554, 560, 568, 572, 574, 578, 602, 603, 607, 612, 615, 624 (except for Elk Area 6071), 627, 633, 638 (except for Elk Area 6064), 642, 648, 660, 672, 673, 681 | 3 pt. min. |
| Western Washington | Oct. 3-9 | 501, 503, 504, 505, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), Elk Area 6014, 654, 663, 667, Elk Area 4601 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless |
Late Muzzleloader General Elk Seasons
| Elk Tag Area | 2020 Dates | Game Management Units (GMUs) | Legal Elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington | Aug. 1 - Jan. 20, 2021 | Master Hunters Only: Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink. | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Washington | Aug. 1 - Oct. 15 | Master Hunters Only: 371. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink. | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 31 - Nov. 15 | 203, 209 through 248, 250, 254 through 290, 373, 379, 381. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink. | Any elk |
| Eastern Washington | Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 | 130 through 142 | Any elk |
| Eastern Washington | Dec. 9-31 | Master Hunters Only: 127, 130 | Antlerless only |
| Western Washington | Nov. 25 - Jan. 20, 2021 | 407 | Any elk |
| Western Washington | Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 | 501, 503, 504, 505, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 667 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless |
| Western Washington | Nov. 25-30 | 578 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless |
| Western Washington | Dec. 1-8 | 578 | 3 pt. min. |
| Western Washington | Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 | 448, 454, 564, 666, 684, Elk Area 6014 | Any elk |
| Western Washington | Nov. 25-30 | 568, 574 | 3 pt. min. |
| Western Washington | Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 | 601, 618, 651, 658 | 3 pt. min. |
Notes
a See Big Game Closures on page 95 of the Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations. Columbia White-tailed Deer (CWTD) have recently been transplanted to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and may now be found in GMU 564 - as a reminder CWTD cannot be harvested as they are protected state and federally listed endangered species. Please refer to page 16 for visual characteristic between white-tailed and black-tailed deer. If you have any questions please call the Ridgefield NWR Manager at 360-887-2122 or visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service website.
d Visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website for information about hunting on FWS refuge lands.
* GMU 372 and Elk Area 3722 are mainly private property. Hunters are not advised to try hunting these areas without making prior arrangements for access.
** See page 96 in the Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations for Firearm Restricted Areas
*** Majority of area is private land. Access is limited. Hunters are advised not to try hunting these areas without making prior arrangements for access.