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 | 2019 Dates | Game Management Units (GMUs)** | Legal Elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington | Aug. 1 - Jan. 20, 2020 | Master Hunters Only: 371, Elk Area 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange. | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Washington | Sept. 7 - 22 | Elk Area 3722* | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 26 - Nov. 3 | 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117d, 121, 204 | Any bull |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 26 - Nov. 3 | 145, 149d, 154, 162-169, 172 (except Elk Area 1040), 175-186, 249, 336-368 | Spike bull |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 26 - Nov. 3 | 251, 328, 329, 334, 335 | True spike bull |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 26 - Nov. 3 | 124-142, 372*, 382, 388 | Any elk |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 26 - Nov. 15 | 203, 209-248, 250, 254-272, 278d, 284, 290, 373d, 379d, 381 | Any elk |
| Eastern Washington | Dec. 9 - 31 | Master Hunters Only: 127, 130 | Antlerless only |
| Western Washington | Nov. 2 - 13 | 407, 448, 564a, 666 | Any elk |
| Western Washington | Nov. 2 - 13 | 454 | Any bull |
| Western Washington | Nov. 2 - 13 | 460, 466, 503, 505, 506a, 510-520, 524 (except Elk Area 5066), 530ad, 550, 560, 568, 572, 574, 578d, 601-618, 624 (except Elk Are 6071), 627, 633, 638 (except Master Hunters Only in Elk Area 6064 portion of GMU 638) 642-651, 652 (except Elk Area 6014), 654-660, 667-681, 684d | 3 pt. min. |
| Western Washington | Nov. 2 - 13 | 501, 504, 663, Elk Area 6014 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless |
Elk: Archery
Early Archery General Elk Seasons
| Elk Tag Area | 2019 Dates | Game Management Units (GMUs)** | Legal Elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Archery | Sept. 7 - 19 | 101-142, 117d, 204, 243, 247, 249, 250, 373d, 379d, 381, 388 | Any elk |
| Eastern Archery | Sept. 7 - 19 | 145, 149d, 154, Elk Area 1010, Elk Area 1013, 163,178, 181 | Spike bull or antlerless |
| Eastern Archery | Sept. 7 - 19 | 162, 166, 169, 172 (except Elk Area 1040), 175, 186, 336, 340, 352, 356, 364 | Spike bull |
| Eastern Archery | Sept. 7 - 19 | 328, 329 | True spike bull |
| Eastern Archery | Sept. 7 - 19 | 334, 335 | True spike bull or antlerless |
| Eastern Archery | Sept. 14 - 19 | 328, 329, 336, 340, 352, 356, 364 | Antlerless |
| Western Archery | Sept. 7 - 19 | 407, 448, 454, 564a, 666, 684, Elk Area 6014 | Any elk |
| Western Archery | Sept. 7 - 19 | 460, 466, 506a, 510, 513, 516, 524 (except Elk Area 5066), 530ad, 601-618, 624 (except for Elk Area 6071), 627, 633, 638 (except Master Hunters only in Elk Area 6064), 642-651, 658, and 663 | 3 pt. min. |
| Western Archery | Sept. 7 - 19 | 501-505, 520, 550, 554, 560, 568, 572, 574, 578, Elk Area 6061, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 654, 660, 663, 667-673, 681, and 699d | 3 pt. min. or antlerless |
Late Archery General Elk Seasons
| Elk Tag Area | 2019 Dates | Game Management Units (GMUs)** | Legal Elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Archery | Aug. 1 - Jan. 20, 2020 | Master Hunters Only: 371, Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange. | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Archery | Oct. 26 - Nov. 15 | 203, 209-248, 250, 254-272, 278d, 284, 290, 379d, 381. Must wear hunter orange. | Any elk |
| Eastern Archery | Nov. 20 - Dec. 8 | 178 | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Archery | Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 | 101, 105, 108, 117d, 121, 204 | Any bull |
| Eastern Archery | Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 | 124, 127, 373d, 388 | Any elk |
| Eastern Archery | Nov. 27 - Dec. 8 | 328, 334, 335 | True spike bull or antlerless |
| Eastern Archery | Nov. 27 - Dec. 8 | 336, 342, 346, 352, 364, Elk Area 3681 | Spike bull or antlerless |
| Eastern Archery | Dec. 9 - 31 | Master Hunters Only: 127, 130 | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Archery | Dec. 9 - Jan. 30, 2020 | Elk Area 1010, 163 | Antlerless only |
| Western Archery | Nov. 27 - Dec. 15 | Elk Area 4601***, 503, 505, 506a, 530ad, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 663, 667, 672, 681, and 699d. Master Hunters only in Elk Area 6064 portion of GMU 638. | 3 pt. min. or antlerless |
| Western Archery | Nov. 27 - Dec. 15 | 448, 454, 564a, 666 | Any elk |
| Western Archery | Nov. 27 - Dec. 15 | 603, 612, 615, 638 (except for Elk Area 6064), 648 | 3 pt. min. |
| Western Archery | Nov. 27 - Jan. 20, 2020 | 407 | Any elk |
Elk: Muzzleloader
Early Muzzleloader General Elk Seasons
| Elk Tag Area | 2019 Dates | Game Management Units (GMUs)** | Legal Elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Muzzleloader | Oct. 5 - 11 | 101-121, 117d, 204, 247 | Any bull |
| Eastern Muzzleloader | Oct. 5 - 11 | 124-142, 245, 250 | Any elk |
| Eastern Muzzleloader | Oct. 5 - 11 | 145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 172 (except Elk Area 1040), 175, 178, 181, 336-342, 352-368 | Spike bull |
| Eastern Muzzleloader | Oct. 5 - 11 | 328, 329, 334, 335, Elk Area 2051 | True spike bull |
| Western Muzzleloader | Oct. 5 - 11 | 407, 448, 454, 564a, 666, 684d | Any elk |
| Western Muzzleloader | Oct. 5 - 11 | 460, 466, 506a, 510, 513, 516, 520, 524 (except for Elk Area 5066), 530ad, 550, 554, 560, 568, 572, 574, 578d, 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 Muzzleloader | Oct. 5 - 11 | 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 | 2019 Dates | Game Management Units (GMUs)** | Legal Elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Muzzleloader | Aug. 1 - Jan. 20, 2020 | Master Hunters Only: 371, Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange. | Antlerless only |
| Eastern Muzzleloader | Oct. 26 - Nov. 15 | 203, 209-248, 250, 254-272, 278d, 284, 290, 373d, 379d, 381. Must wear hunter orange. | Any elk |
| Eastern Muzzleloader | Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 | 130-142*** | Any elk |
| Eastern Muzzleloader | Dec. 9 - 31 | Master Hunters Only: 127, 130 | Antlerless only |
| Western Muzzleloader | Nov. 27 - 30 | 568, 574 | 3 pt. min. |
| Western Muzzleloader | Nov. 27 - Dec. 8 | 501, 503, 504, 505, 578, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 667 | 3 pt. min. or antlerless |
| Western Muzzleloader | Nov. 27 - Dec. 15 | 448, 454, 564a, 666, 684d | Any elk |
| Western Muzzleloader | Nov. 27 - Dec. 15 | 601, 618, 651, 658 | 3 pt. min |
| Western Muzzleloader | Nov. 27 - Jan. 20, 2020 | 407 | any elk |
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 this webpage from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service.
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.