A falconry permit and a current small game hunting license are required for hunting with a raptor. In addition, a western Washington pheasant license is required to hunt pheasant in western Washington, and federal and state migratory bird stamps or authorizations are required to hunt migratory birds.
If a raptor captures any species of wildlife (quarry) in a closed season, the falconer must release the quarry if it is not seriously injured. If the quarry is seriously injured or killed, the quarry must be left at the site, but the raptor may feed on the kill.
Take of species protected under federal or state endangered or threatened species laws is not permitted. If the accidentally killed wildlife is a federally or state listed sensitive, threatened, endangered, or candidate species, or out-of-season game animal the falconer must immediately record the incident on a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) form or facsimile issued to each falconer.
Total accidental take cannot exceed five individuals in a season. Falconers must cease hunting for the day if a listed species is taken.
All reports of accidental take must be submitted to the WDFW falconry manager no later than April 1 each year. Released quarry are not considered take.
| Species | Area | 2022-2023 Season Dates (inclusive) | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upland Game Birds & Forest Grouse | Statewide | Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 (falconry) | 2 pheasants (either sex), 6 partridge. 5 California (valley) quail or bobwhite, 2 mountain quail (W. WA only), & 3 forest grouse | Twice the daily bag |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide | Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (falconry) | 3 mourning doves, straight or mixed bag with snipe, coots, ducks, and geese during established seasons | Three times the daily bag |
| Cottontail and Snowshoe hare | Statewide | Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 (falconry) | 5 cottontail or snowshoe hares, straight or mixed bag | 15 mixed bag |
| Ducks, Coots, Snipe, and Geese (except Brant) | Statewide | Same season dates for each species in each area listed previously | 3, straight or mixed bag including ducks, coots, snipe, geese and mourning doves during established seasons | Three times the daily bag |
| Turkey | Eastern Washington | Sept. 1 - Feb. 15 (falconry) | 1 turkey, either sex, per turkey tag with a maximum of 2 turkeys per season | 2 (turkey tag required) |
| Jackrabbit, pygmy rabbit, sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, ptarmigan | Statewide | CLOSED | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Ducks, Coot & Geese (Extended Falconry) | Western Washington | Sept. 24 | 3, straight or mixed bag including duck, coot, Canada and white-front geese | Same as the daily bag |
| Eastern Washington | Oct. 1 | 3, straight or mixed bag including duck, coot, Canada and white-front geese | Same as the daily bag | |
| Statewide | Feb. 4 | 3, straight or mixed bag including duck, coots and all geese | Same as the daily bag |