Discover recreational opportunities in Eastern, North Central, South Central, North Puget Sound, Southwest, and Coastal Washington.
Life Outdoors: Spring into adventure
The change in the season is right around the corner. As spring blooms, so does a bounty of fish, wildlife, and outdoor opportunities across Washington.
Whether you’re calling in strutting tom turkeys, watching waterfowl and shorebirds wing their way north, hiking, climbing, or horseback riding on WDFW-managed wildlife areas; planting wildlife habitat in your yard or balcony, casting for lingcod from a coastal jetty, or trolling the lower Columbia River for Chinook salmon, there are boundless options for adventure outside.
In this spring edition of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)’s Life Outdoors Report you’ll find an overview of what to expect in March, April, and May.
For even more news and updates, refer to our Newsroom, social media channels, Medium blog, and email distribution lists.
Looking for more frequent updates? Visit our regional webpages to stay informed about fishing, hunting, conservation, and recreation opportunities in your area.
Popular outdoor opportunities in spring
Spring turkey hunting
Spring turkey hunting is underway! This is an exciting opportunity for hunters to get back in the field after a long winter, and an accessible pursuit for new hunters, too. Washington’s youth spring turkey season opened April 1, and the general spring turkey season opened April 15. Visit WFDW’s website for the latest regulations.
Check out the Turkey Takeover on MyWDFW for articles on turkey behavior, hunting strategies, turkey hunting gear, and plenty of tips from WDFW staff who are avid turkey hunters eager to help you find success!
More information: 2025 spring turkey hunting regulations
Visit state wildlife areas
Spring is a great time to explore the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area. Birdwatchers can spot migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors like golden eagles and burrowing owls. Wildflowers are beginning to bloom, adding color to the shrubsteppe and wetland habitats. Anglers can enjoy fishing for bass, trout, and panfish in the many lakes and ponds, while hikers can explore trails winding through sagebrush-covered hills and along waterways. Visitors are encouraged to stay on designated trails and respect wildlife to help protect these important habitats. Visit our webpage to find other WDFW lands and wildlife area units.
More information: Visit WDFW-managed lands
Fishing for Chinook salmon on the Columbia and Snake rivers
Fishing in the mainstem Columbia River ramped up in late March and early April as spring Chinook return. Visit our Columbia River fisheries and management webpage for the latest updates and season announcements.
A spring Chinook fishery on the Snake River opened May 6. Refer to the emergency Fishing Rule Change for details.
Before heading out, anglers should check the emergency rule changes or Fish Washington® mobile app for the stretch of river they plan to fish.
More information: Spring Chinook seasons and forecasts
Lingcod fishing opens in May
Lingcod fishing in the Puget Sound Management Area — marine areas 5 through 13, excluding Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) which remains closed — is open May 1 through June 15. Refer to our blog post for tips on catching lingcod and detailed regulations. The daily limit is one lingcod per angler. Minimum size is 26 inches and maximum size is 36 inches. The lingcod spearfishing season in these marine areas is May 21 through June 15, maximum size 36". Daily limit one lingcod per diver.
In these areas, fishing for bottomfish including lingcod is prohibited in waters deeper than 120 feet (this rule does not include halibut). And keep in mind that barbless hooks are required for all species in the Puget Sound marine areas 5–13, including lingcod and other bottomfish as well as halibut. The only exception is forage fish gear as defined in the Washington Sport Fishing rules.
Coastal bottomfish and jetty fishing
Ilwaco (Marine Area 1), Westport-Ocean Shores (Marine Area 2), La Push (Marine Area 3) and Neah Bay (Marine Area 4 west of Bonilla-Tatoosh) are open through Oct. 18 for bottomfish including lingcod and rockfish. For information including depth restrictions, closure areas, and species limits, refer to the fishing rules or WDFW’s bottomfish webpage. Those without a boat can find good jetty fishing opportunities near Westport, Ocean Shores, and Ilwaco.
More information: Coastal jetty fishing
Halibut fishing in North Puget Sound, Straits, and Pacific Ocean
Halibut fishing kicked off April 3 in North Puget Sound marine areas and May 1 in coastal marine areas. Learn more in our news release. In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction.
More information: Halibut fishing
Clam, oyster, and mussel gathering on public beaches
State clam, mussel, and oyster harvesting seasons vary by beach. Oysters are typically in prime condition during the spring, and clamming should be optimal through September. Before heading out, check the Washington State Department of Health shellfish safety map for biotoxin-related closures and other advisories.
Refer to our news release for more information. And note that two popular Hood Canal beaches closed early due to unexpectedly high harvest pressure and poor compliance with shellfishing rules.
For size and harvest limits, please refer to statewide shellfish and seaweed rules. For at-a-glance, site-specific harvest seasons, refer to our 2025 Puget Sound clam, mussel, and oyster season (PDF) guide. Beach seasons can also be found by using the search tool on our webpage. Our 2025 best clam and oyster harvest tides (PDF) chart also features Puget Sound area tides with favorable harvest results.
More information: Clam, mussel, and oyster harvest
Trout fishing in Eastern Washington lakes
Nearly two dozen lakes in Eastern Washington's Columbia Basin opened March 1 for trout fishing. Many of these lakes offer excellent late-winter fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, as well as yellow perch, burbot, cutthroat trout, brown trout, crappie, bass, walleye, and bluegill.
Depending on the severity of late-winter weather, lakes east of the Cascade Crest may still be iced over. WDFW does not monitor ice conditions, so it’s wise to stay off the ice if you don't know it is safe. Find advice about ice fishing and safety in WDFW’s recent blog.
More information: Eastern Washington lakes open March 1
Outreach events this season
When not in the field or on the water, we invite you to connect with WDFW at spring events near you! Check out WDFW’s Event Calendar for more details. Just a few of our upcoming events include:
Family activities
- ¡ Encuéntros en Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail! – April 9, Olympia
- Klineline Kids Fishing Derby – April 11-12, Salmon Creek
Native plant sales, where WDFW staff will be promoting Habitat at Home
- Thurston Conservation District Native Plant Festival & Sale – March 1, Lacey
- Whatcom Conservation District Native Plant Sale and Celebration – March 15, Ferndale
- Underwood Conservation District Native Plant Sale & Tree Fest– March 22, White Salmon
Other outreach activities
- Living with Bears and Cougars presentation – March 6, hybrid
- Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival – March 15, Blaine
Seafood festivals
- Penn Cove Musselfest – March 7-8, Coupeville
- Ocean Shores Razor Clam and Seafood Festival – March 21-23, Ocean Shores
Sports shows
- The Big Horn Show – March 20, Spokane
- Vancouver Outdoor Expo – March 28-30, Ridgefield
Additional opportunities
Trout fishing in lowland lakes statewide and Trout Derby
The statewide lowland lakes fishing season kicked off April 26, offering anglers great fishing at hundreds of lakes. WDFW has stocked lakes with millions of trout over the past year and will stock more than 100,000 jumbo trout in March and April. Depending on the lake, anglers may find rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, kokanee, and more. Visit WDFW’s catchable trout planting report webpage for information on recently planted lakes near you.
April 26 was also the kickoff for WDFW's 10th annual statewide Trout Derby, which runs through Oct. 31 at more than 100 stocked lakes. This anniversary edition of the derby is our biggest yet, featuring more than 100 participating businesses offering over 1,000 prizes valued at more than $52,000! The derby is open to anyone with a valid 2025 fishing license. No entry fee or registration required. You just catch a tagged trout anytime between April 26 and Oct. 31 and you win! Plus, children under 15 fish for free.
More information: WDFW Trout Derby
Gardening for wildlife habitat
It’s the perfect time to garden for wildlife! You can build wildlife habitat wherever you live, work, and play. Even container gardens provide habitat! Wildlife gardens support pollinators, small mammals, songbirds, bats, and amphibians. To survive, wildlife need food, water, shelter, and space. Conveniently, ALL of these habitat components can be provided by planting native plants! Washington’s wildlife have co-evolved with native plants, which offer the best food source. Make sure to plant native plants before April to allow them ample time to get settled!
Visit our webpages for tips on how to support pollinators, songbirds, and bats. While you’re there, certify your habitat to receive a free sign and spread the word!
More information: Habitat at Home
Shed antler hunting
It’s thrilling to search for and find shed antlers in the spring! Please remember to avoid disturbing wildlife while shed hunting, and to collect antlers responsibly. There are no seasons or permits required to collect shed antlers in Washington, but shed hunters must follow state regulations for land use. This includes securing permission from landowners before searching for sheds on private land and always abiding by posted closures. To limit impacts to wildlife, it is important for shed hunters to stay on designated trails and roads while using motorized vehicles and give any animals you encounter plenty of space.
More information: Responsible shed collecting
Razor clamming
Visit our webpage for the latest tentative and confirmed razor clam digging dates. Not all coastal beaches are open for every dig, so diggers are encouraged to make sure their intended destination is open before heading out. Most successful digging occurs between one to two hours before the listed time of low tide.
More information: Razor clam webpage
Proposed 2025-26 salmon seasons announced
The North of Falcon salmon season setting process concluded on April 15. A summary of proposed 2025-26 salmon fisheries is available in this WDFW news release. More information is also available on our proposed fisheries webpage. WDFW’s priority during this process is to be thoughtful and thorough in our work to make the best decisions using the best available science in close cooperation with tribal co-managers, federal fishery managers, stakeholders, and the public.
More information: The Salmon Fishing Current blog
Keep wild animals wild by not feeding them
People often want to feed deer and other wildlife to "help" the animals. Unfortunately, feeding wildlife can often cause more harm than good. Concentrating wildlife in one area by feeding them can create problems by making the animals more vulnerable to disease, predation, and poaching. More information is available on our webpage.
It is illegal to feed deer, elk, or moose in northeast Washington in areas within our Game Management Units 124, 127, or 130 due to the risk of spreading chronic wasting disease (CWD).
More information: Living with wildlife
What to do if you encounter young wildlife
Just because young wildlife are alone does not mean they are abandoned or need help! Every year, particularly in spring, hundreds of young wild animals such as fawns, baby seals, and baby birds are needlessly “rescued” and referred to wildlife rehabilitators. This can be harmful or fatal to the young animal, and disruptive to wildlife rehabilitators who need to concentrate limited resources on truly orphaned or injured wildlife. Visit our blog to learn what you should do if you encounter young wildlife, and how to know if a baby animal actually needs help.
More information: What to do if you encounter young wildlife
Clean, drain, dry your watercraft to prevent the spread of invasive species
Planning to hit the water this spring and summer? Help protect Washington’s waters from aquatic invasive species (AIS) by remembering to clean, drain, and dry all your gear, equipment, and watercraft – motorized and non-motorized. If it’s been in the water, AIS can hitch a ride and spread to new waterbodies, putting our environment, economy, and human health at risk. Learn more about preventing the spread of AIS on our website.
More information: Prevent the spread of invasive species
Licensing and R3 opportunities
Multi-season and special hunt applications available now
Multi-season deer and elk tags enable you to hunt archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm seasons, while special hunt permits offer opportunities such as hunting outside general seasons, all increasing your chances for success. Applications for both can be purchased now. The multi-season application deadline is March 31, while special hunt applications need to be submitted between April 28 and May 28.
More information: Multi-season and special hunt applications
New license year products for sale
If you’re a hunter or angler already daydreaming about your next big season, you can take that next step now that 2025 license year products are available. Those products include hunting and fishing licenses, as well as special hunt and multi-season applications. Items for the 2025 license year are valid from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, so you’ll need a 2025 fishing license to hit the water starting April 1 when the new license year begins. You can buy your 2025-26 hunting and angling license products online or at a license dealer near you.
More information: Buy hunting and fishing licenses
Sign up for hunter education
Per Washington state law, anyone born after Jan. 1, 1972, must complete a hunter education course before buying a hunting license. To complete the hunter education requirement, students can choose to take either a traditional classroom or hybrid course. Visit WDFW’s website to sign up for a hunter education course near you.
More information: Sign up for hunter education
Watchable Wildlife
Springtime in Washington offers amazing wildlife viewing. Don't miss the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival, Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival, and Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds, celebrating migratory birds with tours, lectures, and family activities. In the Skagit Wildlife Area, you can still spot thousands of snow geese and swans, as well as river otters, bald eagles, short-eared owls, and various shorebirds.
More information: Wildlife viewing
Wild Washington youth education
Educators, learn how to engage students in real world fish and wildlife conservation issues at an upcoming workshop for K-5 educators. Workshops will cover ways to incorporate WDFW’s place-based and Next Generation Science Standards-designed Wild Washington curriculum units into the classroom. Each free training includes three hours of virtual synchronous learning and qualifies for STEM clock hours. Learn more and register at the links below.
- March 8, 9 a.m. to noon - Get WILD with WDFW! Washington Baby Wildlife Curriculum Training, Kindergarten – Grade 2. Register for this workshop.
- March 15, 9 a.m. to noon - Get WILD with WDFW! Ignite Bilingual Language Development with the Power of Science, Kindergarten – Grade 5. Register for this workshop.
- April 19, 9 a.m. to noon - Get WILD with WDFW! Second Grade Biodiversity and Pollinators Curriculum Training, Kindergarten – Grade 2. Registration coming soon. Visit our events page for updates.
- May 28 and 29, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Two-part training: Get WILD with WDFW! Second Grade Biodiversity and Pollinators Curriculum Training, Kindergarten – Grade 2. Registration coming soon. Visit our events page for updates.
Refer to our webpage for more information on WDFW's Wild Washington youth education program.
Volunteer opportunities
As we continue to engage with Washingtonians statewide, we are expanding our volunteer outreach program in 2025. Volunteers will assist WDFW staff at events ranging from wildlife festivals to family fishing events to regional workshops, and more! The program is open to people 18 years and older who are based in, or willing to travel to, Clark, Clallam, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Snohomish, or Thurston counties.
Learn more about the commitment, benefits, and how to apply on the Volunteer Education and Outreach Team webpage. In-person trainings are available in Raymond on March 8 and Port Townsend on April 12. In-person trainings are available in Raymond on March 8 and Port Townsend on April 12.
Another upcoming volunteer opportunity is the WDFW Wild Washington Outdoor Classroom, which will host over 800 elementary students from Chelan and Douglas counties at Beebe Springs Natural Area in Chelan May 6-9 and May 13-16. Volunteers are needed to assist with activities such as station support, setup, tear down, and supply distribution. Sign up for this opportunity on our registration webpage.
More information: Volunteer opportunities
Watch: Pollinators: Why we love them and how you can help
Did you know Washington is home to over 600 native bee species? Washington’s pollinators are essential for our state’s ecosystems and food supply. At WDFW, we work hard to recover and protect endangered pollinators, while providing healthy habitat for common native pollinators as well.
Watch on YouTube: Pollinators: Why we love them and how you can help
Join the WDFW team
If you’d enjoy preserving, protecting, and perpetuating the state’s fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities, then check out some of our current job openings or sign up for job alerts. From fish hatchery specialists to human resources specialists and budget analysts to wildlife researchers, a career with WDFW makes a difference.
Want to find more ways to get involved? Check out our volunteer opportunities.