Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife HUNTING SEASON DATES FAQ
FAQ

Summary of General Hunting Season Dates
The big game and upland game seasons reflect the decisions made at the April 2008 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting

Bar Graph Summary of Big Game &
Upland Game 2008-2009 Seasons [PDF Format]
Big Game Pamphlet
Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Pamphlet

[ DEER ]   [ ELK ]   [ OTHER UPLAND GAME ]    [ GROUSE, UPLAND BIRDS, TURKEY, RABBIT, HARE, CROW, BULLFROGS ]  [ MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS ] 

Species

Area

2008 - 2009
Season Dates

Bag
Limit ***

Deer (2008-2009)

Modern Firearm

High Buck

Sept. 15 - 25

1

General

Oct. 11 *

Late Buck (eastside)

Nov. 3 - 19

Late Buck (westside)

Nov. 13 - 16

Archery

Early Deer

Sept. 1 - 30 **

Late Deer

Nov. 19 or 20 **

Muzzleloader

High Buck

Sept. 15 - 25

Early Deer

Oct. 4 - 10

Late Deer

Nov. 19 or 20 **

Elk (2008-2009)

Modern Firearm

Eastern WA

Oct. 25 - Nov. 2 **

1

Western WA

Nov. 1 - 10

Archery

Early Elk

Sept. 8 - 21

Late Elk

Nov. 19 or 20 - Dec. 8 or 15**

Muzzleloader

Early Elk

Oct. 4 - 10

Late Elk

Nov. 19 or 20 **

Other Game Species (2008-2009)
(A small game license is required for all small game except forest grouse and coyotes which can be hunted if the hunter has a big game or small game license)

Black Bear   

Coastal
GMUs: 501, 504, 506, 530, 601, 602, 603, 607 - 621, 636 - 651, 658 - 663, 672 - 684

Aug. 1 - Nov. 15

Bag Limit:
Two (2) black bear
per annual
hunting season,
only one of which
may be taken
in eastern Washington

Puget Sound
GMUs: 407, 410, 454, 624, 627, 633, 652, 666, 667

Aug. 1 - Nov. 15

North Cascades
GMUs: 418 - 450, 460

Aug. 1 - Nov. 15

South Cascades
GMUs: 466, 485, 503, 505, 510 - 520, 524, 550 - 574, 653, 654

Aug. 1 - Nov. 15

Okanogan
GMUs: 203, 209 - 243

Aug. 1 - Nov. 15

East Cascades
GMUs: 244 - 247, 249 - 251, 328, 329 - 368, 382, 388, 578

Aug. 1 - Nov. 15

Northeastern A
GMUs: 101 - 117

Sept. 4 - Nov. 15

Northeastern B
GMUs: 121 - 130, 204

Aug. 1 - Nov. 15

Blue Mountains
GMUs: 145 - 154, 162 - 186

Sept. 4 - Nov. 15

Columbia Basin
GMUs: 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260 - 290, 371 - 381

Aug. 1 - Nov. 15

Long Island
GMUs: 699

Sept. 4 - Nov. 15

Cougar

Statewide, except portions of NE Washington

Aug. 1, 2008 - Mar. 15, 2009

2

Lynx

Closed Statewide

Bobcat

Statewide

Sept. 2, 2008 - Mar. 15, 2009

None
Sealing of pelt required.

Raccoon

Statewide
(CLOSED on Long Island within Willapa National Wildlife Refuge.)

Sept. 2, 2008 - Mar. 15, 2009

None

Fox

Statewide
(CLOSED within the exterior boundaries of the Mt. Baker - Snoqualmie, Okanogan, Wenatchee, and Gifford Pinchot national forests and GMUs 407 and 410.)

Sept. 2, 2008 - Mar. 15, 2009

None

Coyote

Statewide

Open year round **

If hounds are used, season is:
Sept. 2, 2008 - Mar. 15, 2009
(Except year round with hounds in
Adams, Benton, Franklin, & Grant counties)

None

* Ending dates vary.
** Dates vary by GMU
*** Bag limits for big game are for calendar year and bag limits for small game are daily bag limits unless otherwise noted.

Grouse, Upland Birds, Turkey, Rabbit, Hare, Crow, Bullfrogs (2008-2009)

Species

Area

Season Dates
(inclusive)

Daily Bag
Limit

Possession
Limit

Forest Grouse
(Blue, Ruffed, and Spruce)

Statewide

Sept. 1 - Dec. 31, 2008

3/day of any species

9 Straight or mixed bag

Sage and Sharp-tailed grouse, Ptarmigan

Closed Statewide

Pheasant

Western Washington
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sept. 20 - 21, 2008
(Youth Hunting Only)(a)

2 either sex

4 either sex

Sept. 22 - 26, 2008
(Only for hunters 65 years of age or older).

2 either sex

10 either sex

Sept. 27 - Nov. 30, 2008
except Dungeness Recreation Area site starting Oct. 4.

Dec. 1 - 15, 2008
at Skookumchuck, Fort Lewis, Kosmos, Scatter Creek, Belfair and Lincoln Creek sites ONLY.
No Pheasants released

2 either sex

15 either sex

Eastern Washington

Sept. 20 - 21, 2008 (Youth Hunting Only)

3 cocks only

6 cocks only

Oct. 18, 2008 - Jan. 19, 2009

3 cocks only

15 cocks only

California (valley) Quail, and Northern Bobwhite

Western Washington

Oct. 4 - Nov. 30, 2008

10 Cal. quail or bobwhite

30 Cal. quail or bobwhite

Eastern Washington

Sept. 20 - 21, 2008
(Youth Hunting Only)

10 Cal. quail or bobwhite

20 Cal. quail or bobwhite

Oct. 4, 2008 - Jan. 19, 2009

10 Cal. quail or bobwhite

30 Cal. quail or bobwhite

Quail (Mountain)

Western Washington

Oct. 4 - Nov. 30, 2008

2

4

Eastern Washington

Season Closed

Chukar and
Gray Partridge

Eastern Washington

Sept. 20 - 21, 2008
(Youth Hunting Only)

6 chukar and 6 gray

12 chukar and 12 gray

Oct. 4, 2007 - Jan. 19, 2009

6 chukar and 6 gray

18 chukar and 18 gray

Turkey

Statewide

April 15 - May 31, 2008

See Spring Turkey Pamphlet

Eastern Washington

Sept. 27 - Oct 3, 2008
general season in GMUs 101 and 127-133
(See hunting regulation pamphlet for more information on who may participate)

1 either sex
Fall only

 

Cottontail and
Snowshoe Hare

Statewide

Sept. 1, 2008 - Mar. 15, 2009

5/day cottontail or
snowshoe

15 Straight or mixed bag

Jackrabbit
and Pygmy Rabbit

Closed Statewide

Crow

Statewide

Oct. 1, 2008 - Jan. 31, 2009
(Crows in the act of depredation may be taken at any time.)

no limit

no limit

Bullfrogs

Statewide

Year round, except open for angling only when waters open for angling
(no license required).

no limit

no limit

2008 - 2009 Summary of Migratory Game Bird Season Dates

Official regulations are available in the
2008-2009 Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Pamphlet
(Available in late August)

Migratory Game Birds (2008-2009)
Species Area Season Dates
(inclusive)		 Daily Bag Limit Possession Limit

Ducks
(refer to Sea Duck authorization requirements on p. XX of 2008-09 regulation pamphlet)

Statewide

TBD at August 8-9, 2008 Commission Meeting

TBD

TBD

TBD at August 8-9, 2008 Commission Meeting

TBD

TBD

Coots

Same as duck seasons

TBD at August 8-9, 2008 Commission Meeting

TBD

TBD

Snipe

Same as duck seasons

TBD at August 8-9, 2008 Commission Meeting

TBD

TBD

Geese
(except Brant)

Goose Mgmt. Areas 1 & 3

Sept. 6 -11, 2008

5 Canada geese

10 Canada geese

Goose Mgmt. Area 2A

Sept. 6 -11, 2008

3 Canada geese

6 Canada geese

Goose Mgmt. Area 2B

Sept. 1-15, 2008

5 Canada geese

10 Canada geese

Goose Mgmt. Area 4 & 5

Sept. 6 -7, 2008

3 Canada geese

6 Canada geese

Statewide, except
Goose Mgmt. Areas 2A & 2B

Statewide, except Goose Mgmt. Areas 2A & 2B

    

Goose Mgmt. Area 1
Goose Mgmt. Area 1 (see additional requirements on p. XX of 2008-09 regulation pamphlet)

TBD at August 8-9, 2008 Commission Meeting

TBD

TBD

Goose Mgmt. Area 2A
Goose Mgmt. Area 1 (see additional requirements on p. XX of 2008-09 regulation pamphlet)

TBD at August 8-9, 2008 Commission Meeting

TBD

TBD

Goose Mgmt. Area 2B
Goose Mgmt. Area 1 (see additional requirements on p. XX of 2008-09 regulation pamphlet)

TBD at August 8-9, 2008 Commission Meeting

TBD

TBD

Goose Mgmt. Area 3

TBD at August 8-9, 2008 Commission Meeting

TBD

TBD

Goose Mgmt. Area 4

TBD at August 8-9, 2008 Commission Meeting

TBD

TBD

Goose Mgmt. Area 5

TBD at August 8-9, 2008 Commission Meeting

TBD

TBD

Brant
(see authorization requirements on p. XX of 2008-09 regulation pamphlet)

Skagit County

TBD at August 8-9, 2008 Commission Meeting

TBD

TBD

Pacific County

TBD at August 8-9, 2008 Commission Meeting

Band-tailed Pigeons
(see additional requirements onp. XX of 2008-09 regulation pamphlet)

Statewide

Sept. 15-23, 2008

2

4

Mourning Dove

Statewide

Sept. 1-30, 2008

10

20

Swans

Closed Statewide
a Special youth hunting season open to hunters under 16 years of age (must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old who is not hunting).
b Daily bag limit: TBD
c Daily bag limit:TBDPossession limit: TBDSeason limit: TBD

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