OLYMPIA – Beginning July 8, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will no longer provide hunting and fishing licenses or other license products on waterproof, tear-resistant license paper and is encouraging the use of mobile licensing. New mobile licensing features are now available through the agency’s new MyWDFW mobile application, which launched in December 2025, or the updated Fish Washington® app.
“Following in the footsteps of fish and wildlife agencies across the country, this shift provides hunters and anglers more convenient, modern licensing and reporting options,” said Kelly Susewind, WDFW director. “Hunters and anglers can now more conveniently buy licenses, report harvests, and display their licensing products directly from their mobile devices, offering an improved experience for customers with the bonus of enhanced data quality for fish and wildlife managers.”
“With many state fish and wildlife agencies nationwide shifting to mobile licensing in recent years, demand for durable license paper has decreased. This has made existing hardware technologically obsolete, and durable paper has become harder and more expensive to source,” said Jennine Griffo, WDFW licensing division manager. “In addition to convenience for the license holder, mobile licensing helps the agency alleviate these challenges associated with the existing paper licenses.”
Customers who prefer paper license products, including catch record cards, have the option to remain paper license holders, but their licenses will look different than in the past. After July 8, WDFW license dealers and WDFW offices can print customers’ license products on standard 8.5-inch by 11-inch copy paper. Paper license customers can also print their license products at home.
Electronic reporting
Beginning April 1, anglers can begin using electronic catch record cards (eCRCs) available through the MyWDFW and Fish Washington® mobile applications to record and report salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and halibut catch. Electronic reporting for recreational Puget Sound Dungeness crab will be available beginning in summer 2026.
“Electronic catch record cards offer anglers and crabbers a faster, easier way to record and report catch using a mobile device,” Susewind said. “By opting to report catch electronically, anglers can forget the days of having to mail in physical copies or paying for additional cards if theirs becomes lost or damaged.”
Anglers can use eCRCs with or without cell service or internet connectivity. The mobile app saves eCRC entries offline and automatically submits them when the device reconnects to the network. Refer to WDFW’s catch record card webpage for more information.
The MyWDFW mobile application also offers electronic tagging (e-tagging) for big game and turkey, as well as migratory bird harvest reporting. Like with eCRCs, offline reports are saved and uploaded automatically when the hunter re-enters an area with connectivity. The MyWDFW mobile app webpage includes written instructions for using the app’s e-tagging and harvest reporting features, and an instructional video about e-tagging.
Become a mobile license user
“As hunters and anglers begin buying their licenses for the upcoming license year, they should consider what product best fits their needs. Customers can be mobile license holders or paper license holders, but not both,” explained Griffo.
To enroll as a mobile license holder:
- Log in to fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov.
- Verify your WILD licensing account.
- Select “Mobile License Holder” for the 2026-2027 license year. If you select this option, you will use mobile licenses only for the 2026-2027 license year.
- Download the MyWDFW app from the Google Play or Apple app stores.
- Log in to the MyWDFW app using your WILD username and password.
App users who opt to become a mobile license customer will have valid mobile license products beginning at the start of the new license year on April 1, 2026.
For more information about the MyWDFW mobile app, including frequently asked questions and how-to videos, visit WDFW’s website. WDFW is available for app support via email or by phone at 360-902-2464, Option 1.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.