OLYMPIA – September marks the beginning of new hunting seasons across Washington, including early archery opening on Sept. 1 for deer and elk. As hunters across the state gear up for big game, waterfowl, and upland bird seasons, they can review the 2026 Washington Hunting Prospects now available on the Department’s website.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)’s Hunting Prospects, released annually, give hunters a detailed look at expected conditions, harvest trends, and game activity in each of the state’s 17 wildlife management districts.
“Our district wildlife biologists create these reports to help hunters of all experience levels plan their seasons,” said Anis Aoude, WDFW’s game division manager. “They provide an in-depth look at what’s happening on the landscape so hunters can focus on enjoying their season successfully.”
Hunters can also use the WDFW Hunt Planner online map, an interactive tool to find permit and general season hunts by location, date, weapon type, and more.
Aoude encourages hunters to pay special attention to the following for the 2026 hunting seasons:
- Wildfire impacts: Some hunting opportunities may be impacted by wildfire closures. Wildfire information is available on the Washington State Department of Natural Resources website and from InciWeb, a service of the National Interagency Fire Center. Hunters should also refer to WDFW’s wildfire information webpage before heading out.
- Chronic wasting disease (CWD): Deer, elk, and moose hunters in 100-series Game Management Units (GMUs) in the Department’s Eastern Region must follow new regulations to limit the spread of CWD in Washington. Hunters harvesting a deer, elk, or moose in 100-series GMUs must submit a sample from their harvest for CWD testing. Review CWD information on the Department’s website and review the annual Washington big game hunting regulations for more information.
- Wildlife feeding ban: As of 2025, feeding deer, elk, and moose, or other wildlife that may cause these species to congregate, is illegal in Washington. Feeding wildlife congregates animals, potentially spreading diseases like CWD. More information about new rule prohibiting wildlife feeding is available on WDFW’s website.
- Black bear hunting: Hunters who wish to harvest a black bear in certain GMUs must first pass the bear identification test available on their online licensing profile. All successful bear hunters are required to submit a premolar tooth by Dec. 1. Visit WDFW’s black bear webpage and the annual Washington big game hunting regulations for more information.
- Youth waterfowl hunting: This year’s youth-only waterfowl hunting dates are Sept. 26 (Western Washington) and Oct. 3 (Eastern Washington) for hunters 15 years of age or younger. For more information, refer to the latest Washington Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations.
- Youth pheasant hunting: This year’s youth-only pheasant hunting dates are Sept. 12 – 13 statewide. Youth pheasant hunting is open to hunters age 15 years old and younger. For more information, refer to the latest Washington Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations.
- National Hunting and Fishing Day: Join free National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrations on Sept. 19 in Waitsburg and Oct. 3 in Wenatchee! These events offer family-friendly opportunities to enjoy outdoor sports, participate in hunter education, and learn more about how hunters and anglers contribute to conservation. Refer to WDFW’s website for more information.
WDFW also offers a variety of online hunting resources, including beginner guides, species-specific tips, and tools for finding hunting locations. New to hunting in Washington? Refer to WDFW’s blog post for a guide to getting started, check myWDFW.org for monthly hunting highlights, or refer to the waterfowl, upland bird, and turkey hunting guides on WDFW’s website.
Find more highlights in WDFW’s quarterly Life Outdoors Report, which includes seasonal activities and places to enjoy Washington’s outdoors. Interested individuals can get the Life Outdoors Report and other news delivered straight to their inbox by signing up for WDFW mailing lists.
The latest Washington Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations and Big Game Hunting Regulations pamphlets are available online and at hundreds of license dealers around the state.
Hunting licenses can be purchased online, by phone, or by visiting a WDFW office or license dealer location. New this year, hunters have the choice to carry either electronic licenses and tags through the MyWDFW app or carry paper licenses on 8.5-inch by 11-inch standard copy paper. After notching their transport tag electronically in the app, big game and turkey hunters using mobile licenses must write down a confirmation number on flagging tape, duct tape, etc. and attach it to the harvest while in transport. How-to guides for using app features are available on WDFW’s website.
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.