Wash. Admin. Code § 220-416-010

Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024

Section 220-416-010 - 2024-2025, 2025-2026, 2026-2027 Small game and other wildlife seasons and regulations

A valid small game license is required to hunt all species listed below, except forest grouse, coyote, and crow may be hunted with a valid big game or small game license. Hunters must comply with official established hunting hours for each species and the provisions of this section. Failure to comply with this section constitutes a violation of RCW 77.15.245, 77.15.400, or 77.15.430, depending on the species hunted and the circumstances of the violation.

SMALL GAME AND OTHER ANIMAL SEASONS

(1)LEGAL HUNTER: Open to all hunters with a valid license.

Species	Area	Dates	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit	Restrictions
Bobcat	Statewide	Sept. 1 -Mar. 15	No limit.	No limit.	It is unlawful to hunt bobcat with dogs. Night hunting for bobcat is prohibited in the following GMUs: 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 203, 204, 215, 218, 224, 231, 233, 242-247, 250, 426, and 450.
Raccoon	Statewide	Sept. 1 -Mar. 15	No limit.	No limit.
Fox	Statewide, except closed within the exterior boundaries of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, Okanogan, Wenatchee, and Gifford Pinchot National Forests.	Sept. 1 -Mar. 15	No limit.	No limit.
Coyote	Statewide	Yearround	No limit.	No limit.	It is unlawful to hunt coyote with dogs.
Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare	Statewide	Sept. 1 -Mar. 15	5 cottontails or snowshoe hares, straight or mixed bag.	15 cottontails or snowshoe hares, straight or mixed bag.
Jackrabbit	Closed statewide

UPLAND BIRD SEASONS

(2)YOUTH SEASON DATES: Open only to youth hunters accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older.

Species	2024-25 Dates	2025-26 Dates	2026-27 Dates	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit
Eastern Washington:
Ring-necked pheasant	Sept. 14-15	Sept. 13-14	Sept. 12-13	3 cock pheasants	6 cock pheasants
Chukar	Sept. 14-15	Sept. 13-14	Sept. 12-13	6 chukar	12 chukar
Gray (Hungarian) partridge	Sept. 14-15	Sept. 13-14	Sept. 12-13	6 gray partridges	12 gray partridges
California (valley) quail and northern bobwhite	Sept. 14-15	Sept. 13-14	Sept. 12-13	10 California (valley) quail or northern bobwhite, straight or mixed bag.	20 California (valley) quail or northern bobwhite, straight or mixed bag.
Western Washington:
Ring-necked pheasant	Sept. 14-15	Sept. 13-14	Sept. 12-13	2 pheasants of either sex	4 pheasants of either sex

(3)HUNTERS SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND HUNTERS WITH DISABILITIES SEASON DATES:

Species	2024-25 Dates	2025-26 Dates	2026-27 Dates	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit
Eastern Washington:
Ring-necked pheasant	Sept. 16-20	Sept. 15-19	Sept. 14-18	3 cock pheasants	15 cock pheasants
Western Washington:
Ring-necked pheasant	Sept. 16-20	Sept. 15-19	Sept. 14-18	2 pheasants of either sex	10 pheasants of either sex

(4)REGULAR SEASON DATES: Western Washington ring-necked pheasant hunting hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Species	2024-25 Dates	2025-26 Dates	2026-27 Dates	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit
Eastern Washington:
Ring-necked pheasant	Oct. 19 - Jan. 20	Oct. 18 - Jan. 19	Oct. 17 - Jan. 18	3 cock pheasants	15 cock pheasants
Chukar	Oct. 5 - Jan. 31	Oct. 4 - Jan. 31	Oct. 3 - Jan. 31	6 chukar	18 chukar
Gray (Hungarian) partridge	Oct. 5 - Jan. 20	Oct. 4 - Jan. 19	Oct. 3 - Jan. 18	6 gray partridges	18 gray partridges
California (valley) quail and northern bobwhite	Oct. 5 - Jan. 20	Oct. 4 - Jan. 19	Oct. 3 - Jan. 18	10 California (valley) quail or northern bobwhite, straight or mixed bag.	30 California (valley) quail or northern bobwhite, straight or mixed bag.
Mountain quail	Closed throughout Eastern Washington
Western Washington:
Ring-necked pheasant (see subsection (4) of this section)	Sept. 21 - Nov. 30	Sept. 20 - Nov. 30	Sept. 19 - Nov. 30	2 pheasants of either sex	15 pheasants of either sex
California (valley) quail and northern bobwhite	Sept. 21 - Nov. 30	Sept. 20 - Nov. 30	Sept. 19 - Nov. 30	10 California (valley) quail or northern bobwhite, straight or mixed bag.	30 California (valley) quail or northern bobwhite, straight or mixed bag.
Mountain quail	Sept. 21 - Nov. 30	Sept. 20 - Nov. 30	Sept. 19 - Nov. 30	2 mountain quail	4 mountain quail

(5)EXTENDED WESTERN WASHINGTON PHEASANT SEASON:

(a) Hunting hours and locations: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. only at the following release sites: Belfair, Mason Lake, JBLM, Kosmos, Lincoln Creek, Scatter Creek, Skookumchuck, and all Whidbey Island.

(b) The department may not release pheasants during the extended season.

Species	2024-25 Dates	2025-26 Dates	2026-27 Dates	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit
Western Washington:
Ring-necked pheasant (see subsection (5)(a) of this section)	Dec. 1-15	Dec. 1-15	Dec. 1-15	2 pheasants of either sex	15 pheasants of either sex

(6)SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS FOR WESTERN WASHINGTON PHEASANT HUNTERS:

(a) Western Washington pheasant hunters must choose to hunt only on odd-numbered or even-numbered weekend days from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at all units of Lake Terrell, Tennant Lake, Snoqualmie, Skookumchuck, and Scatter Creek Wildlife Areas, and all hunting sites on Whidbey Island.

(b) Hunters must indicate their choice of odd-numbered or even-numbered weekend days on the Western Washington Pheasant Permit by choosing "odd" or "even."

(c) Hunters who select the three-day option, hunters possessing a valid disabled hunter permit, hunters 65 years of age or older, and youth hunters may hunt in the morning on both odd-numbered and even-numbered weekend days.

(d) Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older, and the adult must have an appropriately marked pheasant permit if hunting.

WILD TURKEY SEASONS

(7)TURKEY SPRING SEASONS:

(a) LEGAL HUNTER: Open to all hunters with a valid turkey tag, EXCEPT youth dates are open only to youth hunters accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older.

(b) HUNTING METHOD RESTRICTION: It is unlawful to hunt turkeys with rifles during the spring season.

Hunter	Area	2024-25 Dates	2025-26 Dates	2026-27 Dates	2027-28 Dates	Bag Limit	Legal Bird
Youth	Statewide	April 1-7, 2024	April 1-7, 2025	April 1-7, 2026	April 1-7, 2027	The combined spring/youth season limit is 3 birds. Only 2 turkeys may be killed in Eastern Washington, except 3 may be killed in Spokane County and only 1 may be killed in Kittitas or Yakima counties. One turkey may be killed per year in Western Washington outside of Klickitat County. Two turkeys may be killed in Klickitat County.	Male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards only.
Any	Statewide	April 15 - May 31	April 15 - May 31	April 15 - May 31	April 15 - May 31

(8)FALL TURKEY GENERAL SEASONS:

(a) LEGAL HUNTER: Open to all hunters with a valid turkey tag.

(b) HUNTING METHOD RESTRICTION: It is unlawful to hunt turkeys with rifles during the fall season.

Game Management Unit (GMU)	2024 Dates	2025 Dates	2026 Dates	Legal Bird and Limit
101-154 and 162-186	Sept. 1 - Dec. 31	Sept. 1 - Dec. 31	Sept. 1 - Dec. 31	4 turkeys during the fall general season with the following area restrictions:	2 beardless plus 2 either sex turkey
382, 388, 568-578	Sept. 1 - Dec. 31	Sept. 1 - Dec. 31	Sept. 1 - Dec. 31		2 either sex turkey
203-290	Sept. 1 - Dec. 31	Sept. 1 - Dec. 31	Sept. 1 - Dec. 31		1 either sex turkey

(9)FALL TURKEY PERMIT SEASONS:

LEGAL HUNTER: All hunters who are selected in the fall turkey special permit drawing and who also possess a valid turkey tag.

Hunt Name	Boundary Description	Permit Season Dates	Legal Bird	Bag Limit*	Permits
Teanaway	GMU 335	Nov. 15 - Dec. 15, 2024, 2025, 2026	Either sex	1	50

*BAG LIMIT: During the fall permit hunting seasons.

(10)HUNTER EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR INCENTIVE TURKEY PERMITS:

(a) LEGAL BIRD: Male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards only.

(b) LEGAL HUNTER: Qualified hunter education instructors who are selected through a random drawing. Hunter education instructors qualify if the instructor is certified and has been in active status for a minimum of 3 consecutive years, inclusive of the year prior to the permit drawing.

(c) OPEN AREA: Statewide.

(d) SEASON DATES: April 1 - May 31 during the current license year.

(e) PERMITS: 4 individuals will be drawn for this permit per year.

(f) BAG LIMIT: 1 male turkey or turkey with visible beard in addition to other spring season turkey harvest.

(11)OFFICIAL HUNTING HOURS FOR WILD TURKEY: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset during spring and fall seasons.

(12)SPECIAL RULES FOR WILD TURKEY:

(a) It is unlawful to hunt turkey unless the hunter possesses a valid turkey tag.

(b) It is unlawful to hunt turkeys with dogs.

(c) It is unlawful to bait game birds.

OTHER BIRD SEASONS

(13)LEGAL HUNTER: Open to all hunters with a valid license.

Species	Area	Dates	Daily Bag Limit	Possession Limit
Forest Grouse (Dusky, Sooty, Ruffed, and Spruce)	Statewide	Sept. 15 - Jan. 15	4 grouse per day, to include not more than 3 Dusky or Sooty Grouse (combined), 3 Spruce Grouse, and 3 Ruffed Grouse.	12 grouse, to include not more than 9 Dusky or Sooty Grouse (combined), 9 Spruce Grouse, and 9 Ruffed Grouse.
Crow	Statewide	Sept. 1 - Dec. 31	No limit.	No limit.
Ptarmigan, Sage, and Sharp-tailed Grouse	Closed statewide

FALCONRY SEASONS

(14)UPLAND GAME BIRD AND FOREST GROUSE - FALCONRY:

(a) Hunters must have a valid license for the species being hunted and a valid falconer's permit.

(b) BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS:

(i) 2 pheasants (either sex);

(ii) 6 partridge;

(iii) 5 California (valley) quail or northern bobwhite;

(iv) 2 mountain quail (in Western Washington only);

(v) 3 forest grouse (dusky, sooty, ruffed, spruce) per day; and

(vi) Possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

(c) OPEN AREA: Statewide.

(d) SEASON DATES: Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 during the current license year.

(15)TURKEY - FALCONRY:

(a) A turkey tag is required to hunt turkey during the turkey falconry season.

(b) BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS: One (1) turkey (either sex) per turkey tag, with a maximum of 2 turkeys. Hunters may possess up to 2 turkeys at any one time.

(c) OPEN AREA: Eastern Washington.

(d) SEASON DATES: Sept. 1 - Feb. 15 during the current license year.

(16)COTTONTAIL RABBIT AND SNOWSHOE HARE - FALCONRY:

(a) BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS: 5 cottontails or snowshoe hares per day, straight or mixed bag. Hunters may possess up to 15 cottontails or snowshoe hares at any one time, straight or mixed bag.

(b) OPEN AREA: Statewide.

(c) SEASON DATES: Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 during the current license year.

OTHER SEASONS

(17)BIRD DOG TRAINING SEASON:

(a) Wild upland game birds may be pursued during the dog-training season but may not be killed except during established hunting seasons. A small game license is required to train dogs on wild game birds. A Western Washington Pheasant Permit is required to train dogs on pheasants in Western Washington. Captive raised game birds may be released and killed during dog training if the hunter has proof of lawful acquisition (invoices) and the birds are appropriately marked (WAC 220-450-010 and 220-416-110).

(b) OPEN AREA: Statewide.

(c) SEASON DATES: Aug. 1 - Mar. 31 during the current license year.

(d) Only youth and seniors may train dogs during their respective seasons on designated Western Washington pheasant release sites.

(e) Bird dog training may be conducted year round on areas posted for bird dog training on portions of:

(i) Region One - Espanola (T24N, R40E, E 1/2 of section 16);

(ii) Region Two - Martha Lake Access Area (170 acres): One mile northeast of the town of George, southeast of the South Frontage Road along Interstate 90 and north of Baseline Road.

(iii) Region Three - Wenas Wildlife Area;

(iv) Region Four - Skagit Wildlife Area, Lake Terrell Wildlife Area, and Snoqualmie Wildlife Area;

(v) Region Five - Shillapoo/Vancouver Lake Wildlife Area;

(vi) Region Six - Scatter Creek Wildlife Area, Fort Lewis Military Base.

(18)YAKAMA INDIAN RESERVATION:

The 2024-2025, 2025-2026, and 2026-2027 upland bird seasons within the Yakama Indian Reservation are the same as the season established by the Yakama Indian Nation.

(19)COLVILLE INDIAN RESERVATION:

The 2024-2025, 2025-2026, and 2026-2027 upland bird seasons within the Colville Indian Reservation are the same as the season established by the Colville Indian Tribe.

Wash. Admin. Code § 220-416-010

Decodified by WSR 17-10-076, Filed 5/3/2017, effective 6/3/2017 Recodified from § 232-28-342

Amended by WSR 18-11-061, Filed 5/11/2018, effective 6/11/2018

Amended by WSR 20-12-080, Filed 6/1/2020, effective 7/2/2020

Amended by WSR 21-14-022, Filed 6/28/2021, effective 7/29/2021

Amended by WSR 24-11-029, Filed 5/7/2024, effective 6/7/2024