Washington Hunting License: Cost, Online Purchase & Big Game Fees (2026)

Washington sells hunting licenses as bundled packages rather than individual species tags. The most common resident purchase is the Big Game Combo ($117.30), which includes deer, elk, black bear, and cougar tags in a single license — plus a Vehicle Access Pass for WDFW-managed access areas at no additional charge. The Deer + Elk only package is $116.85. Individual species licenses are available: deer only ($53.82), elk only ($60.72), and bear only ($32.86). For residents who hunt across multiple seasons and fish, the Get Outdoors Package ($322.98) bundles all big game, small game, fishing, turkey, and migratory bird permits into one annual purchase.

Washington raised hunting license fees by approximately 38% effective July 2025 — the first fee adjustment since 2011. The increase affects both resident and non-resident licenses. Non-resident fees are substantially higher than neighboring states: the NR Big Game Combo (deer+elk+bear+cougar) now costs $1,076.40, and an NR deer-only license is $599.07. The 38% increase reflects 14 years of inflation and expanded wildlife management costs. All licenses run April 1 through March 31 (not calendar year), and a Vehicle Access Pass is included with all annual big game licenses.

Youth hunters under 16 receive free hunting licenses with special hunt permit applications costing only $5.05. Residents 70 and older receive significant discounts on licenses and tags. Disabled veterans with 30% or more service-connected disability qualify for reduced-fee licenses. Active duty military stationed in Washington pay resident rates. Permanently disabled Washington residents also qualify for reduced-fee licenses through WDFW.

Every big game combo license includes a general season tag valid in open game management units (GMUs) statewide. For hunters wanting access to limited-entry GMUs with lower pressure or trophy-quality animals, Washington offers Special Hunt Permits through an annual draw. The application fee is $9.61 for resident general permits or $18.72 for resident quality/trophy permits; non-residents pay $152.30 per application regardless of permit type. Draw results are typically announced in May or June. Preference points are available to build draw odds in future years.

Special hunt categories cover elk, deer, bear, turkey, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and moose. For mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and moose, these are among the most limited tags in the state — successful applicants may wait many years, and some units are effectively once-in-a-lifetime draws. California bighorn sheep are found in eastern Washington's canyon country; Shiras moose are limited to the northeastern corner of the state. Washington's mountain goat population is distributed across the Cascades and Olympics.

Hunters applying for special permits need a valid Washington hunting license before applying. The $9.61 general application fee (resident) is paid per application, not per tag — hunters can apply for multiple species in the same year at $9.61 each. NR applicants pay $152.30 per application. Both residents and non-residents accumulate preference points each year they apply unsuccessfully. Check current draw statistics and GMU descriptions at wdfw.wa.gov before applying to identify units with realistic draw odds.

Washington supports two elk subspecies: Roosevelt elk in the western Cascades and Olympic Peninsula, and Rocky Mountain elk in eastern Washington. Roosevelt elk are among the largest-bodied elk in North America — bulls regularly exceed 800 pounds in the Pacific coastal rain forest units. Eastern Washington's Blue Mountains and Selkirk Range host Rocky Mountain elk with classic bugling behavior during the September archery season. The general rifle elk season runs in two segments: an early October period and a late November period, with unit-specific dates.

Deer hunting in Washington includes mule deer, white-tailed deer, and black-tailed deer depending on region and GMU. Antler definitions vary by species and unit, so hunters should use the current WDFW pamphlet before assuming a point-count rule. A late whitetail season runs November 22 through December 31 in specific eastern Washington units, providing extended hunting opportunity after the general season. The modern firearm season for deer runs October 11 through November 30 in listed GMUs and season structures.

Black bear hunting is available in both spring (April 15 to June 15) and fall (August 1 to November 15) seasons, but the total annual limit is one bear per hunter across both seasons combined. Bear is included in the big game combo license at no additional charge. Cougar is also included free with the big game combo — season runs September 1 through April 30. Hound hunting for cougar is prohibited statewide by voter initiative. Cougar harvest must be reported to WDFW within 72 hours of taking the animal.