September marks the beginning of new hunting seasons across Washington, including early archery opening 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 Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Hunting Prospects.
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, a news release from the WDFW announced.
The WDFW advises hunters to pay special attention to the following for the 2026 hunting seasons:
• Wildfire impacts: Some hunting opportunities might be impacted by wildfire closures. Wildfire information is available on the Washington state Department of Natural Resources website at https://tinyurl.com/3a2hczdx.
• 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 at https://tinyurl.com/yp9vf2fb.
• Wildlife feeding ban: As of 2025, feeding deer, elk, 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 the new rule prohibiting wildlife feeding is available at https://tinyurl.com/58a99u73.
• 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 at https://tinyurl.com/4wdu8kv9 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 at https://tinyurl.com/yjtxyzaa.
• Youth pheasant hunting: This year’s youth-only pheasant hunting dates are Sept. 12 and 13 statewide. Youth pheasant hunting is open to hunters aged 15 years old and younger. For more information, refer to the latest Washington Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations at https://tinyurl.com/yjtxyzaa.
• National Hunting and Fishing Day: National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrations will be held 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 at https://tinyurl.com/yp7j8afh for more information.
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, according to the release. How-to guides for using app features are recorded on WDFW’s website, available at https://tinyurl.com/mun9xs25.
WDFW’S 2026 Hunting Prospects can be found at https://tinyurl.com/mwk3p73j.
