Washington hunting seasons 2026-27
12 hunting seasons are open in Washington today, including deer, elk. Dates come from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and were read today.
Dates only. Bag limits, legal methods, licences and zone boundaries: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Read today.
12open today
3species
83dated seasons
Big game
12 hunting seasons are open in Washington on November 14: deer and elk.
Opening in the next six weeks: deer late modern firearm, antlered on Nov 19, 2026, elk late archery, antlerless on Nov 20, 2026 (178) and mule deer late archery, antlered on Nov 20, 2026 (145, 163, 178, 272, 278).
Washington sets different dates by zone or unit for deer, elk and mule deer; the tables list each zone's dates.
Dates come from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's published season pages, read today. Bag limits, legal methods, licences and zone boundaries are not reproduced here; the agency's regulations govern.
All Washington season dates
Deer Open
| Species | Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Late Archery | 407, 410, 411h, 412h, 413h, 414h, 415h, 416, 417, 419, 420h, 421, 422h, 423, 424, 454, 505, 564a*, 624, 627, 636, 648, 652, 654, 655, 660 through 672 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Deer | Late Archery | 437, 466, 510 through 520, 524 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Deer | Late Archery, antlered | 448, 460, 506ad, 530ad, 560, 572, 601, 603 through 618, 638, 642, 681, 699d | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Deer | Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 407, 418, 426, 437, 448, 450, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506ad, 510, 513, 516, 520, 530ad, 550, 554, 560, 568, 572, 574, 603, 607, 612, 615, 621, 624 (except Deer Area | Sep 26, 2026 to Oct 4, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Deer | Early Muzzleloader | 410, 411h, 412h, 413h, 414h, 415h, 416, 417, 419, 420h, 421, 422h, 423, 424, 454, 564a*, 627, 652, 655, 666, 684d, Deer Area 6020 | Sep 26, 2026 to Oct 4, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Deer | Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 578d | Sep 26, 2026 to Oct 4, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Deer | Late Muzzleloader | 407, 410, 411h, 412h, 413h, 414h, 415h, 416, 417, 419, 420h, 421, 422h, 423, 424, 454, 504, 564a*, 633, 654, 666, 667, and 684d | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Deer | Late Muzzleloader, antlered | 448, 460, 501, 602, 621, 651, 658, 673 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Deer | Late Modern Firearm, antlered | 407, 454, 466, 501 through 505, 506ad, 510 through 520, 524, 530ad, 550 through 560, 568, 572, 601 through 621, 624 (except Deer Area 6020), 627 through 654, 65 | Nov 19, 2026 to Nov 22, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 5 days |
| Deer | Late Modern Firearm | 410 through 417, 419 through 424, 564a*, 655, Deer Area 6020 | Nov 19, 2026 to Nov 22, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 5 days |
| Deer | Modern Firearm, antlered | 407, 418, 426, 437, 448, 450, 454, 460, 466, 501 through 505, 506ad, 510 through 520, 524, 530ad, 550 through 560, 568, 572, 574, 601 through 621, 624 (except D | Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 1, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Deer | Modern Firearm | 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 564a*, 655 and Deer Area 6020 | Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 1, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Deer | Modern Firearm, antlered | 578d | Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 1, 2026 | Closed closed |
| White-tailed deer | Late Archery, antlered | 101 | Nov 10, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Open open, closes in 31 days |
| White-tailed deer | Late Archery, antlered | 105, 108, 117d, 121, 124 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| White-tailed deer | Late Archery, antlered | 127 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| White-tailed deer | Late Archery, antlered | 145, 163, 178, 272, 278d | Nov 20, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 6 days |
| White-tailed deer | Late Archery | 204, 209, 215, 233, 243 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| White-tailed deer | Late Archery | 373d | Nov 20, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 6 days |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 101 through 124, 203, 204, 209, 215, 231, 233, 239, 242 through 246, 247, 248, 250, 251, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278d, 284 | Sep 26, 2026 to Oct 4, 2026 | Closed closed |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 127, 130, 133, 136, 139, 142, 145, 149d, 175, 181, 186 | Sep 26, 2026 to Oct 4, 2026 | Closed closed |
| White-tailed deer | Early Muzzleloader | 373d, 379d | Sep 26, 2026 to Oct 4, 2026 | Closed closed |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloader, antlered | 113 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloader, antlered | 130, 133, 136, 139, 142 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloader, antlered | 172, 181 | Nov 20, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 6 days |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloader | 379d, 381 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| White-tailed deer | Late Modern Firearm, antlered | 105, 108, 111, 113, 117d, 121, 124 | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 19, 2026 | Open open, closes in 5 days |
| White-tailed deer | Late Modern Firearm | 124 | Oct 24, 2026 to Oct 30, 2026 | Closed closed |
| White-tailed deer | Late Modern Firearm, antlerless | 127 through 142 | Oct 24, 2026 to Oct 27, 2026 | Closed closed |
| White-tailed deer | Modern Firearm, antlered | 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117d, 121, 124 | Oct 17, 2026 to Oct 30, 2026 | Closed closed |
| White-tailed deer | Modern Firearm, antlered | 127 through 145, 149d, 154, 162 through 186 | Oct 17, 2026 to Oct 27, 2026 | Closed closed |
| White-tailed deer | Modern Firearm, antlered | 203 through 284 | Oct 17, 2026 to Oct 27, 2026 | Closed closed |
| White-tailed deer | Modern Firearm | 373d, 379d, 381 | Oct 17, 2026 to Oct 27, 2026 | Closed closed |
Elk Open
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late Archery, antlered | 101, 105, 108, 117, 204 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery | 121, 124, 127, 373d, 382*, 388 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | 163 | Dec 9, 2026 to Jan 20, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 25 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | 178 | Nov 20, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 6 days |
| Late Archery | 203, 209 through 248, 250, 254 through 272, 278d, 284, 290, 379d, 381 Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink. | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | Open open, closes tomorrow |
| Late Archery, antlered | 249, 251, 336, 342, 346, 352, 364, Elk Area 3681 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | 334, 335 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery, antlered | 407, 448, 506, 530, 603, 612, 615, 638 (except for Elk Area 6064), 648 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery | 454, 564*d, 666, Elk Area 6014 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | Elk Area 4601*, 503, 505, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 663, 667, 672, 681, and 699d . Master hunters only in Elk Area 6064 portion of GMU 63 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | Master Hunters Only: 127 through 142 | Dec 9, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Upcoming opens in 25 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | Master Hunters Only: Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink. | Aug 1, 2026 to Jan 20, 2027 | Open open, closes in 67 days |
| Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 101 through 121, 117d, 204, 247 | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader | 124 through 142, 245, 250, 272, 278, 284, 290, 379d | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 172, 175, 178, 181, 249, 336 through 342, 352 through 368 | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 251, 328, 329, 334, 335, Elk Area 2051 | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 407, 448, 460, 466, 506a, 510, 513, 516, 520, 524, (except Elk Area 5066), 530ad, 550, 554, 560, 568, 572, 574, 578d, 602, 603, 607, 612, 615, 624 (except Elk A | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader | 454, 564*d, 666, 684d | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader, antlerless | 501, 503, 504, 505, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antler- less), Elk Area 6014, 654, 663, 667, Elk Area 4601 | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Late Muzzleloader | 130 through 142* | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Muzzleloader | 203, 209 through 248, 250, 254 through 272, 278d, 284, 290, 373d, 379d, 381. Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink. | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | Open open, closes tomorrow |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlered | 407 | Dec 16, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Upcoming opens in 32 days |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlered | 448, 601, 618, 651, 658 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Muzzleloader | 454, 564*d, 666, 684d, Elk Area 6014 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlered | 568, 574, 578d | Nov 25, 2026 to Nov 30, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlerless | Elk Area 4601*, 501, 503, 504, 505, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 667 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlerless | Master Hunters Only: 127, through 142. Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink. | Dec 9, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Upcoming opens in 25 days |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlerless | Master Hunters Only: Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink. | Aug 1, 2026 to Jan 20, 2027 | Open open, closes in 67 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlered | Eastern Washington: 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117d, 121, 204 | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Modern Firearm | Eastern Washington: 124 through 142, 372*, 382*, 388 | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Modern Firearm, antlered | Eastern Washington: 145, 149d, 154, 162 through 186, 249, 336 through 368 | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Modern Firearm | Eastern Washington: 203, 209 through 248, 250, 254 through 272, 278d, 284, 290, 373d, 379d, 381 | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | Open open, closes tomorrow |
| Modern Firearm, antlered | Eastern Washington: 251, 328, 329, 334, 335 | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Modern Firearm, antlerless | Eastern Washington: Master Hunters Only: 127 through 142 | Dec 9, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Upcoming opens in 25 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlerless segment 2 | Eastern Washington: Master Hunters Only: 334 and 371. Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink in August. | Jan 1, 2027 to Jan 31, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 48 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlerless | Eastern Washington: Master Hunters Only: Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink. | Aug 1, 2026 to Jan 20, 2027 | Open open, closes in 67 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlered | Western Washington: 407, 460, 466, 448, 503, 505, 506a, 510 through 520, 524, (except Elk Area 5066), 530ad, 550, 560, 568, 572, 574, 578d, 601 through 618, 624 | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 18, 2026 | Open open, closes in 4 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlered | Western Washington: 454 | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 18, 2026 | Open open, closes in 4 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlerless | Western Washington: 501, 504, 663, Elk Areas 4601* and 6014 | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 18, 2026 | Open open, closes in 4 days |
| Modern Firearm | Western Washington: 564*d, 666 | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 18, 2026 | Open open, closes in 4 days |
Mule deer Opens soon
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late Archery, antlered | 145, 163, 178, 272, 278 | Nov 20, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 6 days |
| Late Archery, antlered | 209, 215, 233, 243, 250 | Nov 21, 2026 to Nov 30, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 7 days |
| Late Archery, antlered | 336, 342, 346, 352, 364, 388, Deer Area 3682 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | 373d, Deer Area 3372 | Nov 20, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 6 days |
| Late Archery, antlered | 382* | Dec 1, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Upcoming opens in 17 days |
| Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 101 through 145, 149d, 175, 181, 186, 203, 204, 209, 215, 231, 233, 239, 242 through 246, 248, 250, 251, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278d, 284, 328, 330 throu | Sep 26, 2026 to Oct 4, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader, antlerless | Deer Areas 3334 and 3372 | Sep 26, 2026 to Oct 4, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlered | 379d, 381 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlered | 382* | Nov 20, 2026 to Nov 30, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 6 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlered | 101 through 145, 149d, 154, 162 through 186, 203 through 272, 278d, 284, 328, 330 through 368, 372*, 373d, 379d, 381, 382*, 388 | Oct 17, 2026 to Oct 27, 2026 | Closed closed |
Questions
Is deer season open in Washington right now?
Yes. 2 deer seasons are open in Washington on November 14, and the last of them closes Dec 15, 2026.
Is elk season open in Washington right now?
Yes. 10 elk seasons are open in Washington on November 14, and the last of them closes Jan 20, 2027.
When does mule deer season open in Washington?
The first mule deer season of 2026-27 in Washington opens Sep 26, 2026 (Early Muzzleloader, antlered, 101 through 145, 149d, 175, 181, 186, 203, 204, 209, 215, 231, 233, 239, 242 through 246, 248, 250, 251, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278d, 284, 328, 330 throu).
When does the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife publish next year's season dates?
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has posted the coming year's dates between March and May in recent years. This page updates the day the agency's page changes.
Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules, page 22; WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules, page 23; WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules, page 24. Read today.