How to apply in Washington
Application dates, points, group rules and fees for Washington’s draws.
Before you apply
All persons purchasing any hunting license for the first time, if born after January 1, 1972, shall present such certification.
The director may accept certificates from other states that persons have successfully completed firearm safety, hunter education, or similar courses as evidence of compliance with this section.
The director may authorize a once in a lifetime, one license year deferral of hunter education training for individuals who are accompanied, while hunting, by a nondeferred Washington-licensed hunter who is at least 18 years of age.
- Bighorn sheep, Moose, Mountain goat
Applicants for all mountain goat, moose, and/or bighorn sheep special hunting season permits must have either successfully completed hunter education prior to submitting an application, or have a birth date prior to January 1, 1972.
- Bighorn sheep, Moose, Mountain goat
Successful applicants under this section must purchase the appropriate hunting license by the deadline established by the department (a minimum of 15 days).
- Black bear, Cougar, Deer, Elk
To apply for special hunting season permits for all categories of deer, elk, cougar, or black bear, applicants must have a valid Washington big game hunting license and a valid transport tag for the appropriate species.
- Turkey
To apply for wild turkey special hunting season permits, each applicant must have a valid small game hunting license.
Points
Applicants will receive one point for each application category purchased.
Once drawn for a permit, the applicant's points will be reduced to zero in that category.
Permits will be drawn by computer selection using a weighted point selection system.
The purchase of an application will result in one accrued point for the category purchased.
Applying as a group
If a group application is drawn, all hunters in the group will receive a special hunting season permit and each hunter in the group can take an animal.
- Bighorn sheep
Maximum group size for bighorn sheep categories is 2.
- Deer
Maximum group size for deer categories is 8.
- Elk
Maximum group size for elk categories is 8.
- Moose
Maximum group size for moose categories is 2.
- Mountain goat
Maximum group size for mountain goat categories is 2.
- Bighorn sheep
(vi) Maximum group size for bighorn sheep categories is 2.
- Black bear
(iii) Maximum group size for bear categories is 2.
- Deer
(i) Maximum group size for deer categories is 8.
- Deer multiple season
(ix) Maximum group size for multiple season deer is 2.
- Elk
(ii) Maximum group size for elk categories is 8.
- Elk multiple season
(x) Maximum group size for multiple season elk is 2.
- Moose
(viii) Maximum group size for moose categories is 2.
- Mountain goat
(v) Maximum group size for mountain goat categories is 2.
- Mountain lion
(iv) Maximum group size for cougar categories is 2.
- Turkey
(vii) Maximum group size for fall turkey categories is 4.
Waiting periods and limits
Persons who have previously harvested a mountain goat, bighorn sheep ram, an antlered bull moose taken under an "any antlered bull moose" permit, or any moose (whether antlered or not) taken under an "any moose" permit in Washington are ineligible for a special hunting season permit for that category.
After the draw
- Bighorn sheep, Moose, Mountain goat
Drawn applicants must buy the license by the department's deadline (at least 15 days); otherwise the permit goes to an alternate applicant
Application fees
- Nonresidents
Special hunt permit applications $8.28 $138.00 $2.82 $4.14 77.32.370
- Residents
Special hunt permit applications $8.28 $138.00 $2.82 $4.14 77.32.370
- Nonresidents
Special hunt permit application - quality $16.56 $138.00 $5.63 $4.14 77.32.370
- Residents
Special hunt permit application - quality $16.56 $138.00 $5.63 $4.14 77.32.370
Special hunt permit application - quality $16.56 $138.00 $5.63 $4.14 77.32.370
Special hunt permit applications $8.28 $138.00 $2.82 $4.14 77.32.370
License and tag fees
| License or tag | Resident | Nonresident | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer elk bear cougar license | $117.30 | $1,076.40 | – |
| Deer elk bear cougar license senior | $39.88 | – | – |
| Deer elk bear cougar license youth | – | – | $55.20 |
| Deer elk license | $103.50 | $924.60 | – |
| Deer elk license senior | $35.19 | – | – |
| Deer elk license youth | – | – | $48.30 |
| License or tag | Resident | Nonresident | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bighorn sheep license | $414 | $2,070 | – |
| Bighorn sheep license senior | $140.76 | – | – |
| Bighorn sheep license youth | – | – | $69 |
| License or tag | Resident | Nonresident | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear license | $27.60 | $276 | – |
| Bear license senior | $9.38 | – | – |
| Bear license youth | – | – | $13.80 |
| License or tag | Resident | Nonresident | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer license | $53.82 | $542.34 | – |
| Deer license senior | $18.30 | – | – |
| Deer license youth | – | – | $24.84 |
| License or tag | Resident | Nonresident | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk license | $60.72 | $621 | – |
| Elk license senior | $20.64 | – | – |
| Elk license youth | – | – | $24.84 |
| License or tag | Resident | Nonresident | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moose license | $414 | $2,070 | – |
| Moose license senior | $140.76 | – | – |
| Moose license youth | – | – | $69 |
| License or tag | Resident | Nonresident | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain goat license | $414 | $2,070 | – |
| Mountain goat license senior | $140.76 | – | – |
| Mountain goat license youth | – | – | $69 |
| License or tag | Resident | Nonresident | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cougar license | $27.60 | $276 | – |
| Cougar license senior | $9.38 | – | – |
| Cougar license youth | – | – | $13.80 |
| License or tag | Resident | Nonresident | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey tag 1 | $19.32 | $55.20 | – |
| Turkey tag 1 senior | $6.57 | – | – |
| Turkey tag additional | $19.32 | $82.80 | – |
| Turkey tag additional senior | $6.57 | – | – |
| Turkey tag additional youth | – | – | $13.80 |
Source: WDFW · Updated Nov 13, 2026