Washington Hunting License: Cost, Requirements & How to Buy
A Washington hunting license costs $55.13 for a resident adult and $252.47 for a non-resident adult (fees verified 2026-09-12).
Washington raised hunting license fees 38% in 2025, and the current small game license figures reflect that increase along with a further adjustment effective January 1, 2026, so a quote from before that window will look noticeably cheaper than what's actually charged today.
Figures shown are the standalone small game license. A discounted small game add-on ($30.36 resident/$133.58 non-resident) is available when bought alongside a big game license; the full resident big game package (deer, elk, bear and cougar) runs $117.30 ($1,076.40 non-resident). Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after Jan 1, 1972. A Discover Pass or other vehicle access permit may be required separately at some wildlife areas.
Fee last verified 2026-09-12.
Heading out for Washington hunting? Game wardens require carrying physical or digital license proof and valid tags. Equip yourself with a waterproof license and tag pouch, rechargeable wide-beam LED headlamp, and corrosion-resistant multi-tool pliers before your trip.
What a Washington hunting license costs
The standalone small game license is $55.13 for residents and $252.47 for non-residents. A discounted small game add-on, $30.36 resident/$133.58 non-resident, is available when purchased alongside a big game license instead of on its own. The full resident big game package, covering deer, elk, bear and cougar, runs $117.30; the equivalent non-resident package is $1,076.40.
Hunter education and residency requirements
Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1972, before a Washington hunting license will be issued. To qualify for resident pricing, a hunter must have maintained a permanent Washington residence for at least 90 consecutive days before applying, show evidence Washington is their primary residence, and not claim resident hunting privileges in another state.
License year and deadlines
Washington's hunting license year runs July 1 through June 30, so a license bought in the spring covers the coming fall seasons in full.
How to buy your Washington hunting license
WDFW's online licensing system at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov sells small game and big game packages together, and licenses are also available by phone or at more than 300 license dealers statewide.
Hunting in Washington: what to expect
Eastern Washington's Blue Mountains and Okanogan highlands hold strong mule deer and elk populations in classic dry-side terrain, a sharp contrast to the wet, densely timbered hunting west of the Cascades. The Olympic Peninsula and southwest Washington support Roosevelt elk in temperate rainforest, requiring a different hunting approach than the open country to the east. Upland bird hunters find pheasant and quail concentrated in the agricultural country of the Columbia Basin, while waterfowl hunters work the Skagit and Columbia River deltas during the fall migration.
Access passes and public land
A Discover Pass or other vehicle access permit may be required separately at some Washington wildlife areas and state lands, on top of the hunting license itself, so it's worth checking the specific access rules for a given wildlife area before parking there. Washington's mix of state Department of Natural Resources land, national forest and WDFW wildlife areas gives hunters real public-land access on both sides of the Cascades, though competition for the best units, particularly for elk, is real given the state's dense human population relative to its huntable land.
How to renew a Washington hunting license
There is no separate renewal process in Washington. A hunting license is not extended in place; when it expires you buy a new one for the next license year through the same system you used the first time, and your customer profile, hunter or angler ID and any saved payment details carry over so the second purchase takes a couple of minutes. License year runs July 1 through June 30. A 38% fee increase took effect July 1, 2025, with the figures here effective Jan 1, 2026.
The fastest route is the official Washington online licensing portal, which also lets you print or download the new license and add any stamps, tags or endorsements in one transaction. In-person license agents (sporting goods stores, bait shops and, in many states, county clerks) sell the same license at the same price, so use whichever is closer. Buying before the old license lapses is not required, but it avoids an accidental gap if a season opens before you get round to it.
Planning more than one? See the Washington fishing license page too, see how much a hunting license costs in every state, compare non-resident hunting fees across states, browse every state, or use the state license finder.