Washington

Washington's big game hunting is run by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW). Deer and elk are largely available on a general license and tag you buy over the counter—no draw required to hunt the general seasons.

The draw mainly matters for special permits (extra or higher-quality hunts) and for the once-in-a-lifetime species. Washington uses a points system where accumulated points add entries to a weighted random drawing, rather than a queue where the most points always win.

You buy a big game license (options bundle deer, elk, bear, and cougar in various combinations) that includes the corresponding transport tags. A hunter education card is required before your first license if you were born after Jan 1, 1972.

For special permits, each point you accumulate adds chances in that species' drawing; points increase your odds but never guarantee a tag, and they reset once you draw. If you don't want to enter a given year, you can apply for a point only.

Buy your license and tags at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, a vendor, or via the MyWDFW app, then apply for special permits by choosing hunt-choice numbers. When you buy a deer or elk tag you also choose a weapon restriction (modern firearm, muzzleloader, or archery).

Separate opportunities include a multi-season tag drawing (which lets one tag be used across archery, muzzleloader, and modern seasons) and raffle hunts for premium and once-in-a-lifetime species.

For 2026, the special permit application deadline is May 20, with results typically in June/July. Raffle hunt tickets are sold through mid-July, and the multi-season tag application runs the following winter (about Dec 1–Mar 31).

Confirm exact dates each year in the current regulations; the license year runs April 1–March 31.

Special permits are awarded through a weighted random drawing in which your accumulated points add extra entries, so more points meaningfully improve—but don't guarantee—your chances. Raffle hunts are a separate paid-ticket lottery.

How TAGZ turns these mechanics into projected draw odds is covered separately in the odds methodology.

Figures are approximate—see the current fee schedule. A resident deer license is about $62 and elk about $69; nonresident equivalents are far higher (about $599 deer, $686 elk). Combined deer+elk packages run about $117 resident / $1,020 nonresident.

Special hunt permit applications are about $9.61 resident (about $18.72 for 'quality' categories) and about $152 for nonresidents. Once-in-a-lifetime moose/sheep/goat special hunt licenses run about $457 resident / $2,279 nonresident. Online/phone purchases add a card processing fee.