Below is a news release from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

As fall arrives, hunters across Washington gear up for big game, waterfowl, and upland bird seasons. This month, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) released its annual hunting prospects to give hunters a detailed look at expected conditions, harvest trends and game activity in each of the state’s 17 wildlife management districts.

“Our district wildlife biologists create these reports to help hunters of all experience levels plan their seasons,” said Anis Aoude, WDFW’s game division manager. “They provide an in-depth look at what’s happening on the landscape so hunters can focus on enjoying their season successfully.”

Hunters can also use the WDFW Hunt Planner online map, an interactive tool to find permits and general season hunts by location, date, weapon type and more.

Aoude encourages hunters to pay special attention to the following for the 2025 season:

  • Wildfire impacts: Some hunting opportunities may be impacted by wildfire closures. Wildfire information is available on the Washington State Department of Natural Resources website and from InciWeb, a service of the National Interagency Fire Center. Hunters should also refer to WDFW’s wildfire information webpage before heading out.
  • Wildlife feeding ban: Feeding deer, elk and moose, or other wildlife that may cause these species to congregate, is now illegal in Washington, as feeding draws wildlife together where they can rapidly spread diseases like chronic wasting disease. More information about new rules prohibiting wildlife feeding is available on the WDFW blog.
  • Chronic wasting disease (CWD): New rules to limit the spread of CWD in Washington are now in effect, including statewide rules on baiting and carcass transport. Hunters should review the CWD rule changes on WDFW’s website before heading out.
  • EHD/bluetongue outbreak: WDFW’s Eastern Region is experiencing an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) and bluetongue. These viral diseases are spread by biting gnats and often result in death for infected animals. EHD mainly affects white-tailed deer, while bluetongue can also impact mule deer, cattle and domestic sheep. The outbreak may affect hunter success this fall and in future seasons. Learn more about deer hemorrhagic diseases on WDFW’s website.
  • Black bear hunting: Hunters who wish to harvest a black bear in certain game management units must first pass the bear identification test (through their licensing profile) with a score of 80 percent or better. All successful bear hunters are required to submit a premolar tooth by Dec. 1. Details are available on WDFW’s black bear
  • Youth waterfowl hunting dates: This year’s youth-only waterfowl hunting dates are Sept. 20 (western Washington) and Sept. 27 (eastern Washington) for hunters 15 years of age or younger. For more information, refer to the Game Bird and Small Game Regulations or contact a local WDFW office.
  • National Hunting and Fishing Day: Join WDFW for a free National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration Sept. 20 in Waitsburg from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event offers family-friendly opportunities to enjoy outdoor sports, participate in hunter education and learn more about the conservation successes of hunters and anglers. Refer to the event webpage for more information.

WDFW also offers a variety of online hunting resources, including beginner guides, species-specific tips and tools for finding hunting locations. New to hunting in Washington? Refer to WDFW’s blog post for a guide to getting started, check mywdfw.org for monthly hunting highlights or refer to the waterfowl, upland bird and turkey hunting guides on WDFW’s website.

The 2025-26 Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations and 2025-26 Big Game Hunting Regulations pamphlets are available online and at hundreds of license dealers around the state.

(Photo credit: Cory Hall/Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)