How to Get Your Washington Hunting License

Washington requires hunter education for anyone born after January 1, 1972, before that person can hunt in the state, with no exception for age once that birth-year threshold applies. Hunter-Ed is a delegated provider for Washington's hunter safety course, and the certificate itself never expires once you've earned it.

Once you're certified, if required, you'll need a hunting license, which costs $55.13 for a resident Small Game License and $252.47 for the nonresident equivalent, plus a species-specific big game license for deer, elk, bear, or cougar. You can purchase a license through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) website or an approved license dealer, and licenses run on Washington's license year, from April 1 through March 31. 

Today, we walk through how to get your Washington hunting license and hunter education certificate, step by step.

What Is a Hunting License in Washington?

A Washington hunting license, most often the Small Game License, is the base document WDFW requires before you can legally pursue upland birds, waterfowl, and other small game in the state. It's separate from the big game licenses you'll need for deer, elk, bear, or cougar, which are purchased individually or bundled at a discount alongside your small game license.

Your hunter education certificate works differently. It's a one-time credential proving you completed a WDFW-approved safety course, and it lasts for life, while your hunting license has to be renewed every license year.

Who Needs a Hunting License in Washington?

Washington requires a hunting license for anyone who hunts wildlife in the state, and hunter education adds an extra requirement tied to your birth date rather than your current age. Whether you were born after January 1, 1972, determines which path applies to you.

Hunter education runs on a separate track from the license itself. Anyone born after January 1, 1972, must show proof of hunter education before purchasing their first license, unless they qualify for one of Washington's exceptions instead:

1. Born on or before January 1, 1972: Exempt from the hunter education requirement, regardless of current age.
2. Born after January 1, 1972, 18 or older at registration: Must complete the online course, with no additional in-person requirement.
3. Born after January 1, 1972, younger than 18 at registration: Must complete the online course, then attend the required Field Skills Evaluation Course.
4. Qualifying active-duty military, veterans, and law enforcement: May be exempt from the field skills portion after passing the exam, or may qualify for a one-year Hunter Education Deferral if not yet certified at all.

Whichever category applies to you, keep proof of your license and, if required, your certificate on hand while hunting.

How to Get Your Washington Hunting License (Step-by-Step)

Getting licensed in Washington comes down to a few main steps, though the order shifts slightly depending on your birth date and age. Here's the full process from start to finish.

1. Complete an approved hunter education course if you were born after January 1, 1972, then attend the required Field Skills Evaluation Course if you registered before turning 18.
2. Choose your license type: Small Game, a big game species license, or a bundled package like Get Outdoors.
3. Purchase your license through the WDFW online licensing system, by phone, or at an approved license dealer.
4. Add any tags or permits you need, such as turkey tags or a migratory bird permit, and apply for special hunt permits if you're after a limited-entry species.
5. Carry your license, tags, and certificate any time you hunt.

Washington's special hunt permit applications for deer, elk, moose, and other limited-entry species open each spring, so plan ahead if you're after one of those tags. Once your license and any needed permits are in hand, you're ready for the field.

The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.

Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course

Washington's certification path depends on your age when you register for the course.

1. Online course only (18 and older at registration): Complete the Hunter-Ed Washington course ($24.95) and pass the exam to receive your permanent certificate, with no field skills evaluation required.
2. Online course plus Field Skills Evaluation Course (younger than 18 at registration): Complete the same online course, then register separately for the required in-person Field Skills Evaluation Course to receive your permanent certificate.
3. Military, veteran, or law enforcement exemption: Complete the online exam, then submit your exam certificate and a Military Exemption Form to WDFW to waive the field skills requirement.

Passing the online course doesn't guarantee a Field Skills Evaluation seat, so register for both well ahead of the season you're planning to hunt.

Step 2: Buy Your Hunting License

Once you have your hunter education certificate, if it applies to you, you can buy your license through the WDFW website, by phone, or at an approved license dealer.

You'll need your Social Security number if you're 15 or older, proof of hunter education if required, and payment.

Step 3: Add Tags and Permits and Go Hunting

A standard Washington Small Game License doesn't cover deer, elk, bear, or cougar. Those species each require their own license, and many limited-entry hunts for deer, elk, moose, and other species are allocated through WDFW's special hunt permit drawing.

Once your license and any needed permits are in hand, you're ready to hunt.

Washington Hunting License Requirements by Age

Here's a high-level overview of the requirements for hunting licenses in Washington by age.

Privileges and stamps:

• Deer, elk, bear, and cougar each require their own species-specific license, though small game can be bundled in at a discount when purchased alongside a big game package.
• Turkey hunters need a Turkey Tag ($21.75 resident, $61.22 non-resident), and migratory bird hunters need both a Migratory Bird Permit ($23.27) and a Migratory Bird Authorization ($18.22).
• The Get Outdoors package ($330.54 resident) bundles fishing and multiple big game species at a discounted combined rate.

Season dates and regulations vary by species and Game Management Unit, so check before you plan a hunt.

Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost

Washington stands out for letting certified adults skip any in-person requirement entirely, while offering exemptions for military members and law enforcement who'd otherwise need the field skills evaluation. The chart below offers a quick overview of those formats.

Whichever format you choose, your hunter education certificate never expires once WDFW issues it. Only your hunting license needs renewing, and that happens every year on April 1.

Documents Required To Buy Your License

Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your Washington hunting license. You'll need:

• A valid government-issued photo ID
• Your Social Security number, if you're 15 or older
• Proof of hunter education certification, if you were born after January 1, 1972
• Payment for your license and any species-specific tags or permits

Washington Hunting Laws and Penalties

Hunting small game without the required license in Washington is Unlawful Hunting of Wild Animals in the Second Degree, a misdemeanor carrying up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Hunting big game illegally is a Class C felony carrying up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, and courts also assess a separate criminal wildlife penalty on conviction, ranging from $2,000 for deer, elk, bear, or cougar up to $12,000 for species like grizzly bear or trophy mountain sheep.

Exceeding bag limits by twice the legal amount is a gross misdemeanor carrying up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine, and property used in a violation can be seized and forfeited to the state. Read more on Washington's hunting laws and regulations before you head out.

What About Reciprocity with Other States?

Washington accepts hunter education certificates from any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country that meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) standards.

Plus, it works both ways. Your card is accepted in most states if you hunt elsewhere.

What Out-of-State Visitors Should Know

Non-resident hunters pay $252.47 for a Small Game License and significantly more for big game, such as $599.07 for a Deer License, following a 38 percent fee increase that took effect in 2025.

Hunters born after January 1, 1972, must still meet Washington's hunter education requirement regardless of home state, and non-resident disabled veterans who qualify under state law can receive licenses at the same rate as a non-disabled Washington resident.

Start Your Washington Hunter Safety Course Today, Then Get Your Hunting License

Ready to get certified? The Hunter-Ed Washington course is approved by WDFW, self-paced, and available on any device. Hunters 18 and older at registration can complete it with no field skills evaluation required, while hunters younger than 18 also need to attend and pass the in-person Field Skills Evaluation Course.

Complete the course and get your lifetime Washington hunter education certificate.

Approved by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) | Last verified August 14, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Do I need a hunting license to hunt in Washington?

A: Yes, anyone who hunts wildlife in Washington needs a hunting license, most commonly a Small Game License for birds and small mammals. Big game like deer, elk, bear, and cougar each require their own separate license.

Q: How much does a Washington hunting license cost?

A: A Washington resident Small Game License costs $55.13, while the non-resident equivalent costs $252.47 following a 2025 fee increase. Big game licenses cost significantly more, especially for non-residents, such as $599.07 for a non-resident Deer License.

Q: Who needs hunter education certification in Washington?

A: Washington requires hunter education certification for anyone born after January 1, 1972. Hunters born on or before that date are exempt from the requirement, regardless of their current age.

Q: Can I take Washington's hunter education course entirely online?

A: Yes, if you're 18 or older when you register, Washington's online hunter education course requires no in-person component at all. Hunters younger than 18 at registration must also attend and pass an in-person Field Skills Evaluation Course.

Q: Is there a hunter education exemption for military members in Washington?

A: Yes, active-duty or honorably discharged military members stationed in Washington, or who are Washington residents, can skip the field skills evaluation after passing the online exam and submitting a Military Exemption Form to WDFW. Current or retired Washington law enforcement officers qualify for a similar exemption from the firearm field skills portion.

Q: What is Washington's Hunter Education Deferral Program?

A: Washington's Hunter Education Deferral Program allows qualifying individuals to hunt for one year without completing hunter education first. It's intended as a temporary exemption, not a substitute for eventually completing the course.