Big Game Hunting

Washington offers a lot of opportunity to interested hunters. Big game, small game, upland bird, waterfowl, and turkey hunting are available in many areas of the state. This topic will give you some basic information about some of the hunting choices available in the Evergreen State.

Big game hunting is the most popular type of hunting in Washington.

• Deer hunting attracts the most interest, with more than 125,000 people hunting deer in an average year.
• Elk hunting is second on the list of popular big game animals hunted with over 90,000 people purchasing elk tags each year.
• There are about 20,000 bear hunters annually.
• Many hunters are interested in hunting goats, sheep, and moose; however, since these are special permit hunts (which means that hunters must be selected in a lottery), very few people get the opportunity to hunt these animals.