Wash. Admin. Code § 220-415-100 - Cougar hunting seasons and regulations

State Regulations
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It is unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions below. A violation of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.410, 77.15.245, or 77.15.280.

(1) As used in this section and in the context of general cougar hunting seasons, "cap" is based on the best available estimate of independent-aged cougar density and growth rate. Cougar mortalities that count towards the cap include independent-aged harvested cougars and cougars killed in response to conflict.

(2) General cougar season is September 1st to March 31st. Hunters can use any legal weapon to hunt cougars.

(3) If a cougar data analysis unit's (CDAU) three-year average during the three-year season setting process is greater than 16 percent mortality, then the cougar hunt management units (CHMU) that were over 16 percent within that CDAU will receive a 10 percent cap, while the remaining CHMUs in that CDAU will receive a 16 percent cap. If a CDAU's three-year average during the three-year season setting process is less than 16 percent mortality, then the CHMUs within that CDAU will receive a 16 percent cap.

Caps by Hunt Area:

Cougar Hunt Management Unit (CHMU)	Hunt Area	Cap
1	GMU 101	10
2	GMU 105	3
3	GMUs 108, 111	4
4	GMU 113	7
5	GMU 117	5
6	GMU 121	4
7	GMU 124	3
8	GMUs 127, 130	4
9	GMUs 133, 136	5
10	GMUs 139, 142	1
11	GMUs 145, 166, 175, 178	3
12	GMUs 149, 154, 162, 163	4
13	GMUs 169, 172, 181, 186	3
14	GMU 203	6
15	GMU 204	9
16	GMUs 209, 215	5
17	GMUs 218, 231	6
18	GMU 224	3
19	GMUs 233, 239	5
20	GMUs 242, 243	6
21	GMUs 244, 246, 247	7
22	GMUs 245, 250	7
23	GMUs 248, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269	8
24	GMUs 249, 251	7
25	GMUs 272, 278, 284, 290	5
26	GMUs 328, 329, 330, 334, 335	8
27	GMUs 336, 340, 342, 346	7
28	GMUs 352, 356, 360, 364, 368	7
29	GMUs 371, 372, 373, 379, 381	3
30	GMUs 382, 388	3
31	GMU 407	6
32	GMU 418	6
33	GMUs 426, 437	9
34	GMU 448	10
35	GMU 450	3
36	GMU 454	2
37	GMU 460	7
38	GMUs 466, 485*	2
39	GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530	11
40	GMUs 503, 505, 520, 550	8
41	GMUs 510, 513	4
42	GMU 516	5
43	GMUs 524, 554, 556	3
44	GMUs 560, 572	10
45	GMU 564	1
46	GMU 568	3
47	GMU 574	2
48	GMU 578	2
49	GMUs 601, 602, 603, 612	7
50	GMUs 607, 615, 618	6
51	GMUs 621, 624	7
52	GMU 627	2
53	GMUs 633, 636, 651	8
54	GMUs 638, 642, 648	8
55	GMUs 652, 666	4
56	GMUs 653, 654	6
57	GMUs 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681, 684, 699	13
58	GMU 667	4

* A special permit to hunt deer or elk in GMU 485 is required to hunt cougar in GMU 485.

(a) The cougar hunting season shall close in one or more CHMUs if cougar mortality meets or exceeds the assigned cap. Additionally, if opened, the season shall close on the Thursday following the cap being reached.

(b) Cougar hunters may hunt cougar until the hunt area cap has been met, and the department has notified licensed cougar hunters by posting the hunt area closure on the department's website and on the toll-free cougar hunting hotline, or March 31st, whichever occurs first.

(4) Cap system:

(a) The cap includes all hunter harvest and known human conflict-related independent-aged cougar mortality. The counting of mortalities will commence on April 1st and conclude on March 31st of the following year.

(b) Agency authorized removals, including depredation permits, landowner kill permits, and WDFW depredation authority, will continue regardless of cap.

(c) It is each cougar hunter's responsibility to verify if the cougar hunting season is open or closed in hunt areas with a cap. Cougar hunters can verify if the season is open or closed by calling the toll-free cougar hunting hotline or visiting the department's website.

(d) The department may close hunting in any CHMU prior to the cap being reached, upon consideration of factors such as disease, suspected additional mortality, or any other issue affecting the cougar population.

(5) Cougar hunting season requirements and special restrictions:

(a) A valid big game hunting license which includes cougar as a species option is required to hunt cougar.

(d) The use of dogs to hunt cougar is prohibited; except by a commission authorized permit (WAC 220-440-030 and 220-412-130).

(e) Any person who takes a cougar must comply with the notification and sealing requirements in WAC 220-400-050.

Notes

Wash. Admin. Code § 220-415-100

Decodified by WSR 17-05-112, Filed 2/15/2017, effective 3/18/2017. Recodified from § 232-28-297. Amended by WSR 18-11-061, Filed 5/11/2018, effective 6/11/2018 Amended by WSR 20-11-020, Filed 5/12/2020, effective 6/12/2020 Amended by WSR 22-16-031, Filed 7/26/2022, effective 8/26/2022 Amended by WSR 24-16-056, Filed 7/31/2024, effective 8/31/2024 Amended by WSR 25-09-099, Filed 4/18/2025, effective 5/19/2025

State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.

(1) As used in this section and in the context of general cougar hunting seasons, "cap" is based on the best available estimate of cougar density and growth rate. Currently those parameters are estimated at 2.3 cougars per 100 square kilometers and 13 percent intrinsic growth rate. The cap includes all known human-related independent-aged cougar mortality (including harvested cougars, cougars killed in response to conflicts, and any other form of human-caused cougar mortality).

(2) General cougar season is September 1st to March 31st. Hunters can use any legal weapon to hunt cougars.

(3) In PMUs that reach the 13 percent cap prior to the recreational hunting season starting, the cap will be increased to 20 percent of the population to provide hunting opportunity in those PMUs. When all known human-related independent-aged cougar mortalities in those PMUs meet or exceed 20 percent of the population, the season shall close in those PMUs. Additionally, if opened, the season shall close within 72 hours of that number being reached.

Cap:

Population Management Unit (PMU)	Hunt Area	13 percent Cap	20 percent
1	GMU 101	8	13
2	GMU 105	2	3
3	GMUs 108, 111	6	8
4	GMU 113	5	8
5	GMU 117	7	11
6	GMU 121	6	8
7	GMUs 124, 127, 130	8	12
8	GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284, 290, 330, 334, 371, 372, 373, 379, 381	None	None
9	GMUs 149, 154, 162, 163	4	5
10	GMUs 145, 166, 175, 178	5	7
11	GMUs 169, 172, 181, 186	3	5
12	GMU 203	5	8
13	GMU 204	7	11
14	GMUs 209, 215	4	6
15	GMUs 218, 231	5	8
16	GMU 224	2	4
17	GMUs 233, 239	4	6
18	GMUs 242, 243	5	8
19	GMUs 244, 246, 247	6	9
20	GMUs 245, 250	6	9
21	GMUs 249, 251	6	9
22	GMUs 328, 329, 335	7	10
23	GMUs 336, 340, 342, 346	6	9
24	GMUs 352, 356, 360, 364, 368	6	9
25	GMUs 382, 388	3	5
26	GMU 407	None	None
27	GMUs 418, 426, 437	13	20
28	GMUs 448, 450	11	17
29	GMU 454	None	None
30	GMU 460	6	9
31	GMUs 466, 485, 490	3	4
32	GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530	9	13
33	GMUs 503, 505, 520, 550	7	11
34	GMUs 510, 513	3	5
35	GMU 516	4	6
36	GMUs 524, 554, 556	3	4
37	GMU 560	5	8
38	GMU 564	1	2
39	GMU 568	2	4
40	GMU 572	3	5
41	GMUs 574, 578	4	6
42	GMUs 601, 602, 603, 612	6	9
43	GMUs 607, 615	4	6
44	GMUs 618, 636, 638	5	7
45	GMUs 621, 624, 627, 633	None	None
46	GMUs 642, 648, 651	7	11
47	GMUs 652, 666	None	None
48	GMUs 653, 654	5	8
49	GMUs 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681, 684, 699	11	16
50	GMU 667	4	6

(a) In hunt areas with a cap, the cougar hunting season shall close in one or more PMUs if cougar mortality meets or exceeds the cap.

(b) In hunt areas with a cap, cougar hunters may hunt cougar until the hunt area cap has been met, and the department has notified licensed cougar hunters by posting the hunt area closure on the department's website and on the toll-free cougar hunting hotline, or March 31st, whichever occurs first.

(4) Cap system:

(a) The cap includes all known human-related independent-aged cougar mortality (including harvested cougars, cougars killed in response to conflicts, and any other form of known human-caused cougar mortality). The counting of mortalities will commence on April 1st and conclude on March 31st of the following year.

(b) Individual problem cougar will continue to be killed on an as-needed basis utilizing depredation permits, landowner kill permits, and WDFW depredation authority regardless of cap.

(d) The department may close hunting in any PMU prior to the cap being reached, upon consideration of factors such as disease, suspected additional mortality, or any other issue affecting the cougar population.

(5) Cougar hunting season requirements and special restrictions.

(a) A valid big game hunting license which includes cougar as a species option is required to hunt cougar.

(b) The statewide bag limit is one cougar per license year statewide; excluding removals authorized under WAC 220-440-030. One cougar transport tag is included with a big game hunting license that has cougar as a species option. It is unlawful to kill or possess spotted cougar kittens or adult cougars accompanied by spotted kittens.

(c) The use of dogs to hunt cougar is prohibited; except by a commission authorized permit (WAC 220-440-030 and 220-412-130).

(d) Any person who takes a cougar must comply with the notification and sealing requirements in WAC 220-400-050.

(e) A special cougar permit is required to hunt cougar in GMU 485.

Notes

Wash. Admin. Code § 220-415-100