The Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) operates under a statutory mandate to preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage Washington's wildlife, food fish, game fish, and shellfish.  The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has been delegated the responsibility to carry out this mandate at the direction of the Commission, which includes establishing basic rules and regulations governing the time, place, manner, and methods used to harvest or enjoy fish and wildlife.  

The WDFW issues various licensing documents, including licenses, tags, endorsements, and permits for hunting and fishing in Washington.  A variety of different resident and nonresident hunting and fishing licenses are available at different rates for residents and nonresidents.  For example, the total cost of a resident annual deer license is $44.90, compared to the total cost of a nonresident license of $434.30. A resident annual fishing combination license has a total cost of $55.35, compared to the total cost of a nonresident license of $124.65.  A resident is a natural person who has maintained a permanent place of abode within the state for at least 90 days immediately preceding an application for a license, has established by formal evidence an intent to continue residing within the state, is not licensed to hunt or fish as a resident in another state or country, and is not receiving resident benefits of another state or country.

A qualifying student attending an accredited institution of higher education must be issued a combination fishing license or any hunting license at the same cost charged to a nondisabled Washington resident for the same license.  To qualify, a student must be a full-time student who is enrolled in and attending an accredited institution of higher education in Washington for at least six months immediately prior to the date of application for any license. A student is deemed full time under the rules of the educational institution the student is attending.