PDFWAC 220-415-020

2021-2023 Deer general seasons and definitions.

It is unlawful to fail to comply with the bag, possession, and season limits described below. Violations of this section are punishable under RCW 77.15.410 Unlawful hunting of big game—Penalty.
Bag Limit: One (1) deer per hunter during the license year except where otherwise permitted by department rule.
Hunting Method: Hunters must select one of the hunting methods: Modern firearm, archery, or muzzleloader.
Any Buck Deer Seasons: Open only to the taking of deer with visible antlers (buck fawns illegal).
Antler Point: To qualify as an antler point, the point must be at least one inch long, measured on the longest side.
Antler Restrictions:APPLIES TO ALL HUNTERS DURING ANY GENERAL SEASON AND DESIGNATED SPECIAL PERMIT SEASONS. Buck deer taken in antler restricted game management units (GMUs) must meet minimum antler point requirements. Minimum antler point requirements are antler points on one side only. Eye guards are antler points when they are at least one inch long.
3-point Minimum GMUs: All mule deer in 100, 200, and 300 series GMUs; white-tailed deer in GMUs 127, 130, 133, 136, 139, 142, 145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 169, 172, 175, 178, 181, 186, and black-tailed deer in GMU 578.
Permit-only Units: The following GMUs require a special permit to hunt deer: 290 (Desert), 329 (Quilomene), 371 (Alkali), and 485 (Green River).
GMUs Closed to Deer Hunting: 157 (Mill Creek Watershed), 490 (Cedar River) and 522 (Loo-wit).
Types of deer that a person may legally hunt in Washington:
Black-tailed Deer: Any member of black-tailed/mule deer (species Odocoileus hemionus) found west of a line drawn from the Canadian border south on the Pacific Crest Trail and along the Yakama Indian Reservation boundary in Yakima County to the Klickitat River; south down Klickitat River to the Columbia River.
Mule Deer: Any member of black-tailed/mule deer (species Odocoileus hemionus) found east of a line drawn from the Canadian border south on the Pacific Crest Trail and along the Yakama Indian Reservation boundary in Yakima County to the Klickitat River; south down Klickitat River to the Columbia River.
White-tailed Deer: Any white-tailed deer (member of the species Odocoileus virginianus), except the Columbian whitetail deer (species Odocoileus virginianus leucurus).
MODERN FIREARM DEER SEASONS
License Required: A valid big game hunting license, which includes a deer species option.
Tag Required: A valid modern firearm deer tag for the area hunted.
Hunting Method: Modern firearm deer tag hunters may use rifle, handgun, shotgun, bow, crossbow, or muzzleloader, but only during modern firearm seasons.
Hunt Season
2021 Dates
2022 Dates
2023 Dates
Game Management Units (GMUs)
Legal Deer
HIGH BUCK HUNTS
 
Sept. 15-25
Sept. 15-25
Sept. 15-25
Alpine Lakes, Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Pasayten, Olympic Peninsula, and Henry Jackson Wilderness Areas and Lake Chelan Recreation Area
3 pt. min.
GENERAL SEASON
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Oct. 16-29
Oct. 15-28
Oct. 14-27
101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 121, 124
Any buck
 
Oct. 16-26
Oct. 15-25
Oct. 14-24
203 through 284
Any buck
 
Oct. 16-26
Oct. 15-25
Oct. 14-24
127 through 154, 162 through 186
3 pt. min.
 
Oct. 16-26
Oct. 15-25
Oct. 14-24
373, 379, 381
Any deer
Eastern
Washington
Mule Deer
Oct. 16-26
Oct. 15-25
Oct. 14-24
101 through 154, 162 through 186, 203 through 284, 328, 330 through 368, 372, 373, 379, 381, 382 (except closed in Deer Area 5382), 388
3 pt. min.
Western
Washington
Black-tailed Deer
Oct. 16-31
Oct. 15-31
Oct. 14-31
407, 418, 426, 437, 448, 450, 454, 460, 466, 501 through 520, 524 through 556, 560, 568, 572, 574, 601 through 621, 624 (except Deer Area 6020), 627 through 654, 658 through 699
Any buck
 
 
 
 
410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 564, 655, Deer Area 6020
Any deer
 
Oct. 16-31
Oct. 15-31
Oct. 14-31
578
3 pt. min
LATE GENERAL SEASON
Western
Washington
Black-tailed Deer
Nov. 18-21
Nov. 17-20
Nov. 16-19
407, 454, 466, 501 through 520, 524 through 560, 568, 572, 601 through 621, 624 (except Deer Area 6020), 627 through 654, 658 through 699
Any buck
 
Nov. 18-21
Nov. 17-20
Nov. 16-19
410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 564, 655, Deer Area 6020
Any deer
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Nov. 6-19
Nov. 5-19
Nov. 11-19
105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 121, 124
Any buck
HUNTERS 65 AND OVER AND DISABLED GENERAL SEASONS
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Oct. 23-26
Oct. 22-25
Oct. 21-24
145, 149, 154, Deer Area 1010, and 178
3 pt. min. or antlerless
YOUTH GENERAL SEASONS
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Oct. 23-29
Oct. 22-28
Oct. 21-27
124
Any deer
Oct. 23-26
Oct. 22-25
Oct. 21-24
127 through 142
3 pt. min. or antlerless
Oct. 16-26
Oct. 15-25
Oct. 14-24
145, 149, 154, Deer Area 1010, and 178
3 pt. min. or antlerless
ARCHERY DEER SEASONS
License Required: A valid big game hunting license, which includes a deer species option.
Tag Required: A valid archery deer tag for the area hunted.
Special Notes: Archery tag holders can only hunt during archery seasons with archery equipment (WAC 220-414-070).
Hunt Area
2021 Dates
2022 Dates
2023 Dates
Game Management Units (GMUs)
Legal Deer
EARLY ARCHERY GENERAL DEER SEASONS
Western
Washington
Black-tailed Deer
Sept. 1-24
Sept. 1-23
Sept. 1-29
407 through 426, 437, 448, 450, 454, 466, 501, 504, 505, 554, 564, 568, 621 through 636, 648 through 652, 654 through 673, 684
Any deer
 
 
 
 
460, 503, 574, 601 through 618, 638, 642, 653, 681 and 699
Any buck
 
 
 
 
578
3 pt. min.
 
Sept. 1-19
Sept. 1-18
Sept. 1-24
510, 513, 516, 520, 524, 530, 556
Any deer
 
 
 
 
506, 550, 560, 572
Any buck
Eastern
Washington
Mule Deer
Sept. 1-24
Sept. 1-23
Sept. 1-29
101 through 136, 166 through 175, 181, 243, 334, 382 (except closed in Deer Area 5382), 388
3 pt. min.
 
 
 
 
139, 142, 145, 149, 186, 244 through 247, 249, 250, 260, 284, 372, 373, 379, 381, Deer Area 3334
3 pt. min. or antlerless
 
Sept. 1-19
Sept. 1-25
Sept. 1-24
163, 178
3 pt. min. or antlerless
 
Sept. 1-19
Sept. 1-25
Sept. 1-24
154, 162, 251, 328, 335, 336, 340, 346, 352, 356, 360, 364, 368
3 pt. min.
 
Sept. 1-15
Sept. 1-15
Sept. 1-15
204 through 242, 248, 254, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278
3 pt. min.
 
Sept. 16-24
Sept. 16-23
Sept. 16-29
204 through 242, 248, 254, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278
3 pt. min. or antlerless
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Sept. 1-24
Sept. 1-23
Sept. 1-29
101 through 124
Any buck
 
 
 
 
204 through 250, 254 through 284, 373, 379, 381
Any deer
 
 
 
 
145, 149, 172, 181, 186
3 pt. min. or antlerless
 
 
 
 
127 through 142,166, 169, 175
3 pt. min.
 
Sept. 1-19
Sept. 1-25
Sept. 1-24
154, 162, 163, 178
3 pt. min. or antlerless
LATE ARCHERY GENERAL DEER SEASONS
Western
Washington
Black-tailed Deer
Nov. 24 - Dec. 15
Nov. 23 - Dec. 15
Nov. 22 - Dec. 15
437, 466, 510 through 520, 524
Any deer
 
Nov. 24 - Dec. 15
Nov. 23 - Dec. 15
Nov. 22 - Dec. 15
448, 460, 506, 530, 560, 572, 601, 603 through 618, 638, 642, 681, and 699
Any buck
 
Nov. 24 - Dec. 31
Nov. 23 - Dec. 31
Nov. 22 - Dec. 31
407, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 454, 505, 564, 624, 627, 636, 648, 652, 654, 655, 660 through 672
Any deer
Eastern
Washington
Mule Deer
Nov. 24-30
Nov. 21-30
Nov. 21-30
209, 215, 233, 243, 250
3 pt. min.
 
Nov. 24 - Dec. 8
Nov. 23 - Dec. 8
Nov. 22 - Dec. 8
336, 342, 346, 352, 364, 388, Deer Area 3682
3 pt. min.
 
Nov. 20 - Dec. 8
Nov. 20 - Dec. 8
Nov. 20 - Dec. 8
145, 163, 178, 272, 278, 373, Deer Area 3372
3 pt. min. or antlerless
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Nov. 10 - Dec. 15
Nov. 10 - Dec. 15
Nov. 10 - Dec. 15
101
Any buck
 
Nov. 25 - Dec. 15
Nov. 25 - Dec. 15
Nov. 25 - Dec. 15
105, 108, 117, 121, 124
Any buck
 
Nov. 25 - Dec. 15
Nov. 25 - Dec. 15
Nov. 25 - Dec. 15
127
3 pt. min.
 
Nov. 20 - Dec. 8
Nov. 20 - Dec. 8
Nov. 20 - Dec. 8
145, 163, 178, 272, 278
3 pt. min. or antlerless
 
Nov. 24 - Dec. 15
Nov. 23 - Dec. 15
Nov. 22 - Dec. 15
204, 209, 215, 233, 243
Any deer
 
Nov. 20 - Dec. 8
Nov. 20 - Dec. 8
Nov. 20 - Dec. 8
373
Any deer
MUZZLELOADER DEER SEASONS
License Required: A valid big game hunting license, which includes a deer species option.
Tag Required: A valid muzzleloader deer tag for the area hunted.
Hunting Method: Muzzleloader only.
Special Notes: Muzzleloader tag holders can only hunt during muzzleloader seasons and must hunt with muzzleloader equipment (WAC 220-414-060) or archery equipment (WAC 220-414-070).
Hunt Area
2021 Dates
2022 Dates
2023 Dates
Game Management Units (GMUs)
Legal Deer
High Buck Hunts
Sept. 15-25
Sept. 15-25
Sept. 15-25
Alpine Lakes, Glacier Peak, Pasayten, Mount Baker, Olympic Peninsula, and Henry Jackson Wilderness areas, and Lake Chelan Recreation Area
3 pt. min.
EARLY MUZZLELOADER GENERAL DEER SEASONS
Western
Washington
Black-tailed Deer
Sept. 25 - Oct. 3
Sept. 24 - Oct. 2
Sept. 30 - Oct. 8
407, 418, 426, 437, 448, 450, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 513, 516, 520, 530, 550, 554, 560, 568, 572, 574, 603, 607, 612, 615, 621, 624 (except Deer Area 6020), 633 through 651, 660, 663, 672, 673
Any buck
 
 
 
 
410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 454, 564, 627, 652, 655, 666, 684, and Deer Area 6020
Any deer
 
 
 
 
578
3 pt. min.
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Sept. 25 - Oct. 3
Sept. 24 - Oct. 2
Sept. 30 - Oct. 8
101 through 124, 203, 204, 209, 215, 231, 233, 239, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 250, 251, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284
Any buck
 
 
 
 
145, 149
3 pt. min. or antlerless
 
 
 
 
127, 130, 133, 136, 139, 142, 175, 181, 186
3 pt. min.
 
 
 
 
373, 379
Any deer
Eastern
Washington
Mule Deer
Sept. 25 - Oct. 3
Sept. 24 - Oct. 2
Sept. 30 - Oct. 8
101 through 149, 175, 181, 186, 203, 204, 209, 215, 231, 233, 239, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 248, 250, 251, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284, 328, 330 through 342, 352 through 368, 373, 379
3 pt. min.
Eastern
Washington
Mule Deer
Sept. 25 - Oct. 3
Sept. 24 - Oct. 2
Sept. 30 - Oct. 8
Deer Areas 3334 and 3372
3 pt. min. or antlerless
LATE MUZZLELOADER GENERAL DEER SEASONS
Western
Washington
Black-tailed
Deer
Nov. 24 - Dec. 15
Nov. 23 - Dec. 15
Nov. 22 - Dec. 15
407, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 454, 504, 564, 633, 654, 666, 667, and 684
Any deer
 
 
 
 
448, 460, 501, 602, 621, 651, 658, and 673
Any buck
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Nov. 24 - Dec. 8
Nov. 23 - Dec. 8
Nov. 22 - Dec. 8
113
Any buck
 
Nov. 25 - Dec. 8
Nov. 25 - Dec. 8
Nov. 25 - Dec. 8
130, 133, 136, 139, 142
3 pt. min.
 
Nov. 20 - Dec. 8
Nov. 20 - Dec. 8
Nov. 20 - Dec. 8
172, 181
3 pt. min.
 
Nov. 25 - Dec. 8
Nov. 25 - Dec. 8
Nov. 25 - Dec. 8
379, 381
Any deer
Eastern
Washington
Mule Deer
Nov. 25 - Dec. 8
Nov. 25 - Dec. 8
Nov. 25 - Dec. 8
379, 381
3 pt. min.
Nov. 20-30
Nov. 20-30
Nov. 20-30
382 (except closed in Deer Area 5382)
3 pt. min.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 22-15-096 (Order 22-71), § 220-415-020, filed 7/19/22, effective 8/19/22. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, and 77.12.240. WSR 21-14-022 (Order 21-61), § 220-415-020, filed 6/28/21, effective 7/29/21; WSR 20-12-080 (Order 20-76), § 220-415-020, filed 6/1/20, effective 7/2/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.090, 77.04.130, 77.15.568, 77.08.010, 77.65.510, 77.65.515, and 77.65.520. WSR 19-10-011 (Order 19-79), § 220-415-020, filed 4/19/19, effective 5/20/19. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.020, 77.12.040, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, 77.12.210, 77.12.240, 77.12.320, 77.12.570, 77.12.800, 77.15.245, 77.32.007, 77.32.050, 77.32.070, 77.32.090, 77.32.370, and 77.32.530. WSR 18-11-061 (Order 18-76), § 220-415-020, filed 5/11/18, effective 6/11/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, 77.12.240, 77.12.800, 77.32.090. WSR 17-10-076 (Order 17-10), amended and recodified as § 220-415-020, filed 5/3/17, effective 6/3/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, 77.12.240, 77.12.800, 77.32.090, 77.32.155. WSR 16-15-045 (Order 16-182), § 232-28-357, filed 7/14/16, effective 8/14/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, and 77.12.240. WSR 15-10-059 (Order 15-98), § 232-28-357, filed 4/30/15, effective 5/31/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.240, and 77.32.070. WSR 14-10-019 (Order 14-95), § 232-28-357, filed 4/25/14, effective 5/26/14; WSR 13-11-078 (Order 13-94), § 232-28-357, filed 5/16/13, effective 6/16/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 12-11-005 (Order 12-70), § 232-28-357, filed 5/2/12, effective 6/2/12.]