(1) As used in this section and in the context of general cougar hunting seasons, "harvest guideline" means the estimated allowable harvest; the actual harvest may be less than or more than the harvest guideline.
(2) Early general cougar season is September 1st to December 31st, late general cougar season is January 1st to April 30th of the following year. Hunters can use any legal weapon to hunt cougars.
Harvest guidelines:
(Implied density in parentheses)
| Population Management Unit (PMU) | Hunt Area | Harvest Guideline | |
| 1 | GMU 101 | 7-11 (2.6) | |
| 2 | GMU 105 | 4 (3.72) | |
| 3 | GMUs 108, 111 | 9-11 (3.63) | |
| 4 | GMU 113 | 4-5 (1.91) | |
| 5 | GMU 117 | 11-13 (3.57) | |
| 6 | GMU 121 | 9-11 (3.65)* | |
| 7 | GMUs 124, 127, 130 | 7-9 (2.15) | |
| 8 | GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284, 290, 330, 334, 371, 372, 373, 379, 381 | None | |
| 9** | GMUs 149, 154, 162, 163 | 7-9 (3.56)* | |
| 10** | GMUs 145, 166, 175, 178 | 6-7 (3.51) | |
| 11** | GMUs 169, 172, 181, 186 | 5-6 (3.68) | |
| 12 | GMU 203 | 4-5 (1.91) | |
| 13 | GMU 204 | 6-8 (2.17) | |
| 14 | GMUs 209, 215 | 3-4 (1.91) | |
| 15 | GMUs 218, 231 | 4-5 (1.91) | |
| 16 | GMU 224 | 2 (1.91) | |
| 17 | GMUs 233, 239 | 4-5 (2.42) | |
| 18 | GMUs 242, 243 | 5-6 (2.28) | |
| 19 | GMUs 244, 246, 247 | 4-6 (1.91) | |
| 20 | GMUs 245, 250 | 4-6 (1.91) | |
| 21 | GMUs 249, 251 | 4-6 (1.91) | |
| 22 | GMUs 328, 329, 335 | 8-10 (2.79) | |
| 23 | GMUs 336, 340, 342, 346 | 9-11 (3.61) | |
| 24 | GMUs 352, 356, 360, 364, 368 | 7-9 (2.9) | |
| 25 | GMUs 382, 388 | 3 (1.91) | |
| 26 | GMU 407 | None | |
| 27 | GMUs 418, 426, 437 | 10-13 (1.91) | |
| 28 | GMUs 448, 450 | 8-11 (1.91) | |
| 29 | GMU 454 | None | |
| 30 | GMU 460 | 4-6 (1.91) | |
| 31 | GMUs 466, 485, 490 | 2-3 (1.91) | |
| 32 | GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530 | 6-9 (1.91) | |
| 33 | GMUs 503, 505, 520, 550 | 5-7 (1.91) | |
| 34 | GMUs 510, 513 | 3 (1.91) | |
| 35 | GMU 516 | 3-4 (1.91) | |
| 36 | GMUs 524, 554, 556 | 3 (1.91) | |
| 37 | GMU 560 | 4-5 (1.91) | |
| 38 | GMU 564 | 1 (1.91) | |
| 39 | GMU 568 | 3 (2.74) | |
| 40 | GMU 572 | 2-3 (1.91) | |
| 41 | GMUs 574, 578 | 5-6 (2.82) | |
| 42 | GMUs 601, 602, 603, 612 | 4-6 (1.91) | |
| 43 | GMUs 607, 615 | 3-4 (1.91) | |
| 44 | GMUs 618, 636, 638 | 3-5 (1.91) | |
| 45 | GMUs 621, 624, 627, 633 | None | |
| 46 | GMUs 642, 648, 651 | 6-8 (2.18) | |
| 47 | GMUs 652, 666 | None | |
| 48 | GMUs 653, 654 | 4-5 (1.91) | |
| 49 | GMUs 658, 660, 663, 672, 673, 681, 684, 699 | 8-11 (1.91) | |
| 50 | GMU 667 | 6-7 (3.48) | |
* Adjusted to stay within realistic density.
** A second cougar may be harvested in the hunt area with the purchase of a second cougar transport tag.
(a) In hunt areas with a harvest guideline, the cougar late hunting season may close on or after January 1st in one or more GMUs if cougar harvest meets or exceeds the guideline.
(b) In hunt areas with a harvest guideline, starting January 1st, cougar hunters may hunt cougar from January 1st until the hunt area harvest guideline 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 April 30th, whichever occurs first.
(3) Harvest guideline system:
(a) All cougar of the appropriate age class killed by licensed hunters during the early and late hunting seasons, shall be counted toward the harvest guideline.
(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 harvest guidelines.
(c) It is each cougar hunter's responsibility to verify if the cougar late hunting season is open or closed in hunt areas with a harvest guideline. 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.
(4) 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 and one additional cougar per license year may only be harvested from the following PMUs 9, 10, and 11; 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. A second cougar transport tag must be purchased to take a second cougar in PMUs 9, 10, and 11; which are comprised of the following GMUs: 145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 169, 172, 175, 178, 181, and 186. Hunters may only purchase the second transport tag after having purchased a license which includes 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.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.012,
77.04.055,
77.12.047, and
77.08.030. WSR 22-16-031 (Order 2022-11), § 220-415-100, filed 7/26/22, effective 8/26/22. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.012,
77.04.013,
77.04.020, and
77.04.055. WSR 20-11-020 (Order 20-67), § 220-415-100, filed 5/12/20, effective 6/12/20. 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), § 220-415-100, filed 5/11/18, effective 6/11/18. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.012,
77.04.013,
77.04.020,
77.04.055, and
77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), amended and recodified as § 220-415-100, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. 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, and
77.32.155. WSR 16-12-087, § 232-28-297, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.012,
77.04.055,
77.12.047,
77.12.150, and
77.12.240. WSR 15-10-066 (Order 15-99), § 232-28-297, filed 5/1/15, effective 6/1/15. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.012,
77.04.055,
77.12.047, and
77.15.245. WSR 13-16-056 (Order 13-180), § 232-28-297, filed 8/1/13, effective 9/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.12.047. WSR 12-11-005 (Order 12-70), § 232-28-297, filed 5/2/12, effective 6/2/12.]