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WACs > Title 232 > Chapter 232-28 > Section 232-28-357
232-28-342
232-28-358
Agency filings affecting this section
WAC 232-28-357
2015-2017 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 gameâPenalty.
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: 157 (Mill Creek Watershed), 290 (Desert), 329 (Quilomene), 371 (Alkali), and 485 (Green River).
GMUs Closed to Deer Hunting: 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 2015 Dates 2016 Dates 2017 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
Western
Washington
Black-tailed Deer
Oct. 17-31 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, 564, 655, Deer Area 6020 Any deer
    578 3 pt. min.
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Oct. 17-30 Oct. 15-28 Oct. 14-27 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 124 Any white-tailed buck
 Oct. 17-27 Oct. 15-25 Oct. 14-24 203 through 284 Any white-tailed buck
 Oct. 17-27 Oct. 15-25 Oct. 14-24 127 through 154, 162 through 186 (except Deer Area 1040) White-tailed, 3 pt. min.
 Oct. 17-27 Oct. 15-25 Oct. 14-24 373, 379, 381 Any white-tailed deer
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
in GMUs 117 and 121
Oct. 17-30 Oct. 15-28 Oct. 14-27 117, 121 Any white-tailed buck
Eastern
Washington
Mule Deer
Oct. 17-27 Oct. 15-25 Oct. 14-24 101 through 154, 162 through 169, 172 (except Deer Area 1040), 175 through 186, 203 through 284, 328, 330 through 368, 372, 373, 379, 381, 382, 388 Mule deer, 3 pt. min.
     Mule deer, 3 pt. min.
LATE GENERAL SEASON
Western
Washington
Black-tailed Deer
Nov. 19-22 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. 19-22 Nov. 17-20 Nov. 16-19 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 564, 655, Deer Area 6020 Any deer
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Nov. 7-19 Nov. 5-19 Nov. 11-19 105, 108, 111, 113, 124 Any white-tailed buck
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer in GMUs 117 and 121
Nov. 7-19 Nov. 5-19 Nov. 11-19 117, 121 Any white-tailed buck
HUNTERS 65 AND OVER, DISABLED, OR YOUTH GENERAL SEASONS
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Oct. 17-30 Oct. 15-28 Oct. 14-27 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 124 Any white-tailed deer
 Nov. 7-19 Nov. 5-19 Nov. 11-19 Deer Area 1050 Any white-tailed deer
 Nov. 7-19 Nov. 5-19 Nov. 11-19 Deer Areas 1060, 1070, 1080 White-tailed, antlerless only
 Oct. 17-27 Oct. 15-25 Oct. 14-24 127 through 142, 145, 149, 154, Deer Area 1010, and 178 White-tailed, 3 pt. min. or antlerless
HUNTERS 65 AND OVER AND DISABLED
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Oct. 17-30 Oct. 15-28 Oct. 14-27 117, 121 Antlerless white-tailed deer
YOUTH GENERAL SEASONS
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer in GMUs 117 and 121
Oct. 17-30 Oct. 15-28 Oct. 14-27 117, 121 Any white-tailed deer
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 232-12-054).
Hunt Area 2015 Dates 2016 Dates 2017 Dates Game Management Units (GMUs) Legal Deer
EARLY ARCHERY GENERAL DEER SEASONS
Western
Washington
Black-tailed Deer
Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-29 407 through 426, 437, 448, 450, 454, 466, 501, 504, 505, 524, 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. 1-27 Sept. 1-25 Sept. 1-24 510, 513, 516, 520, 556 Any deer
    506, 530, 550, 560, 572 Any buck
Eastern
Washington
Mule Deer
Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-29 105 through 121, 166, 169, 172 (except Deer Area 1040), 175, 181, 243, 334 3 pt. min.
    124 through 142, 145, 149, 186, 244 through 247, 249, 250, 260, 372, 373, 379, 381, 382, 388 3 pt. min. or antlerless
 Sept. 1-27 Sept. 1-25 Sept. 1-24 154, 178 3 pt. min. or antlerless
 Sept. 1-27 Sept. 1-25 Sept. 1-24 162, 163, 251, 328, 335, 336, 340, 346, 352, 356, 360, 364, 368 3 pt. min.
 Sept. 1-15 Sept. 1-15 Sept. 1-15 101, 204 through 242, 248, 254, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284 3 pt. min.
 Sept. 16-30 Sept. 16-30 Sept. 16-29 101, 204 through 242, 248, 254, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284 3 pt. min. or antlerless
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-29 101, 105, 108, 111, 113 Any white-tailed deer
Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-29 124, 204 through 250, 254 through 284, 373, 379, 381 Any white-tailed deer
 Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-29 127 through 149, 166, 172 (except Deer Area 1040), 181, 186 White-tailed, 3 pt. min. or antlerless
 Sept. 1-27 Sept. 1-25 Sept. 1-24 154, 162, 163, 178 White-tailed, 3 pt. min. or antlerless
 Sept. 1-27 Sept. 1-25 Sept. 1-24 169, 175 White-tailed, 3 pt. min.
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed
Deer in GMUs 117 and 121
Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-29 117, 121 Any white-tailed deer
LATE ARCHERY GENERAL DEER SEASONS
Western
Washington
Black-tailed Deer
Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 Nov. 23 - Dec. 15 Nov. 22 - Dec. 15 437, 466, 510 through 520, 524, 556 Any deer
 Nov. 25 - 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. 25 - Dec. 31 Nov. 23 - Dec. 31 Nov. 22 - Dec. 31 407, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 454, 505, 564, 624, 627, 636, 648, 652, 654, 655, 660 through 672 Any deer
Eastern
Washington
Mule Deer
Nov. 21-30 Nov. 21-30 Nov. 21-30 209, 215, 233, 243, 250 3 pt. min.
 Nov. 25 - 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 3 pt. min. or antlerless
 Dec. 9-31 Dec. 9-31 Dec. 9-31 Deer Area 1021 Antlerless only
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Nov. 10 - Dec. 15 Nov. 10 - Dec. 15 Nov. 10 - Dec. 15 101 Any white-tailed deer
 Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 124 Any white-tailed deer
 Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 127 White-tailed, 3 pt. min. or antlerless
 Nov. 20 - Dec. 8 Nov. 20 - Dec. 8 Nov. 20 - Dec. 8 145, 163, 178, 272, 278 White-tailed, 3 pt. min. or antlerless
 Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 Nov. 23 - Dec. 15 Nov. 22 - Dec. 15 105, 108, 204, 209, 215, 233, 243, 373 Any white-tailed deer
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed
Deer in GMUs 117 and 121
Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 Nov. 23 - Dec. 15 Nov. 22 - Dec. 15 117, 121 Any white-tailed 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 232-12-051) or archery equipment (WAC 232-12-054).
Hunt Area 2015 Dates 2016 Dates 2017 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
Oct. 3-11 Oct. 1-9 Sept. 30 - Oct. 8 407, 418, 426, 437, 448, 450, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 513, 516, 520, 530, 554, 556, 560, 568, 572, 574, 603, 607, 612, 615, 624 (except Deer Area 6020), 636, 638, 642, 648, 660, 663, 672, 673 Any buck
    410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 454, 564, 627, 652, 655, 666, 684, and Deer Area 6020 Any deer
    578 3 pt. min.
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Oct. 3-11 Oct. 1-9 Sept. 30 - Oct. 8 203, 204, 209, 215, 231, 233, 239, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 248, 250, 251, 260, 272, 278, 284 White-tailed, any buck
    101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 124 Any white-tailed deer
    127, 142, 145, 149 White-tailed, 3 pt. min. or antlerless
    130, 133, 136, 139, 175, 181, 186 White-tailed, 3 pt. min.
    373, 379 Any white-tailed, deer
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed
Deer in GMUs 117 and 121
Oct. 3-11 Oct. 1-9 Sept. 30 - Oct. 8 117, 121 Any white-tailed deer
Eastern
Washington
Mule Deer
Oct. 3-11 Oct 1-9 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 Mule deer, 3 pt. min.
LATE MUZZLELOADER GENERAL DEER SEASONS
Western
Washington
Black-tailed
Deer
Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 Nov. 23 - Dec. 15 Nov. 22 - Dec. 15 407, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 454, 501, 504, 564, 633, 666, 684, and Deer Area 6020 Any deer
    448, 460, 550, 602, 621, 651, 654, 658, 667, and 673 Any buck
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 Nov. 23 - Dec. 8 Nov. 22 - Dec. 8 113 Any white-tailed buck
 Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 130, 133, 136, 139 White-tailed, 3 pt. min. or antlerless
 Nov. 20 - Dec. 8 Nov. 20 - Dec. 8 Nov. 20 - Dec. 8 172 (except Deer Area 1040), 181 White-tailed, 3 pt. min. or antlerless
 Nov. 20-30 Nov. 20-30 Nov. 20-30 379, 381 Any white-tailed deer
Eastern
Washington
Mule Deer
Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 Nov. 25 - Dec. 8 130 Antlerless
 Nov. 20-30 Nov. 20-30 Nov. 20-30 381 3 pt. min. or antlerless
 Nov. 20-30 Nov. 20-30 Nov. 20-30 379, 382 3 pt. min.
[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.]