Section 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 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: 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.

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).

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).

[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.]

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.

Rules

232-12-054,232-12-051,232-12-054,