Official GIS polygon layers render here when available. Click a unit polygon to ask Jeremiah for practical hunting background; seeded unit cards appear only when no GIS layer has been imported yet.

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high confidence

Opportunities

12

researched nonresident paths

Applications

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GIS

ArcGIS REST

Deer / Elk opportunities

First-pass official-source research package for nonresident applications, draw/OTC paths, odds, harvest stats, and map linkage. Retrieved 2026-05-13.

1 opportunities

1 mapped

17 sources

Application process

Washington nonresidents use the same WDFW special-permit draw as residents; no official nonresident quota was found. Applications for deer, elk, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep, and turkey run April 20 through midnight May 20, 2026. Washington uses a weighted-point system by species/category: each submitted application earns a point, unsuccessful applicants keep accumulating category points, and points reset when drawn in that category. Apply by purchasing one application per eligible category, then submitting/ranking hunt choices in WILD/FishHunt; most categories allow up to four choices, while quality deer and quality elk allow two. If an application is purchased but choices are not submitted by deadline, the applicant receives a point but is not in that year's drawing. Results post in WILD in June. Permits may be returned up to two weeks before the season opener to restore points. Deer/elk/turkey require license prerequisites before submission; moose/sheep/goat licenses are purchased only if drawn.

Open portal

Timezone: Pacific Time (WDFW deadline says midnight; verify exact portal cutoff annually)

Deer / Elk

Multi-season deer and elk tag drawings

medium

draw

nonresident

map: gmu

Units: statewide/unit-specific general seasons as allowed by deer/elk regulations

Deadlines: Consult current multi-season page/PDF annually; 2026-2027 multi-season permit PDF is linked from eRegulations.

Fees: Multi-Season Deer Tag: $191.77 • Multi-Season Elk Tag: $250.97

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Prerequisites

• Create/use a WDFW WILD/FishHunt account at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/login or use the MyWDFW app, phone line, or license vendor.
• License year is April 1-March 31. Persons age 15+ must provide Social Security Number to obtain a license.
• Hunters born after Jan. 1, 1972 generally need hunter education to buy a Washington hunting license; hunter-ed deferral holders may not apply for deer or elk special permits in 2026.
• For deer and elk special permits, buy the hunting license and select the matching transport tag/hunt method/location before submitting hunt choices.
• For turkey special permits, buy a valid small game hunting license before the application can be purchased; a turkey tag is required to hunt.
• For mountain goat, moose, and bighorn sheep, no license is required before applying; successful applicants must buy the special hunt license/tag by WDFW deadline or the permit is void/alternate offered.
• Nonresident adult special permit application fee listed by WDFW/MyWDFW for 2026 is $152.30 per application/category; youth under 16 special permit applications are $5.05.
• Selected goat hunters must complete WDFW mountain goat gender identification training before purchasing the license.

Jeremiah guide notes

Can a nonresident apply for Washington special permits?

Yes. Washington's official special-permit pages describe who may apply by license/category and list one nonresident application fee. I found no official nonresident quota/cap; treat nonresidents as applying in the same weighted-point draw unless WDFW publishes a species-specific restriction.

What should I buy before applying?

For deer and elk, buy the needed license and select the transport tag that matches the special hunt before submitting choices. For turkey, buy a small-game hunting license before buying the application and have a turkey tag to hunt. For moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat, apply first; if drawn, buy the expensive special hunt license/tag by WDFW's deadline.

How do points work?

Each submitted special-permit application earns a point in that species/category. If you are not drawn, points accumulate for that category. If you draw, points for that category reset to zero. If you buy but do not submit choices before the deadline, you get a point but are not in that year's draw.

What is the deadline?

For 2026 special permits, WDFW lists April 20 through midnight May 20. Use Pacific time and verify exact portal cutoff each year. Draw results post in WILD in June.

How do I pick units?

Most general hunts and many special deer/elk/moose hunts map cleanly to Washington GMUs. Special areas like Deer Areas, Elk Areas, Sheep Units, Moose Areas, Goat Hunt Areas, and Cougar Hunt Areas need separate map layers, so Jeremiah should warn users when the app can show the parent GMU but not the exact special boundary yet.

What are the main gotchas?

Nonresident costs are high, quality deer/elk only allow two hunt choices, access to private timber/lands may require advance permission or fees, hunter-ed deferral holders cannot apply for deer/elk special permits, cougar areas can close when caps are reached, and reporting is mandatory even if you do not hunt.

Official sources

Washington Special Permit Application Instructions

Special permit application window, weighted-point process, hunt choice limits, license/tag prerequisites, group applications, permit return rule, WILD/FishHunt portal.

WDFW / MyWDFW Multi-season tags & special hunt permits

Plain-English WDFW explanation of special hunts, nonresident application fee, portal steps, results timing, multi-season context.

Washington License, Tags & Permit Fees

Nonresident license/tag/application costs and big-game special hunt license/tag fees.

Washington License Information & Requirements

License year, purchase channels, SSN requirement, youth definition, refund/exchange rules.

Washington Deer Special Permits

Deer special hunt categories, application cap, hunter-ed deferral exclusion, sample quotas and 2025 applications/average points.

Washington Elk Special Permits