Washington Administrative Code › Title 220 - Fish and Wildlife, Department of › WILDLIFE › Chapter 220-416 - Wildlife-Hunting-Small game, birds, and other wildlife › Section 220-416-060 - 2024-2025 Migratory gamebird seasons and regulations

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
All migratory waterfowl, coot, snipe, mourning dove and
				  band-tailed pigeon are closed to harvest unless season dates are specified in
				  this section. Hunters must comply with the bag, possession, and season limits
				  described in this section. Failure to do so constitutes a violation of RCW
				   77.15.245, 77.15.400, or 77.15.430, depending on the species hunted and the
				  circumstances of the violation.
DUCKS
Statewide:
Oct. 12-20, 2024, and Oct. 23, 2024 -
				  Jan. 26, 2025; except scaup season closed Oct. 12 - Nov. 1, 2024.
Special youth hunting days open only to hunters 15 years of
				  age or under (must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old who is not
				  hunting): Sept. 21, 2024, and Feb. 1, 2025, in Western Washington (West Zone);
				  Sept. 28, 2024, and Feb. 1, 2025, in Eastern Washington (East Zone).
Special veterans and active military personnel hunting day
				  open only to hunters as defined in Section 3 of 16 U.S. Code Sec. 704 as
				  amended by the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation
				  Act. Active duty military includes members of the National Guard and Reserves
				  on active duty (other than for training). Veterans must have served in the
				  active military, naval, or air service, and discharged or released under
				  Honorable conditions: Feb. 1, 2025, in Western Washington (West Zone) and
				  Eastern Washington (East Zone). Hunters must have one of the following, or a
				  copy of, during the hunt: DD214, Veteran Benefit Card, Retired Active Military
				  I.D., or Active Duty I.D. card.
Daily Bag Limit: 7 ducks, to include not more than 2 hen
				  mallard, 1 pintail, 2 scaup, 2 canvasback, and 2 redhead statewide; and to
				  include not more than 2 scoter, 2 long-tailed duck, and 2 goldeneye in Western
				  Washington.
Possession Limit for Regular Season: 21 ducks, to include not
				  more than 6 hen mallard, 3 pintail, 6 scaup, 6 canvasback, and 6 redhead
				  statewide; and to include not more than 6 scoter, 6 long-tailed duck, and 6
				  goldeneye in Western Washington.
Possession Limit for Youth, Veterans and Active Military
				  Personnel Hunting Days: Same as Daily Bag Limit.
Harlequin Duck: Season closed statewide, except through a
				  limited number of issued permits. The number of available harlequin duck
				  special permits for the 2024-2025 season is 38.
AUTHORIZATION AND HARVEST RECORD CARD REQUIRED TO HUNT
				  SEA DUCKS
Hunters must physically possess a special 2024-2025 paper or
				  electronic hunting authorization and harvest record card for sea ducks when
				  hunting scoter, long-tailed duck, and goldeneye in Western Washington.
				  Immediately after taking a sea duck into possession, hunters must record all
				  required information on the harvest record card. Hunters required to physically
				  possess a paper harvest record card must enter all required information in ink.
				  Hunters required to physically possess an electronic harvest record card must
				  enter all required information through the licensing mobile application.
HARLEQUIN DUCK SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATIONS
To apply for a harlequin duck permit, each applicant must
				  have a valid Washington state small game hunting license, migratory bird
				  permit, and migratory bird authorization.
Persons who are successfully drawn for a harlequin duck
				  permit must obtain the harlequin duck permit mandatory harvest report card to
				  legally harvest a harlequin duck.
Persons who are successfully drawn for a harlequin duck
				  permit and obtain the harlequin duck permit harvest report card, are allowed a
				  one-season limit on harlequin duck during approved duck season hunting dates in
				  Washington state.
Persons who have previously been selected for a harlequin
				  duck permit are ineligible to apply for a subsequent harlequin duck permit for
				  three seasons following the selected license year.
Incomplete, ineligible, or inaccurate applications will not
				  be accepted or entered into the drawing.
COOT (Mudhen)
Same areas and dates (including youth, veterans and active
				  military personnel hunting days) as the duck season.
Daily Bag Limit: 25 coots.
Possession Limit: 75 coots.
Possession Limit for Youth, Veterans and Active Military
				  Personnel
Hunting Days: Dame as Daily Bag Limit.
SNIPE
Same areas and dates (except youth, veterans and active
				  military personnel hunting days) as the duck season.
Daily Bag Limit: 8 snipe.
Possession Limit: 24 snipe.
GEESE (except Brant)
Special youth hunting days open only to hunters 15 years of
				  age or under (must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old who is not
				  hunting): Sept. 21, 2024, and Feb. 1, 2025, in Western Washington (West Zone);
				  Sept. 28, 2024, and Feb. 1, 2025, in Eastern Washington (East Zone).
Special veterans and active military personnel hunting day
				  open only to hunters as defined in Section 3 of 16 U.S. Code Sec. 704 as
				  amended by the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation
				  Act. Active duty military includes members of the National Guard and Reserves
				  on active duty (other than for training). Veterans must have served in the
				  active military, naval, or air service, and discharged or released under
				  Honorable conditions: Feb. 1, 2025, in Western Washington (West Zone) and
				  Eastern Washington (East Zone). Hunters must have one of the following, or a
				  copy of, during the hunt: DD214, Veteran Benefit Card, Retired Active Military
				  I.D., or Active Duty I.D. card.
Daily Bag Limit for September dates: 4 Canada geese and 10
				  white-fronted geese.
Daily Bag Limit for February date: 4 Canada geese (except
				  dusky Canada geese which are closed to harvest), 10 white-fronted geese, and 10
				  white geese (snow, Ross', blue phase), except in Goose Management Area
2 Coast and Inland where the bag limit for Canada geese is
				  reduced to
3 and dusky Canada geese remain closed to harvest.
Possession Limit for Youth, Veterans and Active Military
				  Personnel Hunting Days: Same as Daily Bag Limit.
Western Washington Goose Seasons
Goose Management Area 1: Skagit and Whatcom counties, and
				  that portion of Snohomish County west of Interstate 5.
September Canada Goose Season
Sept. 7-12, 2024.
Daily Bag Limit: 5 Canada geese.
Possession Limit: 15 Canada geese.
Regular Season
Oct. 12 - Dec. 1, and Dec. 14, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025, for
				  Canada and white-fronted geese (except brant).
Oct. 12 - Dec. 1, and Dec. 14, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025, and Feb.
				  8-18, 2025, for snow, Ross', and blue geese (collectively referred to as white
				  geese). During Feb. 8-18, 2025, in Skagit, Whatcom and Snohomish counties,
				  specified WDFW lands including Fir Island Farm Game Reserve, Island Unit,
				  Johnson DeBay's Slough Swan Reserve and Hunt Unit, Leque Island Unit, Samish
				  Unit, Samish River Unit, South Padilla Bay Unit, and Skagit Headquarters Unit
				  of the Skagit Wildlife Area, and all units of the Whatcom Wildlife Area are
				  closed to goose hunting in Goose Management Area 1.
Daily Bag Limit: 4 Canada geese (except dusky Canada geese
				  which are closed to harvest), 10 white-fronted geese, and 10 white geese (snow,
				  Ross', blue phase). During Feb. 8-18, 2025: 20 white geese.
Possession Limit: 12 Canada geese (except dusky Canada geese
				  which are closed to harvest), 30 white-fronted geese, and 30 white geese (snow,
				  Ross', blue phase). During Feb. 8-18, 2025: 60 white geese.
AUTHORIZATION AND HARVEST RECORD CARD REQUIRED TO HUNT
				  SNOW GEESE
Hunters must physically possess a special 2024-2025 paper or
				  electronic migratory bird hunting authorization and harvest record card for
				  snow geese when hunting snow, Ross', and blue geese in Goose Management Area 1.
				  Immediately after taking a snow, Ross', or blue goose into possession, hunters
				  must record all required information on the harvest record card. Hunters
				  required to physically possess a paper harvest record card must enter all
				  required information in ink. Hunters required to physically possess an
				  electronic harvest record card must enter all required information through the
				  licensing mobile application.
SKAGIT COUNTY AND WHATCOM COUNTY SPECIAL
				  RESTRICTIONS
It is unlawful to discharge a firearm for the purpose of
				  hunting waterfowl within 100 feet of any maintained portion of a public highway
				  or roadway on Fir Island in Skagit County or to discharge a firearm for the
				  purpose of hunting snow geese within 100 feet of any maintained portion of a
				  public highway or roadway in other areas of Skagit County or Whatcom
				  County.
While hunting snow geese, if a hunter is convicted of (a)
				  trespass; (b) shooting from, across, or along the maintained part of any public
				  highway; (c) discharging a firearm for the purpose of hunting waterfowl within
				  100 feet of any maintained portion of a public highway or roadway on Fir Island
				  in Skagit County or discharging a firearm within 100 feet of any maintained
				  portion of a public highway or roadway for the purpose of hunting snow geese in
				  other areas of Skagit County or Whatcom County; or (d) exceeding the daily bag
				  limit for geese, authorization will be invalidated for the remainder of the
				  current snow goose season and an authorization will not be issued for the
				  subsequent snow goose season.
Goose Management Area 2 - Coast:
Pacific County
				  and the portion of Grays Harbor County west of highway 101.
September Canada Goose Season
Sept. 7-15, 2024.
Daily Bag Limit: 5 Canada geese, except 15 Canada geese in
				  Pacific County.
Possession Limit: 15 Canada geese, except 45 Canada geese in
				  Pacific County.
Regular Season
Open in all areas from 30 minutes after the start of official
				  hunting hours to 30 minutes before the end of official hunting hours, 7 days
				  per week during Oct. 12-27, 2024; Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays only, Oct.
				  30 - Dec. 1, 2024, and Dec. 18, 2024 - Jan. 19, 2025, and Feb. 8-19, 2025.
				  During Feb. 8-19, 2025, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife
				  Refuges (NWRs) and WDFW Wildlife Areas are closed to goose hunting in Goose
				  Management Area 2 - Coast.
Bag Limits for Goose Management Area 2 - Coast:
Daily Bag Limit: 3 Canada geese (except dusky Canada geese
				  which are closed to harvest), 10 white-fronted geese, and 10 white geese (snow,
				  Ross', blue).
Possession Limit: 9 Canada geese (except dusky Canada geese
				  which are closed to harvest), 30 white-fronted geese, and 30 white geese (snow,
				  Ross', blue).
Dusky Canada geese: SEASON CLOSED.
Goose Management Area 2 - Inland:
Clark,
				  Cowlitz, Wahkiakum counties and the portion of Grays Harbor County east of
				  highway 101.
September Canada Goose Season
Sept. 7-15, 2024.
Daily Bag Limit: 5 Canada geese.
Possession Limit: 15 Canada geese.
Regular Season
Open in all areas except Ridgefield NWR from 30 minutes after
				  the start of official hunting hours to 30 minutes before the end of official
				  hunting hours, 7 days per week during Oct. 12-27, 2024; Saturdays, Sundays, and
				  Wednesdays only, Nov. 20, 2024 - Jan. 12, 2025, and Feb. 8 - Mar. 5, 2025.
				  During Feb. 8 - Mar. 5, 2025, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife
				  Refuges (NWRs) and WDFW Wildlife Areas are closed to goose hunting in Goose
				  Management Area 2 - Inland. Ridgefield NWR open from 30 minutes after the start
				  of official hunting hours to 30 minutes before the end of official hunting
				  hours, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays only, Oct. 12-27, 2024, and Nov. 20,
				  2024 -Jan. 11, 2025.
Bag Limits for Goose Management Area 2 - Inland:
Daily Bag Limit: 3 Canada geese (except dusky Canada geese
				  which are closed to harvest), 10 white-fronted geese, and 10 white geese (snow,
				  Ross', blue).
Possession Limit: 9 Canada geese (except dusky Canada geese
				  which are closed to harvest), 30 white-fronted geese, and 30 white geese (snow,
				  Ross', blue).
Dusky Canada geese: SEASON CLOSED.
Special Provisions for Goose Management Area 2 Coast
				  and Inland Regular Season only:
A dusky Canada goose is defined as a dark-breasted (as shown
				  in the Munsell color chart 10 YR, 5 or less) Canada goose with a culmen (bill)
				  length of 40-50 mm.
Hunters must physically possess a valid special 2024-2025
				  paper or electronic migratory bird hunting authorization and harvest record
				  card for geese when hunting all goose species in Goose Management Area 2 Coast
				  and Inland. New hunters and those who did not maintain a valid 2023-2024
				  authorization must review goose identification training materials and score a
				  minimum of 80% on a goose identification test to receive authorization. Hunters
				  who fail a test must wait 28 days before retesting, and will not be issued a
				  reciprocal authorization until that time. Immediately after taking a goose into
				  possession, hunters must record all required information on the harvest record
				  card. Hunters required to physically possess a paper harvest record card must
				  enter all required information in ink. Hunters required to physically possess
				  an electronic harvest record card must enter all required information through
				  the licensing mobile application.
It is unlawful for hunters in Goose Management Area 2 Coast
				  and Inland to fail to comply with the directions of authorized department
				  personnel related to the collection of goose subspecies information pursuant to
				  RCW  77.12.071. A person who prevents department personnel from collecting
				  samples of tissue or other bodily parts is subject to prosecution under RCW
				   77.15.360 Unlawful interfering in department operations -Penalty. If a hunter
				  takes a dusky Canada goose or does not comply with requirements listed above
				  regarding WDFW collection of subspecies information, authorization will be
				  invalidated by the department and the hunter will not be able to hunt geese in
				  Goose Management Area 2 Coast and Inland for the remainder of the season. It is
				  unlawful to fail to comply with all provisions listed above for Goose
				  Management Area 2 Coast and Inland. Taking one dusky Canada goose is punishable
				  as an infraction under RCW  77.15.160 (5)(b). Other violations of Area 2 goose
				  hunting rules are punishable as an infraction under RCW  77.15.160 (2)(e) or as
				  a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor under RCW  77.15.400 unlawful hunting of wild
				  birds, depending on the circumstances of the violation.
Goose Management Area 3
Includes all parts of Western Washington not included in
				  Goose Management Areas 1 and 2.
September Canada Goose Season
Sept. 7-12, 2024.
Daily Bag Limit: 5 Canada geese.
Possession Limit: 15 Canada geese.
Regular Season
Oct. 12-24, 2024, and Nov. 2, 2024 - Jan. 26, 2025.
Daily Bag Limit: 4 Canada geese (except dusky Canada geese
				  which are closed to harvest), 10 white-fronted geese, and 10 white geese (snow,
				  Ross', blue).
Possession Limit: 12 Canada geese (except dusky Canada geese
				  which are closed to harvest), 30 white-fronted geese, and 30 white geese (snow,
				  Ross', blue).
Eastern Washington Goose Seasons
September Canada Goose Season (Eastern Washington) Sept. 7-8,
				  2024. Daily Bag Limit: 5 Canada geese. Possession Limit: 10 Canada
				  geese.
Goose Management Area 4
Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas,
				  Lincoln, Okanogan, Spokane, and Walla Walla counties.
Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays only during Oct. 12, 2024
				  - Jan. 19, 2025; additionally, to accommodate opportunity during recognized
				  holiday periods, the 2023-2024 season will include: Nov. 11, 28, and 29, 2024;
				  Dec. 26, 27, 30, and 31, 2024; and every day Jan. 20-26, 2025, for Canada geese
				  and white-fronted geese.
Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays only during Oct. 12-20,
				  2024, and Nov. 9, 2024 - Jan. 19, 2025; additionally, to accommodate
				  opportunity during recognized holiday periods, the 2022-2023 season will
				  include: Nov. 11, 28, and 29, 2024; Dec. 26, 27, 30, and 31, 2024; and every
				  day Jan. 20-26, 2025, and Feb. 15 - Mar. 2, 2025, for snow, Ross', and blue
				  phase geese (collectively referred to as white geese).
Goose Management Area 5
Includes all parts of Eastern Washington not included in
				  Goose Management Area 4.
Oct. 12-28, 2024, and every day from Nov. 2, 2024 - Jan. 26,
				  2025.
Bag Limits for all Eastern Washington Goose Management Areas
				  during regular seasons:
Daily Bag Limit: 4 Canada geese, 10 white-fronted geese, and
				  10 white geese (snow, Ross', blue). During Feb. 15 - Mar. 2, 2025, in GMA4: 20
				  white geese.
Possession Limit: 12 Canada geese, 30 white-fronted geese,
				  and 30 white geese (snow, Ross', blue). During Feb. 15 - Mar. 2, 2025, in GMA4:
				  60 white geese.
BRANT
Will remain closed in Skagit County, including during the
				  youth, veteran, and active military date, and may only open under the following
				  conditions on specified dates.
If the 2024-2025 brant population in Skagit County is below
				  3,000 (as determined by aerial survey), the brant season in Skagit County will
				  remain closed.
If the 2024-2025 brant population in Skagit County is
				  3,000-6,000 (as determined by aerial survey), the brant season in Skagit County
				  will be open on the following dates: Jan. 18, 22, and 25, 2025, and during the
				  Feb. 1, 2025, youth, veterans, and active military date.
If the 2024-2025 brant population in Skagit County is greater
				  than 6,000 (as determined by aerial survey), the brant season in Skagit County
				  will be open on the following dates: Jan. 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 22, 25, and 26,
				  2025, and during the Feb. 1, 2025, youth, veterans, and active military
				  date.
Open in Clallam and Whatcom counties only on the following
				  dates: Jan. 18, 22, and 25, 2025.
Open in Pacific County only on the following dates: Jan. 4,
				  5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 26, 2025, but may be adjusted
				  pending the most recent 3-year running average results of the Pacific flyway
				  winter brant survey.
Special youth, open to hunters 15 years of age or under (must
				  be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old who is not hunting), veterans
				  and active military personnel hunting day, open to hunters as defined in
				  Section 3 of 16 U.S. Code Sec. 704 as amended by the John D. Dingell, Jr.
				  Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. Active duty military includes
				  members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for
				  training). Veterans must have served in the active military, naval, or air
				  service, and discharged or released under Honorable conditions: Feb. 1, 2025.
				  Hunters must have one of the following, or a copy of, during the hunt: DD214,
				  Veteran Benefit Card, Retired Active Military I.D., or Active Duty I.D.
				  card.
AUTHORIZATION AND HARVEST RECORD CARD REQUIRED TO HUNT
				  BRANT
Hunters must physically possess a special 2024-2025 paper or
				  electronic migratory bird hunting authorization and harvest record card for
				  brant when hunting brant. Immediately after taking a brant into possession,
				  hunters must record all required information on the harvest record card.
				  Hunters required to physically possess a paper harvest record card must enter
				  all required information in ink. Hunters required to physically possess an
				  electronic harvest record card must enter all required information through the
				  licensing mobile application.
Bag Limits for Clallam, Skagit, Pacific and Whatcom
				  counties:
Daily Bag Limit: 2 brant.
Possession Limit: 6 brant.
Special youth, veterans and active military personnel hunting
				  day.
Daily Bag and Possession Limit: 2 brant.
SWANS
Season closed statewide.
MOURNING DOVE
Sept. 1 - Oct. 30, 2024, statewide. Daily Bag Limit: 15
				  mourning doves. Possession Limit: 45 mourning doves.
BAND-TAILED PIGEON
Sept. 15-23, 2024, statewide. Daily Bag Limit: 2 band-tailed
				  pigeons. Possession Limit: 6 band-tailed pigeons.
AUTHORIZATION AND HARVEST RECORD CARD REQUIRED TO HUNT
				  BAND-TAILED PIGEONS
Hunters must physically possess a special 2024-2025 paper or
				  electronic migratory bird hunting authorization and harvest record card for
				  band-tailed pigeons when hunting band-tailed pigeons. Immediately after taking
				  a band-tailed pigeon into possession, hunters must record all required
				  information on the harvest record card. Hunters required to physically possess
				  a paper harvest record card must enter all required information in ink. Hunters
				  required to physically possess an electronic harvest record card must enter all
				  required information through the licensing mobile application.
FALCONRY SEASONS
DUCKS, COOTS, SNIPE, GEESE, AND MOURNING DOVES (EXCEPT
				  BRANT) (Falconry)
Same season dates for each species in each area as listed
				  above.
Daily Bag Limit: 3, straight or mixed bag, including ducks,
				  coots, snipe, geese, and mourning doves during established seasons. Possession
				  Limit: 3 times the daily bag limit.
DUCKS, COOTS, CANADA GEESE, WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, WHITE
				  GEESE AND BRANT
(Extended Falconry)
Sept. 21, 2024, and Feb. 1, 2025, in Western Washington (West
				  Zone).
Sept. 28, 2024, and Feb. 1, 2025, in Eastern Washington (East
				  Zone).
Daily Bag Limit: 3, straight or mixed bag, including
				  allowable species specified under youth, veterans and active military personnel
				  dates.
Possession Limit: Same as the Daily Bag Limit.
MOURNING DOVE (Extended Falconry)
Oct. 31 - Dec. 16, 2024.
Daily Bag Limit: 3, straight or mixed bag, including ducks,
				  coots, snipe, and geese during established seasons.
Possession Limit: 3 times the daily bag limit.
HIP REQUIREMENTS:
All hunters of migratory game birds (duck, goose, coot,
				  snipe, mourning dove, and band-tailed pigeon) age 16 and over are required to
				  complete a harvest information program (HIP) survey at a license dealer and
				  possess a Washington migratory bird permit as evidence of compliance with this
				  requirement when hunting migratory game birds. Youth hunters are required to
				  complete a HIP survey and possess a Washington migratory bird permit (free for
				  youth) as evidence of compliance with this requirement when hunting migratory
				  game birds.