New Washington Fishing, Hunting License Prices Out

With Washington lawmakers’ passage of increased fishing and hunting fees set to take effect first thing next month, WDFW is updating out-the-door prices for its various licenses and fees, as well as reminding Columbia River anglers the salmon-steelhead endorsement is returning come January 1, 2026.

“As a result of state legislation passed this session, hunting and fishing license fees will increase July 1, 2025, reflecting the first license fee increase since 2011,” states an email from WDFW out this morning. “Signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on May 17, the bill increases fees by 38% and includes a senior discount for hunting licenses and a senior and disabled veteran discount for license packages (Fish Washington and Get Outdoors).”

The email adds that the agency didn’t request the fee increase and that the revenue generated it essentially is a “fund swap” offsetting General Fund reductions imposed by politicians.

Links to license tables show prices for fishing, big game and small game licenses after dealer and transaction fees have been applied. WDFW says lumping multiple items into the same transaction could lower your bill. The tables also include definitions for various categories – disabled, youth, state resident, etc.

The fee increase is the first since 2011 and second since the late 1990s.

State legislators also granted the Fish and Wildlife Commission authority to increase fees via surcharge to “fund compensation, central service, and other increased operating costs approved by the Legislature” by November 1 of odd-numbered years.

For how it came to be, see these articles on this blog tracking it.

And WDFW is also giving those who fish the Columbia for Chinook, coho, summer-runs, sockeye and certain other stocks that the endorsement returns at the start of next year.

“Starting Jan. 1, 2026, anglers fishing for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River and its Washington tributaries will need a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement (CRSSE). This new requirement, established by House Bill 2003 and signed into law on May 17, applies to resident and non-resident anglers age 15 and older. The endorsement will cost $8.75 for most anglers, with a discount for youth and seniors,” the agency’s email states.

The original endorsement was in effect from 2010 to 2019 and came out of the Great Recession, which carved a $30 million hole out of WDFW’s budget.