THE FOLLOWING ARE PRESS RELEASES FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
Public comment period open for 2026 Washington hunting season proposals
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is now accepting public comments on proposed hunting season rule changes as part of the Department’s annual hunting season setting process.
WDFW is proposing updated rules and regulations for 2026 waterfowl general hunting seasons and for 2026 deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat special permit opportunities. WDFW is also proposing new Washington Administrative Codes (WAC) language that describes the North Willapa regulated access area for waterfowl hunting.
As part of this rule making, WDFW is proposing eliminating 100 chronic wasting disease (CWD) incentive multi-season deer tags. This proposal does not reduce the number of regularly-offered multi-season deer tags, but removes tags offered through WDFW’s former voluntary CWD sampling program. The voluntary program was discontinued after CWD was discovered in Washington and testing became mandatory.
WDFW is also proposing adjusting Game Management Unit (GMU) boundary descriptions in WDFW’s South Central Region to reflect existing boundary conditions and current naming conventions, and proposing WAC language that clarifies that trespassing to collect shed antlers is prohibited and defining the penalties for doing so.
WDFW is also proposing updated WAC language to clarify rules related to both combination deer and elk licenses, participation in raffle hunts, and Washington auction hunts.
Full descriptions of each proposed rule change are available on WDFW’s rule making webpage in the CR-102 document.
The public comment period is open now until noon on March 12. The public may submit comments online, via email, by phone (855-925-2801, project code 7602), or by mailing WDFW ATTN: Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, WA, 98504.
WDFW will also hold a virtual public hearing and director’s briefing about the proposed hunting rules on March 11. Members of the public interested in commenting during the public hearing must register online no later than 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10.
All members of the public are invited to share their perspectives and participate in WDFW public feedback opportunities regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, language proficiency, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, or basis of disability.
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission delegated the decisions on these rule making proposals to WDFW Director Kelly Susewind. Director Susewind will issue his decision on the delegated rule proposals in late March.
Hunting season setting is an in-depth rule making process that allows WDFW to propose and collect public feedback on changes to Washington hunting rules. In between more robust three-year rule making cycles, annual season setting allows the Department to propose minor season changes or changes due to emerging needs. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission or WDFW director set hunting seasons based on staff recommendations and public input. Visit WDFW’s website for more information about hunting season setting and regulations.
Public invited to provide input on 2027-2028 coastal recreational bottomfish fisheries
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is hosting a virtual public meeting to discuss management options for the 2027-2028 coastal recreational bottomfish fisheries on Feb. 17 at 4 p.m.
West Coast bottomfish are managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) on a biennial management cycle. The PFMC is currently considering harvest levels (annual catch limits) and management measures, such as seasons and bag limits that will affect Washington coastal bottomfish fisheries during the 2027-2028 biennium.
The Feb. 17 meeting will include discussion and public comment opportunities for potential management measures intended to keep the catch within Washington’s recreational harvest guidelines during the upcoming biennium.
WDFW may host additional public meetings in spring 2026 to in conjunction with the PFMC’s public process during PFMC meetings in April and June of 2026.
The meeting will be conducted virtually on Microsoft Teams. To participate, use this weblink. If prompted, the meeting ID is 271 045 092 122 86 and the passcode is Z37iT3PD. Participants can also join by phone by dialing 564-999-2000 and entering conference ID 336 613 810#.
For additional information, refer to the WDFW recreational bottomfish and halibut webpage. The meeting will be recorded and posted online to WDFW’s YouTube channel so people can also watch afterwards at their convenience.
For more information on bottomfish management, refer to the PFMC’s groundfish website.
