New Or Noteworthy For This Year

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Washington's Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Breakdown

Washington's Moose Breakdown

Washington Mountain Goat Breakdown

Washington's 2026 bighorn sheep, moose, and mountain goat application overview

If you’re a nonresident applying for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, Shiras moose, and/or mountain goat in Washington, it’s important to understand that the process is costly and the odds of drawing a tag are extremely low. That said, the strict management approach implemented by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has helped produce some of the highest-quality tags in the country for each of these species. Residents do have a clear advantage, largely due to lower application costs, but if you’re committed to applying, it makes sense to aim high and go all-in on top-tier units.

We are currently unable to obtain the required documents from Washington to produce draw odds. This has been the unfortunate case since 2023.

Note: The all-species application deadline for Washington is May 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. You can apply online here.

State Information

To view important information and an overview of Washington’s rules/regulations, the draw system, tag and license fees, and an interactive boundary line map, check out our State Profile. You can also view the Species Profiles to access historical and statistical data to help you identify trophy areas.

Important dates and information

Information for first-time applicants in Washington

If you've never applied in Washington before, you will need to have WDFW verify your hunter education information before you can apply. The first step is creating your WILD ID account. After that, you will need to get your hunter education information added to your account, and it does take some time. Make sure to plan ahead.

Mandatory hunt reporting

Washington is a mandatory hunter reporting state. If you do not submit your report, you will be charged a $10 penalty, and this penalty must be paid before you can buy a license the following year. 

By Jan. 31, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. PT, hunters must report their hunting activity for each special permit acquired and each deer, elk, bear, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and turkey tag purchased in 2026 even if you did not hunt. For each transport tag, you will owe a general season hunting activity report and you will also owe a hunting activity report for each big game special permit awarded. You cannot submit this information by mail or email, do so on your Washington WILD licensing system account.

If your season extends beyond Jan. 31, 2027, the hunter report is due within 10 days of the close of that season.

Cost to apply

For the big three, Washington does not require you to purchase a hunting license to apply. You will only be charged the cost of the application fee to have a chance at drawing. For nonresidents, it’s a higher than normal application fee, so keep that in mind. If selected, you must send a check or money order for the appropriate fee to the WDFW's headquarters office by the deadline established by WDFW (15-day minimum) or the permit will become void and will be offered to an alternate. You may also purchase your license using a credit card by calling (866) 246-9453.

Current snowpack conditions

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

Current drought conditions

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

The Washington draw system

One of the greatest advantages of applying in Washington is the absence of a quota split between residents and nonresidents. This implies that every applicant, regardless of their residency status, has an equal opportunity in the drawing process.

When applying, you will first need to purchase the applications you are interested in submitting. Once you have purchased them, you will then need to go into the applications and select the hunts you are interested in drawing. 

The points system

Washington is a pure bonus point system. The more points you have, the more applications go into the bucket and increase your chances of drawing a tag. There is no maximum point draw, but your points are squared, which gives you more presence in the draw each year you are unsuccessful. Essentially, it gives you a slightly better random chance of drawing. You will be awarded a point when you purchase your application. So if it’s your first time entering the draw, you will have one point. If you have 10 points, you square them and add the current year’s point, giving you 101 chances in the bucket. The good thing about a bonus point system is that whether you have one point or 20 points, you always have a chance of drawing.

At face value, this is a great system as it gives exponential value to unsuccessful applicants. The problem with this is that the system is now very mature and going into its 34th year. For 2026, applicants could have 33 points going into the application period. Points are accumulated in each species category. 

Multiple-hunt choices

For moose, mountain goat and bighorn sheep, you can apply for a maximum of four hunt choices per application. You do not have to apply for more than one hunt. All hunt choices are considered, prior to moving onto the next applicant.

Youth and special permits

If a youth is awarded a youth permit and turns 16 before purchasing the hunting license and tag, the full resident or nonresident price will be charged. Permit price is determined by the youth's age at the date of the special permit purchase. No refunds or exchanges will be made for those purchasing a hunting license for mountain goat, moose or bighorn sheep.

Party applications

For moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat, the maximum group size is two. When applying as a group, you will have a group leader and group members. The group leader must submit as the group leader for the category first. Each group member must submit their application as a group member and must know the group leader’s WILD ID to join as a group member. Any points that have been accrued by any party member are considered and averaged across the application. If one member of the group draws, then all members of the group draw. Be sure to apply only for hunt selections that have enough permits available to suffice the group. 

Note: With the extremely low number of tags available, we strongly suggest that you avoid submitting a group application. Group applications will only decrease your odds even further.

There are currently seven ram hunts with 21 tags and two ewe hunts with 4 tags available in Washington this year. Seven ram hunts and all two ewe hunts take place in the central region of the state while the remaining ram hunt takes place in the Blue Mountains down in the southeast corner. 

As of 2026, Washington’s Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep population is considered relatively stable overall but remains below long-term recovery goals and vulnerable to periodic declines. State-managed herds are distributed across regions like the Columbia River Gorge, North Cascades, and Hells Canyon, with wildlife agencies focusing on monitoring herd trends rather than a single statewide count. The most recent comprehensive estimate (from statewide wildlife reports used through 2025–2026) puts Washington’s total bighorn sheep population at just over about 1,300 animals, primarily Rocky Mountain bighorns, with additional California bighorn herds bringing the broader statewide total into the roughly 1,200–1,500 range depending on yearly fluctuations and survey methods.

Horn marking requirements:

All successful hunters must present the horns for inspection and marking within 10 days to a WDFW regional or district office or a location designated by a department representative. Call a WDFW regional or district office to schedule an appointment with a biologist for horn marking. A WDFW employee will permanently mark an identification number on one of the horns. Inspection and marking do NOT substitute for mandatory hunter reporting. For bighorn sheep, both are required.

The GOHUNT Hit List units for Washington bighorn sheep

Washington has brutal odds no matter how you apply. For 2026 Unit 4 is a new hunt for bighorn sheep. Unit 18 is considered the top unit in the state and has been for several years. Unit 14 holds its own most years and is one heck of a consolation prize. Regardless, drawing any sheep tag is a massive win. It's best to weigh your options and then cross-reference your choices on Filtering and our standalone Draw Odds.

Managing points and expectations

There are no secrets or hidden gems, and, to make a long story short, you are going to start at less than 1% for a first timer and, even if you have applied since the very beginning (almost 30 years now), you will still have less than a 1% chance of drawing (2026). Yet, you can’t win if you don’t play, and if you want a Rocky Mountain ram, then you need to get your name in this hat.

Very little has changed since last year, and there are still 14 bull moose hunt options available for application. Six of these hunts offer 10 or more bull tags. The Selkirk Unit in the state’s far northwest corner has the highest number of permits this year, with 15 available in the draw. These tags are extremely difficult to obtain, but the age class across nearly all units remains outstanding. Drawing one of these permits means access to some of the finest Shiras moose hunting opportunities in the country.

In addition, there are nine hunts available for antlerless (cow) moose. If you choose to apply for one of these, it’s strongly recommended to avoid harvesting a cow that has a calf nearby. Due to factors such as wolf predation and other pressures, the WDFW prioritizes giving moose the best possible chance of survival, and removing cows with calves can significantly impact herd health.

Bull moose tags in Washington are once-in-a-lifetime. Hunters who have already harvested an antlered bull in the state are not eligible to apply again, though they may still apply for cow moose permits or participate in raffle and auction opportunities.

Submission of moose incisor tooth

If you are successful in harvesting a moose in Washington, you are required to send an incisor tooth within 60 days. You will be provided a pre-paid postage envelope so you can return the tooth. Returning the tooth helps WDFW in managing the moose populations and determining the age of the moose that are harvested.

How to uncover hidden gems

Unfortunately, like most once-in-a-lifetime hunts in the country, there really are not any “hidden gems.” If you are looking to hunt sooner rather than later, you may have a little more luck applying for an antlerless permit, but even with 28 points, the easiest hunt to draw only had a less than 1% chance.

Managing expectations

Even at maximum points, there isn’t a sure bet when it comes to a moose tag. If you are looking to hunt sooner rather than later, you may have a little more luck applying for an antlerless permit, but even with 28 points, the easiest hunt to draw only had a less than 1% chance of drawing (2025). Washington’s system caters to the resident as far as the costs of applying. If you are a nonresident and feel the need to take a chance, swing for the fence and apply for what you believe to be the best hunts.

Not much has changed from last year regarding the number of tags that are up for grabs.  There are still 7 tags spread out across five different units. Units 5-4, 5-5, and 5-6 were all 100% success in 2024. 

To be a legal mountain goat, a hunter can take a goat of either sex, but the horns must be 4” or longer (except where otherwise permitted by a WDFW rule, even if permits are drawn for more than one mountain goat hunt category). 

Along with that, WDFW strongly encourages hunters to refrain from shooting nannies even though nannies can be legally taken by permit holders. WDFW also encourages permit holders to avoid taking a radio-collared mountain goat. Applicants drawn for a permit may only purchase their license after successfully completing the WDFW online mountain goat gender identification training.

Mandatory inspection for mountain goat kill

A hunter who kills a mountain goat in Washington must present the head with horns attached for inspection within 10 days to a WDFW regional or district office or a location designated by a department representative. Call a WDFW regional or district office to schedule an appointment with a biologist for inspection. Inspection does not substitute for mandatory hunter reporting. For mountain goats, both are required.

Managing expectations

There are two hunt choices that have two permits available, and you’ll notice that your odds of drawing are still extremely low. Given how hard these permits are to draw, it is a good idea to apply for the greatest number of permits you can when choosing what hunts to apply for. It is also wise to fill out all your hunt choices and not just one. This will keep your name in the running further into the process and will likely give you the best chances.