Washington Pheasant Season 2026: Opener, Limits, Outlook

Q: What are pheasant shooting hours in Washington?

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sets pheasant hours as western Washington 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Eastern Washington follows the official hunting hours table.

Q: What license do I need to hunt pheasants in Washington?

Residents: Eastern Washington: Small Game license $55.13. Western Washington: Western WA Pheasant license $115.85 or Western WA Pheasant 3 Day $55.13. Nonresidents: Eastern Washington: Small Game license $252.47 or 3-Day Small Game $93.08. Western Washington: Western WA Pheasant $229.70 or Western WA Pheasant 3 Day $108.26. Prices are as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lists them.

Sep 19

Opening day

Saturday

Jan 18

Last day

Monday, 2027

3 roosters a day

Daily limit

15 in possession

In words

2026 outlook

quoted below

Are there birds this year

The 2026 Washington pheasant outlook

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife published its 2026 outlook in words.

2026 Hunting Prospects, 2026 outlook

Overall, wild pheasant numbers are likely to be below average this coming hunting season, but with continued WDFW pheasant releases supporting a put-and-take hunt of pheasants, we don’t expect to see harvest rates dip much compared to last year.

2026 Hunting Prospects, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source

District 2 (Lincoln, Spokane, Whitman)This is the fourth consecutive year of relatively mild conditions so the pheasant population should respond positively to these conditions.
District 3 (Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Walla Walla)Overall, wild pheasant numbers are likely to be below average this coming hunting season
District 5 (Adams, Grant)Hunters can anticipate seeing many pheasants in District 5. Most hunters who invest effort and cover ground will find wild birds.

Dates and limits

Washington pheasant season dates and bag limit

Washington's pheasant season runs September 19 to November 30, 2026 in Western Washington and October 17, 2026 to January 18, 2027 in Eastern Washington. The youth season comes first, Sep 12 to 13. The daily limit is 3 roosters and 15 in possession. Only roosters may be taken.

Western WashingtonSep 19
Season in Western Washington, Sep 19 to Nov 30
Eastern WashingtonOct 17
Season in Eastern Washington, Oct 17 to Jan 18
Youth huntSep 12
Youth, Sep 12 to 13

General season Youth huntsWashington, Sep 19 to Jan 18

Western Washington: Sep 19 to Nov 30
Eastern Washington: Oct 17 to Jan 18
Youth season: Sep 12 to 13
Daily limit: 3 roosters a day
Possession: 15 in possession
Which birds: Roosters only
Shooting hours: Western Washington 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Eastern Washington follows the official hunting hours table

Pheasant (Youth Only)Sep 12 to 13statewide; 8am to 4pm in Western Washington; 2 either sex in the west, 3 cocks in the east
Pheasant (Hunters 65 Years or Older, Hunters with Disabilities)Sep 14 to 18statewide; seniors 65 and over and hunters with disabilities only
Western Washington Regular SeasonSep 19 to Nov 30Western Washington; 8am to 4pm; extended season Dec 1 to 15 at listed release sites with no birds released
Eastern Washington Regular SeasonOct 17 to Jan 18Eastern Washington; cocks only

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations, read October 8, 2026.

Where to hunt

Public land and walk-in access in Washington

Feel Free to Hunt (private lands access program, pheasant release sites)
“the rest are on private lands open to the public under WDFW’s Feel Free to Hunt access program.”
Program page

Wild and released birds

Washington pheasant stocking

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife releases thousands of pheasants (Western Washington); approximately 3,500 pheasants released in Region 1. Release timing: Birds are released for youth, senior/disabled, and general season openers. In District 5, releases before the youth upland season (Sept. 12-13) and before the general season opening day (Oct. 17), with two additional releases taking place before the end of November.

Each year, thousands of pheasants are released on lands accessible to the public. Birds are released for youth, senior/disabled, and general season openers.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source

License

What it takes to hunt pheasants in Washington

Residents: Eastern Washington: Small Game license $55.13. Western Washington: Western WA Pheasant license $115.85 or Western WA Pheasant 3 Day $55.13
Nonresidents: Eastern Washington: Small Game license $252.47 or 3-Day Small Game $93.08. Western Washington: Western WA Pheasant $229.70 or Western WA Pheasant 3 Day $108.26

Every Washington license, resident and nonresident, with what each costs, is on the Washington hunting license page.

Washington pheasant questions

When does pheasant season open in Washington?

What is the pheasant limit in Washington?

What are pheasant shooting hours in Washington?

How many pheasants are there in Washington this year?

What license do I need to hunt pheasants in Washington?

Where can I hunt pheasants on public land in Washington?

Does Washington stock pheasants?

Yes. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife releases thousands of pheasants (Western Washington); approximately 3,500 pheasants released in Region 1. Release timing: Birds are released for youth, senior/disabled, and general season openers. In District 5, releases before the youth upland season (Sept. 12-13) and before the general season opening day (Oct. 17), with two additional releases taking place before the end of November.

A brown speckled hen pheasant walking through rows of young green wheat with old stubble between them — A hen in a South Dakota wheat field. Hens carry next year’s birds, so the bag in the wild bird states is written for roosters only, and the brown bird that gets up beside a rooster is the one to let fly. “NRCSSD03010 - South Dakota (6147)(NRCS Photo Gallery)”, Dennis Larson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Public domain

Washington read October 8, 2026 from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, every source linked above. An agency can move a date or close an area between the printed regulations and opening day, so its page is the one that governs. Every state is on the pheasant season calendar.