Washington Shed Hunting Season 2027: Closures and Rules

Q: Is it legal to pick up shed antlers in Washington?

Washington sets no shed season or permit, and parts of the Oak Creek and L.T. Murray wildlife areas close to all entry until May 1. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife puts it this way: "Shed antler collecting Permits: In Washington, there are no seasons or permits required to collect shed antlers."

Q: Do I need a permit to collect sheds in Washington?

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's published shed rules name no permit, course or license for collecting. Landowner permission and the land manager's own rules still apply wherever you walk.

Q: Who sets the shed antler rules in Washington?

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The rules here were read from its own pages on September 21, 2026, and each one links to the page it came from. Rules change between winters, so the agency page is the one to check before a trip.

Dated closures

Rule type

from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

May 1

Next closure lifts

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Unit

None named

Course or permit

in the agency rules quoted below

September 21, 2026

Rules read

from the agency page

The rule

Shed antler rules in Washington

Dated closures

Those closures surround elk winter feeding sites and protect elk through their winter recovery period. On the Entiat Wildlife Area Unit, walk in access including shed hunting is discouraged, though not closed, from Feb 1 through Mar 31 for wintering mule deer.

Statewide

No season or permit is required to collect shed antlers, but land use rules, landowner permission and posted closures apply.

Shed antler collecting Permits: In Washington, there are no seasons or permits required to collect shed antlers.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

Wildlife areas in Cowlitz, Kittitas and Yakima counties

Seasonal wildlife area closures protect elk during their winter recovery period, and shed hunters must obey posted closures.

Seasonal closures to protect elk: There are seasonal wildlife area closures in Cowlitz, Kittitas, and Yakima counties to protect elk from human disturbance during their winter recovery period.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

Oak Creek Wildlife Area Unit

Until May 1

Large portions of upland range close to all public entry from the start of winter feeding until 6 a.m. May 1.

Annually from the start of winter feeding until May 1 at 6 a.m. large portions of upland range is closed to all public entry to protect big game during winter recovery period.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Unit

Until May 1

Areas around elk feeding sites close to all public entry from early December to May 1.

Areas surrounding elk feeding sites are closed to all public entry from early Dec. to May 1.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

Entiat Wildlife Area Unit

February 1 to March 31

Walk in access, including shed antler hunting, is discouraged (not closed) from Feb 1 through Mar 31 to protect wintering mule deer.

All walk-in access (e.g., hiking, snowshoeing, shed antler hunting) is discouraged from Feb. 1 through March 31 to protect wintering mule deer.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

Dated windows

Washington shed closures by month

Winter range closures protect wintering deer and elk, keeping people off the ground where the animals spend the hardest months. The dates below are Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s own, each one printed in the agency sentence quoted above.

Washington windows, January to December, as Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife dates them

Oak Creek Wildlife Area UnitWinter start as posted, until May 1

L.T. Murray Wildlife Area UnitWinter start as posted, until May 1

Entiat Wildlife Area UnitFebruary 1 to March 31

Closed to shed collectingAccess discouraged

Courses, sale and state land

More Washington shed rules

Buying and selling sheds

An amendment to WAC 220-400-040 effective May 8, 2026 makes collecting or retrieving shed antlers on closed public lands or department controlled lands its own violation, so antlers taken there cannot be lawfully kept.

By establishing a criminal violation for the collection or retrieval of wildlife parts on closed public lands or department-controlled lands, the rule provides a more effective enforcement mechanism and supports the department's responsibility to safeguard wildlife and habitat integrity.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

State wildlife land

Seasonal closures on WDFW wildlife areas protect wintering elk and deer, and shed hunters must follow posted closure signs.

People should also always follow posted closure signs.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

When antlers drop

When deer shed antlers in Washington

Deer bucks drop their antlers between late December and early March.

Bucks carry their antlers through the fall, dropping them between late December and early March.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

A large elk antler lying in green grass with snow covered mountains in the distance — An elk shed on the National Elk Refuge, Wyoming, with the Tetons behind. Elk winter range in the West is where most dated shed closures fall, because the closures exist for the animals wintering there. “Shed Antler on the National Elk Refuge (53662858076)”, USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Washington shed antler questions

Is it legal to pick up shed antlers in Washington?

When is shed hunting season in Washington?

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes these dated closures. Oak Creek Wildlife Area Unit: closed from a winter start the agency posts until May 1. L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Unit: closed from a winter start the agency posts until May 1. In the agency's words: "Annually from the start of winter feeding until May 1 at 6 a.m. large portions of upland range is closed to all public entry to protect big game during winter recovery period."

Do I need a permit to collect sheds in Washington?

Can you sell shed antlers in Washington?

An amendment to WAC 220-400-040 effective May 8, 2026 makes collecting or retrieving shed antlers on closed public lands or department controlled lands its own violation, so antlers taken there cannot be lawfully kept. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: "By establishing a criminal violation for the collection or retrieval of wildlife parts on closed public lands or department-controlled lands, the rule provides a more effective enforcement mechanism and supports the department's responsibility to safeguard wildlife and habitat integrity."

Can I collect sheds on state wildlife land in Washington?

Can I pick up sheds on private land in Washington?

When do deer shed antlers in Washington?

Who sets the shed antler rules in Washington?

Shed antler rules in other states

Washington deer seasonArchery and firearms dates for Washington, read from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.Washington deer rutWhen bucks breed in the fall, months before those antlers drop.Shed antler rules by stateEvery state's shed rule, the dated western closures and when each species drops.

A young bull elk carrying a single antler standing among elk bedded in snow — A young bull that has already dropped one antler, among elk bedded in snow. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says elk may start shedding in February and run through April. “Bull Elk and Herd (6258537907)”, USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Compiled September 21, 2026. Every rule above is republished from Recreational opportunities and rules on your WDFW public lands, WDFW and the other Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife pages linked beside each quote, read on September 21, 2026. Rules change between winters, so the agency page is the one to check before a trip. Every state is in the national shed antler guide.