Washington Moose Hunting 2026

Washington is known for really big bull moose. In 2025, there were eight bulls taken with spreads of 45” or wider, and four of those bulls stretched the tape to 50” or more. The widest bull harvested was 56”. With the wolf population steadily increasing, hunters are struggling to have success calling bulls in during the rut. The bulls coming in take longer to show up once in scent. Just as they have in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, wolves in Washington have caused a noticeable downward trend in the trophy potential in the state’s moose population. Hunters are still taking a handful of giant bulls, but it is getting tougher every year. Unless Washington does something about their growing wolf population, we may be seeing the beginning of the end.

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Washington is again offering ten different moose units for 2026. Four of those units have both an early and late season available. During the early season, some rut activity may be present, though this will depend on the wolf activity in the area. The late season typically involves snowy winter conditions ideal for tracking. Another great thing about the late season is that the deciduous trees and willows will have lost their leaves, making for better glassing. During the late season, some of the higher elevation units may even require using a snowmobile to access the country.

A giant bull can show up in almost every unit in the state, as a bull just needs the opportunity to get old in order to grow an impressive rack. To increase your odds of taking home a top-end bull, we recommend you stick with our top units like Range/East Okanogan, Douglas, 49 Degrees North, and Huckleberry Ridge. Don’t be afraid of the late hunts in these units, as they often produce as many or more big bulls as the early season does.

Washington Moose Hunting Draw

If you are lucky in drawing a moose tag, you need to dedicate at least two weeks to the hunt, as moose can be difficult to find in the vast, timbered country they live in. Make sure to take note of the “average days to harvest” for each hunt to get an idea of how difficult it was for hunters to find moose last season. If you don’t have a lot of time, you should be looking at the Huckleberry unit, as it has historically required fewer days of hunting to be successful.

It is important to keep an eye out for timber-company land closures in the northeastern portion of Washington, even without active wildfires. For a better moose hunt, we’d suggest looking at areas that have a lot of timber-company land. Moose love clear-cuts, so clear-cuts are always a great place to glass and look for sign. Some timber companies require a trespass fee while others allow access for free. If you have any questions on Washington moose hunting, give us a call at the office. Another moose opportunity is the antlerless tags. For 2025, there will be 24 antlerless moose permits available spread across nine different units. The draw odds are not any better than the bull tags as Washington allows people to apply for both antlered and antlerless moose tags.

Self Guided DIY Washington Moose Hunts

For access to all of our research and data we've collected over the last 20+ years, then join today and access the best research tools for hunting Moose in Washington including Draw Odds, Consultations and much more. Go on more hunts with better information!

Application Dates for Washington Moose Hunting

The Washington Big Game deadline is May 20, 2026.

Our online/print magazine has everything in one location: Application info, draw details and odds, fees, hunter requirements, point structure, age restrictions, youth information, weapon restrictions, other tag opportunities, hunt planning and much more. If you would like access to all of our research join today!

Non-Resident Washington Moose Hunting Fees

• A Dream Bull by Brian Haley
• Rewind by Matt Mathes
• Youth Hunting Guide – Huntin' Fool Staff