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.
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.
