Deer Hunting in Washington

Mule deer, black-tailed, and whitetail country — ranked by habitat and free to explore on the map.

Washington has three deer to hunt, split by geography: mule deer in the eastern and Cascade high country, black-tailed deer in the west-side timber, and white-tailed deer in the northeast corner. Most deer hunting is general modern-firearm, muzzleloader, and archery season by region, with some quality-buck hunts by permit — verify the current WDFW seasons for your unit.

The northeast whitetail units and the Methow mule-deer country are the marquee draws, but good deer habitat is spread widely. The unit list below ranks HuntVantage-graded GMUs by deer-specific habitat; the overall grade measures general habitat, while the deer rating re-weights food, edge, and cover for deer, so an average-grade unit can still rate well for deer.

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Best public-land deer units on HuntVantage

Published game units ranked by deer-specific habitat rating (re-weighted from cover, water, food, pressure, and diversity). The overall grade is shown for context — a unit can grade average overall and still rate highly for deer.

#	Unit	Overall	Deer rating	Public
1	GMU 290 Desert	B	★★★★☆ 61	44%
2	GMU 501 Lincoln	B	★★★★☆ 59	22%
3	GMU 245 Chiwawa	C+	★★★☆☆ 56	89%
4	GMU 460 Snoqualmie	C+	★★★☆☆ 56	63%
5	GMU 524 Margaret	C+	★★★☆☆ 56	26%
6	GMU 663 Capitol Peak	B	★★★☆☆ 56	71%
7	GMU 117 49 Degrees North	C+	★★★☆☆ 55	42%
8	GMU 251 Mission	C+	★★★☆☆ 55	61%
9	GMU 335 Teanaway	C+	★★★☆☆ 55	62%
10	GMU 336 Taneum	C+	★★★☆☆ 55	73%
11	GMU 364 Rimrock	C+	★★★☆☆ 55	97%
12	GMU 568 Washougal	C+	★★★☆☆ 55	60%

Deer region guides

NE Washington · Whitetail

Pend Oreille & the Selkirks, Washington

Far-NE-corner whitetail and moose country — Colville NF and the Salmo-Priest Wilderness.

SW Washington · Waterfowl

Shillapoo & the Lower Columbia, Washington

Lower Columbia floodplain — ducks, cackling geese, and Canada geese on public land.

South Washington · Elk

Mount Adams, Washington

South Cascades elk, blacktail, and bear country on the flanks of Mount Adams.

South Cascades · Elk & Goat

Goat Rocks Wilderness, Washington

High alpine crest country between Rainier and Adams — elk, deer, and mountain goat.

Central Washington · Elk

Teanaway, Washington

Central Cascades elk and mule deer country in the Teanaway near Cle Elum.

North Cascades · Mule Deer

Lake Chelan-Sawtooth, Washington

High-country migratory mule deer between the Methow Valley and Lake Chelan.

SW Washington · Elk

Mount St. Helens, Washington

One of the state's largest elk herds on the recovering slopes of Mount St. Helens.

North Cascades · Blacktail & Bear

Glacier Peak, Washington

Remote North Cascades wilderness — black-tailed deer, black bear, and mountain goat.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of deer can you hunt in Washington?

Mule deer (eastern and Cascade high country), black-tailed deer (west-side timber), and white-tailed deer (the northeast). Each is rated by the same habitat model here.

Where is the best public-land deer hunting in Washington?

Northeast Washington's Colville-country whitetail units and the Methow/Okanogan mule-deer units carry large public-land blocks. The ranked list below shows each graded unit's public-land share.

Is deer hunting in Washington general season or draw?

Most deer hunting is general season by region and weapon, with some quality-buck hunts by special permit. Always confirm current seasons and any permit requirements with WDFW.