When the alarm goes off opening day, most hunters have already been up for hours, eagerly awaiting the moment they can lace up their boots and head out the door. Coffee is purely out of habit, and the sun can’t rise fast enough. However, 2025 might be the exception. Washington’s general firearms season opened in most units Oct. 11. The previous night, the Seattle Mariners beat the Detroit Tigers in Game 5 of the American League Division Series. They clinched the victory after a marathon 15-inning game that took almost five hours. As the only Major League Baseball team in the Northwest, and one that hasn’t been to the playoffs in 24 years, the game sent a lot of tired but happy hunters into the field in the region.

Washington baseball fans have a lot to be excited about, but hunters are dealing with a season full of new regulations and wildlife population concerns. Earlier this year, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease and/or bluetongue affecting deer populations in eastern Washington. Biologists are also concerned about chronic wasting disease after the state’s first case was confirmed this past year. In response, wildlife officials made some major regulation changes. This will be the state’s first fall with a ban on attractants, such as artificial feeding and cervid-based scent lures. Transportation restrictions have also been tightened.

Don’t Miss: The Ultimate Guide to Hunting Scrapes

In nearby Idaho, biologists are concerned about EHD in the Clearwater Region. As of this past week, biologists have received reports of almost 1,000 white-tailed deer mortalities. That population is still recovering after a 2021 EHD outbreak. When it comes to the bigger picture, Idaho Fish and Game said hunters should be optimistic about the 2025 hunting season. Idaho’s elk and deer have had a reprieve from harsh winters, resulting in increased populations and hunter harvest in 2024. Biologists report that elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer numbers are up across the state.

Across the border in Montana, deer populations are a mixed bag. In northwestern Montana, mule deer and whitetail numbers are on the rise. However, in southwestern Montana, mule deer and whitetail populations are on the low end of what biologists would like to see. In the Missouri River Breaks, mule deer numbers are significantly lower than long-term averages because of a slow recovery from severe droughts and harsh winter weather. In northeastern Montana, mule deer densities are also lower than the long-term average. Because of lower numbers, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has reduced antlerless deer opportunities.

White-tailed deer are still recovering in central and southeastern Montana after harsh winters and droughts, which contributed to outbreaks of EHD in many parts of the region. This past year, EHD affected white-tailed deer along several stretches of the Powder River and Yellowstone River. Mule deer populations in southeastern Montana have improved roughly 10% since 2024 but remain 30% below the long-term average.