Duck Hunting in Washington

Washington, Duck Hunting Nation State, Waterfowl Hunting, Waterfowl Hunting

Washington

A

416,000

Duck Statewide Harvest

78,100

Goose Statewide Harvest

29,900

No. Waterfowl Licenses Sold Annually

15.2

Ducks Per Hunter

5.6

Geese Per Hunter

$40.50

Cost of Resident Waterfowl Hunting License

$17 stamp, $13.20 state authorization

Cost of Resident State Stamps and Permits

$25

Federal Duck Stamp

Annual $183.50; three-day $68

Cost of Non-Resident Waterfowl Hunting License

$17 stamp, $13.20 state authorization

Cost of Non-Resident State Stamps and Permits

$25

Federal Duck Stamp

I live in Washington, so forgive the admitted bias. However, The Evergreen State deserves an A rating because — well, it's that good.

It has nine species of Canada geese, plus specklebellies and Wrangell Island (Russia) snow geese, too. Plus, you'll find clouds of puddle ducks, rafts of divers and sea ducks aplenty. Sure, it's a little spendy for nonresidents, and harlequin duck hunting has been closed for 2022-'23 because of decreasing populations. And we won't even discuss the convoluted goose hunting scenario in southwestern Washington.

However, despite those glitches, The Evergreen State offers some of the finest waterfowling in the United States. As for public lands, there's plenty on the eastern side and a few on the western side, plus the Columbia River and the coast.

— Compiled and written by M.D. Johnson

Photo © Red Squirrel/Shutterstock

Seasons and Bag Limits