Washington
474,000
Duck Statewide Harvest
67,700
Goose Statewide Harvest
28,400
No. Waterfowl Licenses Sold Annually
17.6
Ducks Per Hunter
5.4
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
Photo by Tom Reichner
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 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. And the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife approved 38 harlequin duck permits for 2024-2025.
— Compiled and written by M.D. Johnson
