PointsAfieldSeason2026–27
Washington · Upland

Ring-necked pheasant

Opens in 22 days
Season 2026-27
5 windows on one classification

Season windows

  1. Window 112 SEP – 13 SEP 20262d
  2. Window 214 SEP – 18 SEP 20265d
  3. Window 319 SEP – 30 NOV 202673d
  4. Window 401 DEC – 15 DEC 202615d
  5. Window 517 OCT 2026 – 18 JAN 202794d

As publishedW. WA: youth Sept 12-13, senior/disability Sept 14-18, general Sept 19-Nov 30 2026 (+extended Dec 1-15, select sites); E. WA: youth Sept 12-13, senior/disability Sept 14-18, general Oct 17 2026-Jan 18 2027

What you may take, and when

Take and hours

Bag limitW. WA: 2/day either sex, 15 possession; E. WA: 3 cocks only/day, 15 possession

Licence and outlook

HIP requiredAwaiting survey
Exceptions posted at the boundary

Eastern WA is roosters-only (hens illegal); Western WA is either-sex.Youth (Sept 12-13) and senior/disability (Sept 14-18) special hunts precede the general season in both zones. Western WA has an additional Dec 1-15 extended season limited to specific non-release sites (Belfair, JBLM, Kosmos, Lincoln Creek, Scatter Creek, Skookumchuck, Green Diamond resource lands, Whidbey Island).

Population outlook

Washington 2026

Awaiting survey — Washington 2026

The Eastern Washington Pheasant Enhancement Program (EWPEP) -- a habitat-plus-release effort, ~35,000-40,000 pen-raised birds released annually across ~24 sites, run specifically because WA's wild pheasant population is in long-term decline -- publishes periodic progress reports; the most recent standalone edition found is 2022. A direct fetch of WDFW's EWPEP page on 2026-08-19 found no 2025 or 2026 edition. This is a stocking/habitat-progress report, not a wild-population census, but is the closest thing to an active, dated program for this species.

Issuing agencyWashington Department of Fish and Wildlifewdfw.wa.govRecord year 2026