WDFW begins selling 2017-18 hunting licenses

A major licensing system update left staff with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) more than a month behind schedule in opening the sale of 2017-18 recreational fishing and hunting licenses. On January 24, the agency announced sales were open for the season, which begins April 1.

“With the release of our new licensing system last month, we opted to delay selling 2017-18 licenses in order to avoid printing licenses from two separate systems, with slightly different formatting, for a single license year,” said WDFW’s licensing division manager Peter Vernie in a statement.

The agency announced that applications for special hunt of big game species will be available in April. Spring bear hunters can purchase an application for a 2017 permit now and submit preferred hunting choices online between February 15 and 28.

Hunting licenses are for sale at 600 locations across Washington. In Blaine, hunters can buy them at Pacific Building Center at 2677 Bell Road; Bay Center Market at 8050 Harborview Road and Ace Hardware, at 1733 H Street. Licenses can also be purchased online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov or by phone at 360/902-2464.