Miss one deadline and your hunt season is over before it starts. Both Washington and Oregon run most of their big-game permit draws in a tight spring window, and neither agency extends dates because you forgot. This calendar lays out the typical rhythm for 2026 — but treat every date here as a planning guide only. Agencies set final dates each year, and they do move.
Field briefing
Washington's special permit applications usually open in winter and close between February and May, with results landing May through June. Oregon's controlled hunt application window typically runs about February 1 through May 15, with results by mid-to-late June. Spring turkey and spring bear permits follow their own earlier clocks. Confirm every date on WDFW and ODFW's official sites before you plan around it.
Best for: Washington and Oregon hunters building a 2026 application plan across deer, elk, moose, sheep, goat, bear, and turkey.
Key takeaway: set two reminders per draw — one when applications open and one a week before they close. Dates shift; reminders don't.
The typical 2026 month-by-month rhythm
Agencies publish exact dates with their regulation booklets. Based on how recent years have run, expect this shape:
| Month | What typically happens |
|---|---|
| January | Review point balances and past results. Watch for new regs. |
| February | Oregon controlled hunt apps open (~Feb 1). WA spring permits and some special permits open. |
| March | Oregon app window stays open. Check license status now. |
| April | Last full month to finish both states' main applications. |
| May | Oregon controlled hunt apps typically close ~May 15. WA special permit deadlines often land late May. |
| June | Results roll out — Oregon often by June 15-ish; Washington starts posting. |
| July | Remaining WA results post. Buy tags for drawn hunts. |
| August | Leftover and first-come permit sales in both states. |
| September–October | Fall seasons run. Note what you'd change for next year. |
| November–December | New-year regulations appear. Plan a 2027 points strategy. |
Spring hunts break the pattern. Washington and Oregon spring turkey permit deadlines and spring bear windows fall months before the main draws, and they vary by year and hunt choice. Look those up as soon as the new regulations post.
Why you must confirm at the source
Three reasons this calendar can drift:
- Dates move. Agencies adjust deadlines and result days almost every year.
- Categories differ. Special permits, raffle chances, youth sets, and migratory birds all carry their own timelines.
- Licenses come first. Both states require a valid hunting license before you apply. Buy it early.
The official pages are WDFW at wdfw.wa.gov and ODFW at myodfw.com. When this calendar and an agency site disagree, believe the agency.
Never miss a deadline: the checklist
Run this list every January, then again each month through May:
- Renew your hunting license in both states you'll apply in.
- Log into your WDFW and ODFW accounts. Fix passwords and contact info.
- Set phone reminders for application open and close dates.
- Add a second reminder one week before each close date.
- Decide your hunt choices with family or partners early.
- Submit at least three days early. Portals crash on deadline day.
- Screenshot your confirmation number for every application.
- Check spam folders in June so result notices don't slip past.
- Calendar the tag-purchase deadlines that follow results.
- Check leftover lists in August if you didn't draw.
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Sources Checked
- WDFW special permits page (wdfw.wa.gov) — application windows and results timing for Washington draws.
- ODFW controlled big game hunting (myodfw.com) — Oregon controlled hunt application period and drawing schedule.