Washington runs one weighted-random special-permit drawing for residents and nonresidents together: there is no nonresident cap or quota, and every applicant's points in a category are squared to set their chances (a hunter with 10 points has 100 names in the hat against a first-year applicant's one). You must buy the nonresident deer ($599.07) or elk ($685.60) license and the transport tag for the hunt's method before you can buy a $152.30 application per category, and none of that is refunded if you do not draw — but there is no extra permit fee when you do. Applications run from about April 20 to late May (May 27 in 2026) and results post to your WILD account by the end of June. WDFW publishes applicants and permits per hunt but not by residency or point level, so the odds here are unweighted whole-pool ratios.
Every figure below cites the agency document it came from. Last verified August 31, 2026.
Worked example. Every applicant gets (points + 1)² entries in a random draw, so more points mean more chances — but never a guarantee.
WAC 220-412-080(4)(d) and (g)-(h); GMAC handout 2015-12-05 p.1; WDFW issue paper June 2021 p.2; 2026 pamphlet pp.18-19 · verified Aug 31, 2026
Worked example. Every applicant gets (points + 1)² entries in a random draw, so more points mean more chances — but never a guarantee.
WAC 220-412-080(4)(d) and (g)-(h); GMAC handout 2015-12-05 p.1; WDFW issue paper June 2021 p.2; 2026 pamphlet pp.18-19 · verified Aug 31, 2026
Showing nonresident fees. Switch to resident
| Fee | Amount | Paid at application | Refundable | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresident special hunt permit application (per deer category; buys one point) (White-tailed / Mule Deer) | $152.30 | Yes | No | p.8 |
| Nonresident special hunt permit application (per elk category; buys one point) (Elk) | $152.30 | Yes | No | p.8 'Special Hunt Permit Application (price per application)' and 'Special Hunt Permit Application - Quality' non-resident |
| Nonresident deer license (includes deer transport tag; must be bought before applying, not refundable) (White-tailed / Mule Deer) | $599.07 | Yes | No | p.8 'Deer License' non-resident |
| Nonresident elk license (includes elk transport tag; must be bought before applying, not refundable) (Elk) | $685.60 | Yes | No | p.8 'Elk License' non-resident; also wa_fees_big_game_2026 |
| Nonresident second deer tag (only if drawn in the Second Deer category) (White-tailed / Mule Deer) | $356.90 | If drawn | No | p.8 'Second Deer Tag' |
Drew a tag? Check which cartridges are legal for your species and weapon on the Washington hunting laws page.
Every percentage on this page is a prior-draw probability: the chance an applicant with that many points would have drawn in the draw year shown, computed from the agency's published results. It is not a forecast — quotas, applicant numbers, and point creep change every year. Every figure links to the agency document it came from. Where a state does not publish a number, we show a dash, never a zero. Hunts with fewer than five tags show counts instead of percentages. Fees show the fee year used. Read the methodology for the engine details.
This page is informational only. Draw rules, quotas, fees, and deadlines are set by the state agency and change by commission action — confirm everything on the agency's own site before you apply, and apply through the agency, not here. We disclaim all liability for reliance on this page.
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