Elk Multi-Season tags are expected to sell out in 5 seconds or less

Information and photo released by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Hunters who purchased a multi-season permit application earlier this year, but were not selected in the April drawing, are eligible to buy the unsold 2,610 deer and 116 elk multi-season tags on a first-come, first-served basis on Thursday, August 22.

Jenika Stinkeoway, customer service manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said elk multi-season tags will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Aug. 22, and are expected to sell out in 5 seconds or less. Multi-season deer tags will go on sale 10 minutes later at 10:10 a.m. Hunters planning to purchase both tags must do so in two separate transactions.

Hunters who want to purchase a deer or elk multi-season tag must have purchased a 2019 deer or elk multi-season special hunt application, and also have a general season elk or deer license before buying a multi-season tag. General season elk or deer tags must be surrendered to an authorized WDFW license dealer at the time of the multi-season purchase – no exceptions. To find a license dealer near you, visit https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/dealers.

Multi-season deer tags are $139.10, and multi-season elk tags are $182.00. Tag costs are the same for residents and non-residents.

Multi-season tags can only be purchased at an authorized WDFW license dealer, at a WDFW regional office, or at WDFW headquarters in Olympia. With the high demand for multi-season elk tags, Stinkeoway said it is likely that only one in every 20 license vendors will be able to complete a transaction for elk.

If multi-season deer tags don’t sell out on Aug. 22, they will remain on sale until the tag limit is reached. Hunters who purchase a multi-season tag will not lose points in their multi-season deer or elk special hunt application categories.

Hunters with multi-season permits can hunt all three weapon choices (modern rifle, muzzleloader, archery), season permitting, until their tag is filled.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing, hunting, and other recreation opportunities.