Surplus multi-season deer and elk tags soon available
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 months AGO
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that it has surplus multi-season deer and elk tags available to be purchased later this month. The surplus multi-season elk tags will go on sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 19. The surplus multi-season deer tags will go on sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 21.
COURTESY PHOTO/WDFW
OLYMPIA — Deer and elk hunters who applied for a Washington multi-season application earlier this year will have a chance to purchase some of the remaining surplus tags this month. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Tuesday that 2,693 multi-season deer tags and 160 multi-season elk tags will be available for sale in August, with sales occurring on separate days to streamline the process.
“This is typically an opportunity that we offer annually,” WDFW Communications Manager Jennifer Sepulveda said. “Basically what happens is that if at the end of the regular multi season tag sale, not everyone who is drawn for and eligible to purchase one of these multi season tags does so and so if at the end of that regular sale period, if we have these left over multi season tags that were not sold, we will open this up to other hunters that might be interested in purchasing a tag, and that's why we're referring to these as those surplus tags.”
The 160 multi-season elk tags will be offered first come, first serve, starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 19. These tags will only be available through in-person purchases at WDFW offices and authorized license dealers. Given the high demand for elk tags, WDFW encouraged interested hunters to act swiftly, as they are expected to sell out quickly.
“The reason for doing that was in past years, we noted that when we had elk sales and deer tag sales open at the same time, we might have folks in line at one dealer location with a bunch of people in front of them purchasing deer tags, and while they're in line behind all these deer hunters, the elk tags are selling out at other locations,” Sepulveda said. “That was part of the motive behind selling the elk tags first and on a separate day from all of the deer tags.”
Following the elk tag release, surplus multi-season deer tags will go on sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 21. Unlike the elk tags, these deer tags can be purchased online, over the phone at 360-902-2464, or in-person at designated WDFW offices and authorized license dealers, providing more flexibility for interested hunters.
“There's no discount on the surplus tags compared to the regular purchase period,” Sepulveda said.
The multi-season deer tags are priced at $191.77, while the multi-season elk tags are set at $250.97 — an increase from previous years due to new state legislation that took effect July 1. These prices apply to both residents and non-residents of Washington.
“These multi-season tag fees did increase this year and that was because of state legislation that went into effect on July 1,” Sepulveda said. “These license fee increases do increase revenue for our Washington Fish and Wildlife department, but most of the revenue is going to be used to cover increased costs, while the remainder of the revenue is going to be to offset state general fund reductions that we have experienced this year due to statewide budget adjustments to help with our state budget.”
Hunters interested in obtaining a multi-season tag must have already purchased a 2025 multi-season application. Additionally, those who currently hold a general season transport tag are required by state law to surrender it to WDFW or to a license dealer within five days of acquiring a multi-season tag.
While there is no specific deadline for purchasing the surplus multi-season tags, hunters are advised to act quickly, especially for the elk tags, which are anticipated to sell out shortly after they become available. Multi-season deer tags, on the other hand, will remain for sale until they are sold out or until the majority of Washington deer seasons have concluded for the year.
“The elk tags typically sell out almost instantaneously. It is usually really fast with your tags selling out,” Sepulveda said. “But I definitely encourage anyone who's interested to be ready to roll at 10 o'clock on sale day and get in line and hopefully be able to secure one of these surplus tags.”
Tag Prices and Legislative Changes
• Multi-season deer tag: $191.77
• Multi-season elk tag: $250.97
• Prices increased July 1 due to new state legislation.
• Most revenue offsets rising department costs and statewide budget reductions
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