OLYMPIA, WA — Hunters and anglers in Washington will soon see a major change in how they receive and display their licenses.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced that beginning July 8, 2026, the agency will no longer issue hunting and fishing licenses on the familiar waterproof, tear-resistant paper traditionally used for license documents. Instead, the department is encouraging license holders to transition to mobile licensing options.
The change follows the launch of the MyWDFW mobile application, introduced in December 2025, along with updates to the Fish Washington® app. Through these platforms, users can purchase licenses, report harvests, and display their license credentials directly on a smartphone.
According to WDFW Director Kelly Susewind, the move reflects a broader shift among wildlife agencies across the country.
“Following in the footsteps of fish and wildlife agencies nationwide, this shift provides hunters and anglers more convenient, modern licensing and reporting options,” Susewind said in a statement. “Hunters and anglers can now more conveniently buy licenses, report harvests, and display their licensing products directly from their mobile devices, offering an improved experience for customers with the bonus of enhanced data quality for fish and wildlife managers.”
WDFW officials said the transition is also being driven by practical concerns. Durable license paper has become increasingly difficult and costly to obtain as agencies move away from the specialized material. The equipment used to print the waterproof licenses is also becoming outdated.
Despite the change, WDFW says customers who prefer physical documents will still have that option.
Beginning July 8, license dealers and WDFW offices will be able to print licenses on standard 8.5-by-11-inch paper, and customers will also be able to print their license documents at home. Catch record cards and other paper products will still be available, though they may appear different from past versions.
The agency says the transition is intended to modernize the licensing system while maintaining access for customers who may not wish to use a mobile device.
More information about the upcoming licensing changes and the MyWDFW mobile app is available through WDFW’s official website.
