The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is rolling out a new mobile app, MyWDFW, to begin the transition from paper licensing to a fully digital system.
The app will allow hunters and anglers to buy, carry and manage licenses through a smartphone app, rather than relying on paper licenses.
For the upcoming 2026-27 licensing year, customers can still choose paper licenses instead of using their mobile phones, according to WDFW. Customers can switch between paper and mobile licenses anytime between now and July 8, when the licensing year begins. But once a customer chooses to use the mobile app, they cannot return to paper licenses until the following year, according to WDFW.
By July 8, the department will no longer issue hunting and fishing licenses on waterproof, tear-resistant license paper, but will allow for WDFW license dealers and offices to print license products on standard 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper, or for licenses to be printed at home by customers.
The change comes as many other state fish and wildlife agencies have transitioned to electronic licensing and reporting. WDFW licensing division Manager Jennine Griffo said the new electronic licenses will be more convenient for hunters and anglers, and less expensive for the state agency.
“With many state fish and wildlife agencies nationwide shifting to mobile licensing in recent years, demand for durable license paper has decreased. This has made existing hardware technologically obsolete, and durable paper has become harder and more expensive to source,” Griffo wrote in a statement.
Anglers have been able to use electronic catch record cards through the app since April 1 to record and report catches.
The app also allows for electronic tagging for big game and turkey, and reports can be saved and uploaded automatically, even from an area without cell service or data, according to WDFW.
Anglers can use the Fish Washington mobile app for fishing and crabbing, but hunters and anyone who will both hunt and fish must use the MyWDFW app.
For more information about MyWDFW, contact 360-902-2464.
