Can you go to jail for killing Bigfoot in WA? See rules about Sasquatch

By Karlee Van De Venter

October 10, 2025 5:00 AM

People have been searching for Bigfoot in North America since the 1800s, according to the Washington State National Guard.

The supposed existence of the elusive cryptid dates back even further, with mentions of large, hairy, human-like creatures throughout Indigenous history.

Although Bigfoot has allegedly spotted in many states, Washington state takes home the crown for most reported Sasquatch sightings in the United States, according to various sources including the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization.

Washington’s dense forests and towering mountains serve as a prime location for potential Bigfoot activity, enthusiasts say.

You may have heard rumors that killing Bigfoot is illegal in Washington state. Is that actually true?

Here’s what to know:

A highly recognizable figure from Northwest folklore appears to be just passing through an east Olympia field along Rich Road Southeast in Thurston County on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. Steve Bloom sbloom@theolympian.com

What is Bigfoot? History behind the famous cryptid

Legends of a large, hairy ape-like creature exist across the globe under various names, including Bigfoot, Yeti, Witiko and Wendigo.

One of the most popular terms for the cryptid, Sasquatch, is derived from the Salish word sasquits or sasq’ets, meaning “hairy man,” according to the Washington State National Guard and other sources. Bigfoot is particularly popular in the Pacific Northwest, where the bearded biped was reportedly spotted as recently as July.

“You can hear tales of 7-foot-tall hairy men stalking the woods, occasionally scaring campers, lumberjacks, hikers and the like,” the state National Guard said on its website.

“Those who claim to have seen Bigfoot have described everything from a large, upright ape to an actual hairy human, sometimes standing over 8 feet tall and described as powerfully built,” the Washington State National Guard said.

In 2017, Washington State Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, authored a bill to designate Sasquatch as the official cryptid of Washington state, but the legislation wasn’t signed into law.

Rivers also tried to get the Washington Department of Licensing to release a Sasquatch specialty license plate, The Tacoma News Tribune previously reported.

Sasquatch is a humorous attraction at the Bark & Garden center in Olympia. Steve Bloom sbloom@theolympian.com

Is it illegal to kill Bigfoot in Washington state?

It’s illegal to hunt or kill a Sasquatch in two counties in Washington state.

The first county to pass legislation related to Sasquatch in Washington was Skamania County.

In 1969, the Skamania County Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance making any “premeditated, wilful and wanton slaying” of Bigfoot-esque creatures a felony.

Whatcom County followed suit after residents expressed concerns about the safety of people dressing up as Sasquatch for a local Bigfoot festival, The Bellingham Herald and Deseret News previously reported.

The Whatcom County Council also worried that any real-life cryptids were “inadequately protected and in danger of death or injury.”

In 1992, the council passed a resolution officially declaring Whatcom County a “Sasquatch protection and refuge area.”

Outside of Whatcom and Skamania counties, it’s legal to hunt and search for Sasquatch in Washington state.

Foot castings of Sasquatches out on display during the International Bigfoot Conference at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick in 2017. Noelle Haro-Gomez Tri-City Herald

Can I go to jail for slaying Sasquatch in Washington state?

Killing a Sasquatch in Skamania County was originally punishable by up to $10,000 in fines and a maximum of five years in county jail.

In 1984, however, the county downgraded the crime to a misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to a year of jail time.

Whatcom County doesn’t specify any penalties for breaking its Bigfoot resolution.

Jeff Meldrum, a professor of the Department of Anthropology at Idaho State University, poses for a picture. Picasa Courtesy Andy Perdue

Why do Washington counties legally protect Yetis?

Skamania County’s ordinance wasn’t only inspired by the desire to protect any Sasquatches in the area.

Local lawmakers noticed an “an influx of scientific investigators as well as casual hunters, many armed with lethal weapons,” the 1969 ordinance says, presenting a “clear and present threat” to the safety and wellbeing of county residents.

“Back in the late 1960s, there were so many reported sightings of Sasquatch, Bigfoot, Yeti or the Giant Hairy Ape in Skamania County, Washington, the county commissioners decided that an ordinance needed to be in place to protect the elusive creature and keep Bigfoot seekers from shooting a bearded elk hunter tramping around in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest,” the Skamania County Chamber of Commerce said on its website.

Although the county ordinance actively bans Bigfoot killings, locals and tourists alike are still encouraged to search for the creature while out in nature.

An attendee wearing a sasquatch costume at the Skagit BigFoot Fest 2023 in Mount Vernon, Wash. Skagit BigFoot Fest Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald

Where are Bigfoot events in Washington state? When?

Whether you’re a Bigfoot believer, a cryptid hunter or just a casual fan, Washington state has plenty of events dedicated to the massive mythical megafauna.

Here are some of the Bigfoot-themed events coming up across the state in 2025 and early 2026:

Yakima Valley Bigfoot Convention: Oct. 24 and 25
Sasquatch Summit in Ocean Shores: Nov. 21 and 22
Squatch Fest in Longview: Jan. 30 and 31, 2026

Other Sasquatch-themed celebrations are expected to return in 2026, but some have yet to announce exact dates. Keep an eye out for these annual events: