Bison in Washington in September

Yes, September is one of the best months to see bison in Washington. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 282 of the 2,047 sightings logged across the year (13.8%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Mountain Goat photographed in WashingtonMountain Goat photographed in WashingtonMountain Goat photographed in Washington
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for bison in Washington

13.8%

of yearly sightings

282

records in September

#3

busiest month of 12

2,047

verified records a year

August 23.3%, September 13.8%, October 6.7%. Busiest month is August at 23.3%.

Best months: August, July, SeptemberPeak season right now

2,047 verified observations of bison in Washington, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bison are recorded in Washington

Peak month

August

476 records (23.3% of the year)

Quietest month

December

35 records

MonthObservationsShare
January432.1%
February381.9%
March703.4%
April1095.3%
May1075.2%
June21810.6%
Julypeak47323.1%
Augustpeak47623.3%
Septemberpeak28213.8%
October1386.7%
November582.8%
December351.7%

Bison you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Mountain Goat1,413
Bighorn Sheep525
Domestic Sheep52
Domestic Cattle35
Domestic Goat4

In Washington, September carries 13.8% of the year's bison sightings, about 5.5 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from August (23.3%) into September, and it heads toward October (6.7%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so September is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The bison most often recorded in Washington are Mountain Goat, Bighorn Sheep and Domestic Sheep. Those counts are annual totals rather than a September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September itself.

Which bison you are most likely to see

  • Mountain Goat1,413 records
  • Bighorn Sheep525 records
  • Domestic Sheep52 records
  • Domestic Cattle35 records
  • Domestic Goat4 records
Plan your tripEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve

Plan your bison trip in Washington

Start with live tours near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bison in Washington in September?+

Yes. September accounts for 282 of the 2,047 verified bison sightings logged in Washington across the year, which is 13.8% of the annual total.

Is September a good time to see bison in Washington?+

September is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of August, July and September.

What month is best for bison in Washington?+

August is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through August, July and September, based on 2,047 verified observations.

Which bison are you most likely to see in Washington?+

The most-recorded species in Washington are Mountain Goat, Bighorn Sheep and Domestic Sheep, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.