WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE     Print Version
NEWS RELEASE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

OLYMPIA -- The 1998 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet, compiled by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, will be available by May 15 at hunting license dealers and WDFW regional offices.

The pamphlet includes details on changes in special permit applications, which are due June 12 this year. The later-than-usual deadline allows hunters a month to apply for permits after the pamphlet becomes available.

The 1998 pamphlet also includes information on this year's permit quotas and the number of permit applications received last year.

Few other changes were adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission for the 1998-99 season because this is the second year of a three-year hunting rule package.

One notable revision splits off Northeast Washington (game management units 101 to 142) into a elk tag area separate from the Blue Mountain Elk tag area. Also, all western Washington elk hunting now is managed under a three-point minimum restriction except for damage areas.

In addition to the pamphlet, WDFW this year has created a folded, 34-by-22 inch, color map of game management units. The maps may be purchased for $3 by submitting an order form (found on page 62 of the hunting pamphlet) with payment to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife -- Wildlife Management, 600 Capitol Way N.,Olympia WA 98501-1091.

Maps also may be purchased at some license dealers and from WDFW regional offices in Spokane, Ephrata, Yakima, Mill Creek, Montesano or Vancouver.