2009 Wild Turkey
Hunting Pamphlet
[PDF Format 1.65 MB]

	Wild Turkey Seasons & Information
	Safe and Ethical Turkey Hunting
	Primary Distribution of Wild Turkey
	Turkey Harvest
	Sex and Age of Wild Turkeys

WAC Summary Information

This pamphlet is a summary of the hunting regulations and seasons (chapters 232-12 and 232-28 of the Washington Administrative Code) adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. This pamphlet does not contain all department regulations. Regulations specific to the hunting seasons described in this pamphlet are found in section 232-28-341 of the Washington Administrative Code.

Currently, the Merriam’s subspecies occupies portions of Ferry, Klickitat, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Stevens, Spokane, Okanogan, Chelan, Kittitas, and Yakima counties. Rio Grande turkeys can be found in Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Lincoln, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties. Turkeys of the eastern subspecies can be found west of the Cascades in Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties.

2009 Turkey Raffle

Turkey raffle tickets may only be purchased from the Washington State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Money raised through this raffle will go to support WDFW wild turkey management.

Cost: $5 per ticket. No limit on the number of tickets purchased

Winner Receives: Three extra turkey tags that can be used in addition ot those available for purchase.

Tags are valid from April 1 through May 31 AND September 1 through December 31.

Drawing will be held at the Spokane Bighorn Show on March 23, 2009.

2009 Spring Turkey Season Area Dates Open Restrictions Bag/Possession Limit Statewide April 15 - May 31, 2009 Hunting hours are onehalf hour before sunrise to sunset during spring seasons Gobblers and Turkeys with visible beards ONLY A total of three (3) turkeys in the spring season with following restricitions. Only two (2) turkeys may be taken in eastern Washington and only 1 of those may be taken in Chelan, Kittitas, and Yakima counties (combined); only (1) turkey may be taken in western Washington per year. Two (2) turkeys may be taken in Klickitat County. Additional turkey tags may be purchased at any time. In appropriate areas, two turkeys can be harvested in one day. Youth Turkey Season A youth spring turkey season for hunters under 16 years of age will be held on April 4-5, 2009: The youth season is open in ALL GMUs. Standard hunting methods (shotgun or bow and arrow only) and all other turkey hunting regulations apply to the youth season. Fall Turkey Season Fall seasons may change, so it is important to check with WDFW after the April meeting of the Fish and Wildlife Commission each year to see what the fall turkey season regulations will be during any particular year. Fall season information will also be made available in the big game pamphlet. Special Regulations Spring turkey season is open for shotgun (10 gauge or under capable of holding 3 or fewer shells or muzzleloader with shot) and bow-and-arrow hunting only. A valid hunting license and an unaltered, unnotched turkey transport tag are required for hunting turkey. Immediately after killing a turkey, hunters must validate their own tag by completely removing notches for month and day of kill and securely attach tag to carcass. It is unlawful to use dogs, electronic calls or electronic decoys to hunt turkeys. Baiting game birds is illegal. Turkey hunters must report hunting activity (see page 4). Advisory on Emergency Regulations Caution:  Emergency regulation changes may occur while the seasons described in this pamphlet are in effect and will supersede information contained herein. Area news media will be informed of changes as they occur. Wild Turkey License Fees Resident Non- Resident Youth * Small game license $32.85 $164.25 $16.43 Small game, with proof of big game package purchase $17.52 $85.60 $8.76 Three-day small game. N/A $54.75 N/A Primary turkey tag $15.33 $43.80 Free Additional turkey transport tags. $15.33 $65.70 $9.86 * Youth hunters are defined as under 16 when they buy a license. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Mandatory Reporting Hunters are Required to Report Last Years Hunting Activity Prior to Purchasing a New License. Turkey hunters must report their hunting activity whether or not they harvest an animal. Hunters not reporting by January 31 will be subject to a $10 penalty which must be paid before they can purchase a 2008 license. One hunter report is required for each tag acquired. Hunters can file reports two ways: by telephone (toll free at 1-877-945-3492) or on the internet at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov; there are no longer paper harvest report cards. Hunters who harvest an animal should file a report within 10 days of taking the animal. Unsuccessful hunters must also report their hunting activity, including location and days hunted. The information will be used by WDFW to better monitor hunter effort, distribution, harvest, and trends. Special note for turkey hunters: Having a spring and fall season can make hunt reporting confusing. If you do not intend to apply for a fall turkey permit or hunt in general fall season, you should report spring turkey hunting activity after May 31st. If you do intend to hunt in the fall, you should wait to report spring activity or fall activity until after the fall season. You will need the following information to file your report for turkey hunting. Do NOT mail this information to WDFW; reports can ONLY be accepted through the toll free number or internet. 1. Whether or not you hunted turkeys. 2. For each turkey tag: a. The number of the GMUs you hunted in (2 most hunted GMUs).     Please refer to a Big Game pamphlet or other source for a GMU map. b. The number of days hunted in each GMU. 3. For each turkey you harvest: a. Number of the GMU where turkey was harvested. b. Month, day, and year of harvest. c. Sex of the turkey. d. Age of the turkey: adult, yearling, or juvenile (fall season only)