News release March 4, 2025
Contact: Kris Thorson, 360-902-8410
Media contact: Jennifer Sepulveda, 564-669-0850
OLYMPIA – With Washington’s spring turkey hunting season quickly approaching, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) urges new hunters to complete hunter education so they can participate in upcoming seasons. Youth spring turkey season opens April 1, and the general spring turkey season begins April 15.
“A lot of hunters look forward to getting into the field for spring turkey season after a long winter. This is also a great time to introduce new people to hunting,” said David Whipple, WDFW hunter education manager. “Turkey hunting is a good option for beginners because it requires less expensive equipment than hunting for species like deer or elk.”
Per Washington state law, anyone born after Jan. 1, 1972 must complete a hunter education course before buying a hunting license. To complete the hunter education requirement, students can choose to take either a traditional classroom or hybrid course.
The traditional classroom course is a multi-session, instructor-led training with an average of 15 hours of instruction. WDFW recommends the traditional course for students under age 12 and any student seeking a valuable classroom experience.
WDFW’s hybrid course consists of a self-paced, online class followed by a field skills evaluation. The online portion of the course is provided by hunter-ed.com and costs $24.95. During the field skills evaluation, students review material, take a quiz on the online class content, and receive hands-on training and evaluation by certified instructors. The hybrid course is appropriate for all students who can learn online course content.
“Hunter education courses teach firearm safety, basic wildlife conservation and ethics, how to be safe when hunting, and more,” said Whipple. “These courses are proven to decrease hunting incidents and enhance hunter and public safety, while teaching students important principles of wildlife management.”
A hunter education deferral is available for hunters age 10 and older who want to try hunting with an eligible licensed hunter before completing a hunter education course themselves.
To learn about hunter education requirements and find an upcoming course near you, visit the WDFW hunter education webpage. On this webpage, new and experienced hunters can also watch short videos that reinforce safety practices.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.