Special-permit hunting applications now available - with more options

OLYMPIA - Hunters may now purchase special-permit applications for the 2010 season that provide more options for big-game hunts in Washington than ever before.

The applications, newly revised to reflect those expanded options for the fall season, are posted on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) website (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wdfw/special_permits.html) and are also available at license vendors around the state.

Hunters must submit their applications by May 26 to be eligible for special permits, which qualify them to hunt at times and locations beyond those authorized by a general hunting license. Permit winners will be selected by random drawing in late June.

Dave Ware, WDFW game division manager, said this year's applications include a range of new hunting options for deer, elk, moose and big-horn sheep.

"Hunters have told us they want to be able to apply for a specific type of hunt - say, buck deer - rather than have all deer permits drawn from the same pool," Ware said. "This new application process gives them that option."

Ware noted that hunters can also submit applications for multiple categories of special hunts under the new system recently approved by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. Credits - or "points" - accrued by hunters toward special permits in previous years will be applied to each of the new permit categories created under the new system, he said.

Instructions and details on special-permit hunts are described in the 2010-11 Big Game Hunting Seasons & Regulations pamphlet, now available at WDFW offices, license vendors http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations on the Internet.

All completed applications must be submitted via a toll-free telephone number (1-877-945-3492) or WDFW's website (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wa/specialhunt) by May 26.

Before applying for a special-hunt permit, hunters must purchase an application and any necessary hunting licenses and transport tags online, by phone, or from a licensed dealer for each species they wish to hunt. The cost for each application is $6.50 for residents, $60.50 for non-residents, and $4.10 for youth under 16 years of age.

Additional revenue generated by the new application system will be used to help expand hunter access to private lands, Ware said.

Ware reminds hunters to update their mailing address in the system when purchasing their special hunting permit applications and licenses. Each year, hundreds of special hunting permits are returned due to invalid addresses.