Spring turkey hunting opens April 15

Washington's spring wild turkey hunting season opens April 15 and runs through May 15. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologists say it should be a productive season since populations of the introduced birds are doing well across the state.

The season is open for shotgun and bow-and-arrow hunting and only gobblers or turkeys with visible beards can be harvested. Hunters must have a valid hunting license ($15 for residents, $150 for non-residents) and a turkey transport tag ($18 for residents, $60 for non-residents.)

Hunters can take up to a total of three turkeys per year, but only one of each of the three subspecies of turkeys. Subspecies are defined by county of kill: Eastern wild turkeys are those in all of western Washington, except for Klickitat and Skamania counties; Merriam's wild turkeys are those in Ferry, Klickitat, Pend Oreille, Skamania and Stevens counties; RioGrande wild turkeys are those in all of eastern Washington, except for Ferry, Klickitat, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties.

Turkey hunters who want to hunt for more than one sub-species must purchase multiple turkey transport tags on or before April 14. A single statewide tag can be purchased at any time.

The three subspecies of wild turkey have been introduced in Washington through inter-state trapping and transplant projects since 1960. WDFW biologists report that turkeys are doing well, expanding throughout their range with the help of occasional boosts from transplant efforts.

Details about turkey identification and harvest are in WDFW's "Wild Turkey Spring Season" pamphlet, available at any license dealer.