Outdoors - Hunting and Fishing

POSTED: Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2009

Hunting: Spring turkey, bear in hunter sights

The annual spring siege hunt for wild turkeys begins Wednesday, April 15, but it's always a bit of a question as to who surrounds whom in some of Washington's woods.

The typical strategy is for hunters to don camouflage garb, paint up all bare skin and take a stand somewhere in turkey territory.

Then it's a matter (on the hunter's part) of sitting and waiting patiently for gobbler clans, occasionally strutting themselves into distraction, to come within range.

Washington has a number of huntable populations, all successfully introduced, featuring the three main sub-species, easterns, Rio Grandes and Merriams.

The Washington Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation along with the fish and wildlife department recognizes hunters, with special pins, who have taken all three in the Washington Slam program. Two categories document those who take all three sub-species in just the spring season as well as hunters who get the hat-trick in multiple seasons.

This year's spring opener is a 46-day statewide observance. Hunters must have a valid Washington hunting license and unnotched turkey transport tags.

Up to three birds may be killed in the spring hunt with restrictions on how many from where and daily bag limits applying in various geographic areas. Those are detailed on page one of the regulations.

Washington's northeast region, where many hunters go, still is wearing a significant winter mantle and up to several weeks ago, turkey populations were hanging out at low elevations there.

Recent surveys by state biologists found fewer birds than they did several years ago, but they say the numbers are still strong enough to make for good hunting.

Hunters may want to time their arrival for the period when birds move upslope onto public lands (Washington Department of Natural Resources or U.S. Forest Service). Until then large concentrations of birds remain hard to get at on private lands.

State managers caution hunters to:

? Not 'stalk' a vocalizing turkey.

? Always get permission to go on private property.

? Have a clear field of fire at every calling station.

? Take close shots at head and neck only.

? Not use bait, dogs, electronic calls or decoys.

Turkey season ends May 31. All successful hunters must report their kills within 10 days of the occurrence. Also, all unsuccessful big game and turkey tag holders are required to report their effort each year or be assessed a $10 civil fee for failing to do so.

Copies of the 2009 spring pamphlet edition of the Wild Turkey Spring Season are now at license dealers.

VERNAL OPTION FOR VENAL BRUINS

The off-season opportunity for black bear in selected game management units and special hunt areas in Washington also starts Wednesday, April 15.

These spring hunts are all controlled or limited-entry hunts in which the opportunity is allocated by permit to hunter/applicants drawn from an annual lottery pool.

East of the Cascades, they serve as a means to balance harvest by gender in the Blue Mountains, but in western Washington, April-May permit hunts target black bears in areas where timber damage is being done by sap-feeders.

The newer hunts in Skagit County north of the river at Birdsview and the one in Snohomish County near Monroe are aimed at such 'trouble' groups within the population at large.

Other special permit hunts take place in Pierce, Thurston and Grays Harbor counties.