Applications for special hunting permits due May 18

HUNTING — Friday at midnight is the deadline to apply for special hunting permits for fall deer, elk, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep, and turkey seasons in Washington.

Permit winners will be selected through a random drawing conducted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in late June. The special permits qualify hunters to hunt at times and places beyond those authorized by a general hunting license.

Applications may be purchased from license vendors statewide or online.

Consult the 2012 Big Game Hunting Seasons & Regulations pamphlet for details.

Read on for more information:

Before applying for a special-hunt permit, hunters must purchase an application and any necessary hunting licenses and transport tags for each species they wish to hunt. All are available online, by phone, or from a licensed dealer.

Most special hunt permit applications cost $6.60 for residents, $110.00 for non-residents, and $3.30 for youth under 16 years of age.

The exception is the cost for residents purchasing applications for any moose, as well as “quality” categories for deer and elk. Those applications cost $13.20.

Update your email and mailing address in the system when purchasing  special hunting permit applications and licenses. Each year, hundreds of special hunting permits are returned due to invalid addresses.

Results of the special-permit drawing will be available online by the end of June.

Winners will be notified by mail by mid-July.