HUNTING -- Washington's late fall turkey hunting season opens Wednesday, Nov. 20, in East Side GMUs 105-154 and 162-186.

A wildlife biologist I know said he has given up the spring gobbler hunts in favor of filling his tags in the fall.  He's trading the thrill of calling in the gobblers during their mating season, but gaining quality for the table, he said.

"In the spring turkeys are skinny and tough from the winter and all the effort they put into mating," he said.  "In late fall they're in the fattest and best condition of the year."

Of course, with Washington's generous tag allocations, a hunter can have it both ways.

Read all the Washington wild turkey hunting regulations.

• Idaho is even MORE generous with its fall turkey tags, and the Panhandle season runs Sept. 15-Dec. 15 without a break.  Check out the Idaho regs.