UPDATE 1 p.m., 1-3-14: Be patient and willing to try later... the Washington website for reporting hunting activity has been down for hours, possibly from a surge in hunters trying to get on line.

HUNTING -- Washington hunters must file a report for each deer, elk, bear, turkey tag, and each special hunt permit awarded, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department is reminding sportsmen this month. 

The reports are required whether or not you harvested an animal or hunted at all.

File reports by Jan. 10 on this year's hunting activities for black bear, deer, elk, or turkey for a chance to win one of nine 2014 special hunting permits.

Those who meet the deadline will be included in a drawing for five deer permits and four elk permits in various areas of the state. Those permits will be valid from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2014.

Dave Ware, WDFW game manager, said the annual hunting reports are an important source of information for managing the resource and developing future hunting seasons.

"The drawing for special permits is designed to give hunters an extra incentive to file their reports early," said Dave Ware, WDFW game manager. "If everyone waits until the last minute, it creates problems with reporting."

• The report deadline is Jan. 31 in order to avoid a $10 administrative fee when you purchase your 2014 license this spring.

If your special permit allows you to hunt beyond Jan. 31, 2014, your hunter report is due within 10 days of the close of that season.

Hunter reports can be filed online or call toll free at (877) 945-3492. You will need your WILD ID number, the Game Management Unit(s) you hunted, number of days hunted, and if, when, and what you harvested.

You should record and file your confirmation number for EACH report filed, this is the only way the WDFW can verify that you submitted a report for each tag and permit.