HUNTING --  For the first time, crossbows became legal to use for hunting wild turkeys this morning as Washington's spring gobbler season opened.

The change was allowed by an emergency rule vote of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission announced on Tuesday.

The commission made the change at its meeting last week in Tumwater. Hunting regulation changes usually take a month or more before they go into effect.  However, to avoid confusion, the commission decided to enact the rule with the opening of the season rather than midway through the season.

 The regulation pertaining to legal weapons for turkey hunting has been changed to read:

"It is unlawful to hunt turkey with a weapon other than shotgun shooting #4 or smaller shot, bow and arrow, crossbow, or muzzle loading shotgun shooting #4 or smaller shot."