State Reduces Permits

It’s official: Winter kill has forced a drastic reduction in special deer and elk permits for fall hunting seasons, particularly in Central Washington.

In Chelan County alone, bad weather may have claimed up to 60 percent of the mule deer fawns, state biologists say.

Complete permit information should be available today at Washington Fish and Wildlife offices and at hunting license dealers. The information also will be available on the Internet at http://www.wa.gov/wdfs/

Applications for special permits are due May 2.

Raffle authorized

Washington has authorized the sale of raffle tickets for a chance to win special big-game permits.

For the first time, four permits - one each for a bighorn sheep, moose, elk and deer - are being raffled by the Fish and Wildlife Department to raise funds for wildlife conservation programs.

The Washington Legislature authorized the raffles.

Raffle tickets can be purchased through the department or at hunting license dealers. A mail-order form is included in the department’s latest Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules Pamphlet. Tickets cost $5 each for deer, elk or moose, and $10 each for a chance at the bighorn permit. Deadline to return tickets is July 3.

Idaho elk tags sold out

Idaho’s tags for regular and mountain elk hunting areas are sold out. Deer tags for non-residents are still available in Idaho except the special Southeast Idaho deer hunt.

Nonresidents who still want an elk tag for the regular or mountain areas may ask that they be placed on a waiting list. The unsold tags allocated to outfitters become available on a first-come, first-served basis on July 1.

, DataTimes