HUNTING -- Washington hunters have two deadlines coming for special permit applications:

• Spring black bear hunting permit applications are due by midnight March 10.
• Multiple-season permit applications for deer and elk hunters are due March 31.

Read on for details and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife links for getting the job done.

Spring black bear permits

A drawing will be held in mid-March for 370 permits in western Washington and 209 permits for hunts east of the Cascades. Permit winners will receive notification in the mail by March 31. Applicants may also check the results of the drawing on the WDFW website.

To apply for a permit, hunters must purchase a special permit application and a 2011 hunting license that includes bear as a species option. Hunting licenses, bear transport tags and bear permit applications may be purchased online, by calling (866) 246-9453, or at any license vendor in the state.

 Special permit applications, which require a correct hunt choice number, may be submitted online, or by calling (877) 945-3492.

Multiple-season permits

Apply for permtis by March 31. In early April, the WDFW will randomly draw names for 4,000 multiple-season deer permits and 850 multiple-season elk permits.

Winners of the drawing will be eligible to purchase a special tag allowing them to participate in archery, muzzleloader and modern-firearm general hunting seasons for deer or elk in 2011. Winners who purchase the multiple-season elk tag by Aug. 31 can participate in general elk-hunting season in both eastern and western Washington.

Winners also may apply for any weapon type deer or elk special permit.

Tags can only be used during general seasons and in game management units that are open during a modern firearm, muzzleloader, or archery general season.  For example, winners may not hunt during the muzzleloader general season in an area that is not open for the muzzleloader general season.

Also, hunters can apply only once for each species and are limited to harvesting one deer or elk.

Hunters may purchase a multiple-season permit application at one of the state's authorized license dealers, or by calling (866) 246-9453. The permit application is $6.50 for residents and $60.50 for nonresidents.

A 2011 hunting license is not required to submit an application, but winners of the drawing must purchase one before they can purchase a multiple-season tag.

Hunting licenses and multi-season tags can be purchased from local license dealers, on the Internet or by calling (866) 246-9453. Multiple-season deer or elk tags cost $180.50 for residents and $1,800.50 for nonresidents, including transaction fees. These figures do not include the cost of an annual hunting license.