Washington special big-game hunt drawing results available

HUNTING — The moment many big-game hunters have been waiting for has arrived:  Results of Washington’s 2016 special hunt permit drawing have become available online, Department of Fish and Wildlife officials say.

The results of the random, computerized drawing were verified June 9 and are now available for viewing on the agency’s website .

The drawings are a big deal to hunters since the special special permits allow them to hunt at times and locations beyond those authorized by a general hunting license. In some cases, hunters have applied for 15 years or more to draw a special permit for coveted game such as moose or branch-antlered bull elk.

This year’s application forms included a range of hunting options for deer, elk, moose, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep, said Mick Cope, WDFW game division manager. Like last year, hunters were allowed to submit applications in multiple categories.

WDFW is emailing applicants who asked to be notified about the results of the drawing and has posted the results on its website. Successful applicants will receive their special hunt permits in the mail by mid-July.

Hunters selected for goat, sheep, or moose special hunts will receive a notification card in the mail by mid-July and have until July 29, 2016 to purchase their license and tag.

Goat, sheep, and moose licenses and tags must be purchased from the Olympia WDFW office. Customers can purchase in person, by phone at 360-902-2464, or by mailing a check to Licensing Division, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501.

A packet that includes the special permit, the hunting license, and additional hunt information will be provided.

Hunters selected for special hunts that require a second tag can now purchase that second tag online , by phone at 1-866-246-9453, or from any license dealer.

For more information on special hunt permits, see the WDFW Big Game Hunting regulations pamphlet .