Fall turkey hunting permits have doubled, tripled, and even quadrupled in some areas of northeast Washington where wild turkey populations have increased to the point of becoming a nuisance to landowners.

In Stevens County, permits jumped from last year’s 300 to a whopping 1,000. Ferry County doubles from 50 permits to 100 and Pend Oreille County permits jump from 25 to 100. Even the Roosevelt (133) unit in Lincoln County increases from 75 permits to 100 for this fall’s hunt.

Hunters who missed the late June application deadline for these permits might still take note for the general season (non-permit) hunt next spring. The fall either-sex hunt is controlled by permit to prevent excessive harvest of hens. The spring hunt during the breeding season is for gobblers only so it tends to be more difficult. The fall permit hunt offers hunters extra opportunity that is only offered when populations are thriving.

Most turkey habitat in northeast Washington tends to be in the valleys and foothills where land ownership is generally private. Hunters need to direct much of their time and effort toward gaining access to private lands or acquiring good maps, such as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maps (360-902-1234), that show the many scattered public ownerships that provide potential for a hunt.

Fall turkey permits were also issued at the same levels as last year in southeast Washington (50) and southcentral Washington’s Klickitat and Skamania counties (75).

Only hunters who had not harvested two turkeys in eastern Washington during the Spring 2002 hunt were eligible to apply. The application deadline for the fall season was June 23, 2002. The permit season is Oct. 1-5 for shotgun or archery equipment only.