Special hunt drawing set for early reporters

OLYMPIA — Hunters who report their 2021 black bear, deer, elk, or turkey hunting results by Monday, Jan. 10, will have the opportunity to win one of nine deer and elk incentive permits for fall 2022.

State Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Division Manager Anis Aoude said the special permits will be awarded through a drawing this spring, as an incentive to encourage hunters to report their results as soon as possible.

The special permits will be valid from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31.

"Incentive hunts include five deer permits and four elk permits in various areas of the state," Aoude said. "This is a great opportunity for hunters to submit their hunter reports early."

To qualify for the drawing, hunters must submit a report by Jan. 10 for each black bear, deer, elk, or turkey tag they purchased, and each special hunting permit they received in 2021.

All hunters, regardless of their success, must submit hunting reports for each transport tag by Jan. 31. Failure to meet the deadline can result in a fine, which hunters must pay before they buy a license for the 2022 season.

"We use these annual hunting reports to guide how we manage game populations and develop future hunting seasons," Aoude said.

To report online, hunters need to establish an online account by creating a username and password and providing an email address. Individuals can use the account for other purposes, including filing harvest reports and purchasing hunting and fishing licenses.