OLYMPIA – With Washington’s spring turkey hunting season quickly approaching, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) urges new hunters to complete hunter education so they can participate in upcoming seasons.
“Due to high demand, registration for hunter education courses becomes more difficult the closer we get to spring turkey hunting season,” said David Whipple, WDFW hunter education manager. “Even if you don’t intend to hunt until the fall, now is a great time to complete your hunter education requirement so you’re ready for your preferred hunting season.”
Washington’s youth spring turkey season runs April 1 through 7, and the general spring turkey season is April 15 through May 31.
“Spring turkey hunting is a great way to introduce new hunters to our hunting heritage and get into the field after a long winter,” Whipple said.
Per Washington state law, anyone born after Jan. 1, 1972 must complete a hunter education course before buying a hunting license. To complete the hunter education requirement, students can choose to take either a traditional classroom or hybrid course. The traditional classroom course is a multi-session, instructor-led training with an average of 15 hours of instruction. WDFW recommends the traditional course for students under age 12 and any student seeking a valuable classroom experience.
WDFW’s hybrid course consists of a self-paced, online class followed by an in-person field skills evaluation. The online portion of the course is provided by hunter-ed.com and costs $24.95. During the field skills evaluation, students review material, take a quiz on the online class content, and receive hands-on training and evaluation by certified instructors. The hybrid course is appropriate for any student who prefers online course content.
“Hunter education students learn about safe firearm handling, hunting safety, basic wildlife conservation principles, hunting ethics, and more,” Whipple said. “These courses are proven to decrease hunting incidents and enhance safe hunting activities while teaching students important principles of wildlife management.”
If prospective hunters want to try hunting with an eligible licensed hunter before completing a hunter education course themselves, they can apply for a hunter education deferral. The deferral option is available one time to hunters age 10 and older.
To learn about hunter education requirements and find an upcoming course near you, visit the WDFW hunter education webpage. On this webpage, new and experienced hunters can also watch short videos that reinforce safety practices.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.