Fall Turkey Harvest Limits?

[returnofsid]

I'm a bit confused as to how many turkeys are allowed to be harvested, in the Fall season, in Eastern Washington.  I did not hunt Spring season.

Under the category of "Fall Northeast Beardless Turkey," in GMUs 105-142 it says Two(2) Beardless Turkeys (in addition to other fall turkey harvest).

Under the category of "Early Fall," in GMUs 101, 124-154, 162-186, it says 1 Turkey, either sex (in addition to other fall turkey harvest).

Under the category of "Late Fall," in GMUs 105-154, 162-186 Either Sex, it says 1 Turkey.

Now, I understand that with Deer hunting, you're allowed to harvest 1 Deer ONLY, whether it's taken during General or Late Season.  This Turkey thing is really confusing.  Are we allowed to harvest 2 Turkey total, 3 Turkey total or 4 Turkey total?  Does it matter if you did, or did not hunt during Spring season?

[turkeyfeather]

Theoretically you could harvest 4 turkeys in the fall.

[returnofsid]

Theoretically you could harvest 4 turkeys in the fall.

That's kind of the way I'm reading it but I'm unsure of the legality.  Honestly, in the areas I'm considering, harvesting 4 turkeys would not be a problem at all so I'm kind of excited, if that's the case...

[turkeyfeather]

Theoretically you could harvest 4 turkeys in the fall.

That's kind of the way I'm reading it but I'm unsure of the legality.  Honestly, in the areas I'm considering, harvesting 4 turkeys would not be a problem at all so I'm kind of excited, if that's the case...

I want some. Care to help a brother out. 

[biggfish]

I thought you could only hunt fall if you didn't harvest in spring.  I believe the yearly harvest limit is 3 birds.  Maybe all that gets thrown out for fall but that was my understanding.

[returnofsid]

I thought you could only hunt fall if you didn't harvest in spring.  I believe the yearly harvest limit is 3 birds.  Maybe all that gets thrown out for fall but that was my understanding.

According to the regs, "Hunters who harvested two birds in Eastern Washington during the spring CAN participate in fall turkey seasons."

I do see a mention of a "season limit" of 3 birds but that's in the Notes and Exceptions area of Spring Season.

[returnofsid]

I'm on the phone with Fish and Game, as I type.  They're confused about the wording of the regs as well...lol. They're unsure if the Fall limit is 3 birds or 4 birds.  I'm on hold now, while they try to get a better understanding.

Okay, clarification does exist!

In Eastern Washington, during the Fall Season, you can legally harvest 4 birds, 2 must be beardless. 

Throughout the entire state, and the entire year, you can harvest a total of 7 birds.  Only 2 birds can be harvested in Eastern Washington during Spring season and one can be harvested in Western Washington.

Of course none of this takes any special permits into account.

[CedarPants]

This is how I read it. 

You can take 3 in the spring, only 2 of which can be in Eastern Washington and only 1 of those can be from Chelan, Yakima, or Kittitas county.

If you harvest 2 birds in Eastern Washington in the spring, you can still hunt in the fall.  In the early fall season, you can harvest 2 beardless birds in most of the eastern units.  In some of the other eastern units, you can also harvest an additional bird, either sex.  In the late fall season, you can harvest yet another bird in certain eastern units, either sex.

So by my math, if you are hunting NE Washington you can harvest 2 males in the spring, 2 beardless in the fall, and 2 either sex in the fall - for a total of 6

[turkeyfeather]

That is correct. In eastern wa you can harvest 6 birds a year, but only 2 in the spring. The 3 bird limit is the spring regs. They are different from the fall big game regs.

[CedarPants]

That is correct. In eastern wa you can harvest 6 birds a year, but only 2 in the spring. The 3 bird limit is the spring regs. They are different from the fall big game regs.

 

Also worth noting since I've seen it confuse some people ...... let's say you purchase 3 tags in the spring (or 2, or 1) and don't harvest a spring bird (or 2, or 3).  Those tags (or tag) are valid in the fall (you don't just eat tag soup on the spring tags if you don't fill them in the spring)

[turkeyfeather]

That is correct. In eastern wa you can harvest 6 birds a year, but only 2 in the spring. The 3 bird limit is the spring regs. They are different from the fall big game regs.

 

Also worth noting since I've seen it confuse some people ...... let's say you purchase 3 tags in the spring (or 2, or 1) and don't harvest a spring bird (or 2, or 3).  Those tags (or tag) are valid in the fall (you don't just eat tag soup on the spring tags if you don't fill them in the spring)

That is a good thing to point out.

[turkeydancer]

Basically you got it, there are 3 seasons ad a yearly total of 7 birds during the year is possible

... spring general  runs April 15th thru May 31st, where you can take 1 tom in Western Wa and 2 in Eastern Wa with the limitation of only 1 bird out of those few counties combined.

... early fall seasonis Sept 21st thru Oct 11 (I believe this year) where you can take 2 beardless and 1 either sex ... but make sure of what you can take in any particular unit.

... late fall usually has run from Nov 20 thru Dec 15 where you can take 1 additional bird of either sex.

Possibility of 7 turkeys each year .... 

[turkeyfeather]

Has anyone here ever tagged all 7 in a year. Most I have got was 3.

[CedarPants]

Has anyone here ever tagged all 7 in a year. Most I have got was 3.

That would require me harvesting a bird on the wet side.  I've given this a go a couple times over the years and very quickly learned that chasing quiet birds in non-stop rain for 4 or 5 days is more than I can psychologically take 

[turkeydancer]

6 is my tops ... but I didn't go wetside that year ....