2023 Washington Turkey - Evidence of sex change

[brokentrail]

Seems the evidence of sex requirement has changed for 2023.  This one caught me by surprise so hopefully me posting this will let others see it too, if they were unaware.

Evidence of Sex
It is unlawful to possess or transport wild turkey without the fully feathered head and beard (if present at harvest) attached.

[Dan-o]

Good catch and good post.


This will catch some folks by surprise.


It has me thinking about how I'll have to change my process.

[emac]

My question on this is what do they consider transport.  You do a week long turkey hunt are you expected to leave it unprocessed for a week while you are hunting until you get home.   I stay with buddies when I am turkey hunting, when we get birds we take care of them asap.  But then I still have a 4 hr drive home when the trip is over. I am not going to wait that long. This sounds stupid to me.

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[LDennis24]

They already look like they have makeup on, what more evidence of a sex change are they looking for?   

[Russ McDonald]

I believe it says until processed, and by the way, this changed last spring season.  If you have that week long hunt, you can breast the bird out.  I usually put the head and beard in a separate bag to cya when I head home.  I am usually out for more than 2 days when hunting.

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[brokentrail]

@RussMcDonald
I actually looked at the 2022 regs to make sure before I posted and they stated

It is illegal to possess in the field or transport game
birds unless a feathered head or wing is left at-
tached to each carcass.

And neither 2022 or 2023 mentioned anything I could find about "processed ".  If I missed it, could you point me at it so I can read/follow it?

Unfortunately,  I also hunt for a week sometimes and process a bird on day 1 and then have to keep the carcass with the processed meat until I'm home.  If I hadn't read this years regs, I may have skinned all the way to the neck like I usually do.

[Bo_nimrod]

So if a TOM (male) declares himself as a HEN (female) can it be shot in the spring

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

So if a TOM (male) declares himself as a HEN (female) can it be shot in the spring

Only if it's on the wetside of the ridge...........lol

[Russ McDonald]

@RussMcDonald
I actually looked at the 2022 regs to make sure before I posted and they stated

It is illegal to possess in the field or transport game
birds unless a feathered head or wing is left at-
tached to each carcass.

And neither 2022 or 2023 mentioned anything I could find about "processed ".  If I missed it, could you point me at it so I can read/follow it?

Unfortunately,  I also hunt for a week sometimes and process a bird on day 1 and then have to keep the carcass with the processed meat until I'm home.  If I hadn't read this years regs, I may have skinned all the way to the neck like I usually do.

No worries thought it was last spring.  Because it was discussed in 2021. It also could have been in the spring phamplet only last year.  I procees my birds which is breasting them out in a freezer bag.  Things and legs in another freezer bag.  Beard and head in a bag.  I keep the wings for the feathers.

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[brokentrail]

Thanks Russ.