Broadheads for turkey

[bow4elk]

So what's the REAL verdict?  I've always understood that expandables are legal for turkeys.  When I taught bowhunter education, it was under the WDFW hunter education program.  I was told that the regulations are written such that if it is NOT explicitly written as illegal, it is presumed legal.  In other words, if the regs don't say "expandable broadheads for the harvest of turkeys are illegal" (or something to that effect), then they are presumed legal.

I'm going to ask again and get a name because I'm planning on using NAP Shockwave heads this year.  My friend is a recently retired enforcement officer in SW WA and a very successful turkey hunter.  I'm going to ask him as well.

I got a response:

Thank you for contacting WDFW regarding the use of expandable broadheads for turkey hunting.  Your e-mail has been forwarded to me for a response. 

Expandable broadheads are currently lawful for turkey hunting during the spring season.  I emphasize the “spring season” because there are no concurrent big game seasons during spring.   Almost (but not) all of our archery equipment restrictions are prefaced with “It is unlawful to hunt big game animals….”  Since turkey is not a big game animal, the restriction on mechanical broadheads does not apply. 

During the fall season it is often impossible to determine whether an individual is lawfully hunting turkeys or attempting to circumvent the law and hunt big game with unlawful equipment.  I always advise individuals who hunt big game with archery equipment during falls months to carry only broadheads which comply with our equipment restrictions.  Mechanical broadheads do not.

Our Fish and Wildlife Officers are well-trained, professional law enforcement officials.  If hunters have questions about rules or regulations they need only contact their local officer for authoritative clarification.

Mik Mikitik

Department of Fish and Wildlife

Enforcement Program

Hunter Education Division

[Tom Tamer]

So what's the REAL verdict?  I've always understood that expandables are legal for turkeys.  When I taught bowhunter education, it was under the WDFW hunter education program.  I was told that the regulations are written such that if it is NOT explicitly written as illegal, it is presumed legal.  In other words, if the regs don't say "expandable broadheads for the harvest of turkeys are illegal" (or something to that effect), then they are presumed legal.

I'm going to ask again and get a name because I'm planning on using NAP Shockwave heads this year.  My friend is a recently retired enforcement officer in SW WA and a very successful turkey hunter.  I'm going to ask him as well.

I got a response:

Thank you for contacting WDFW regarding the use of expandable broadheads for turkey hunting.  Your e-mail has been forwarded to me for a response. 

Expandable broadheads are currently lawful for turkey hunting during the spring season.  I emphasize the “spring season” because there are no concurrent big game seasons during spring.   Almost (but not) all of our archery equipment restrictions are prefaced with “It is unlawful to hunt big game animals….”  Since turkey is not a big game animal, the restriction on mechanical broadheads does not apply. 

During the fall season it is often impossible to determine whether an individual is lawfully hunting turkeys or attempting to circumvent the law and hunt big game with unlawful equipment.  I always advise individuals who hunt big game with archery equipment during falls months to carry only broadheads which comply with our equipment restrictions.  Mechanical broadheads do not.

Our Fish and Wildlife Officers are well-trained, professional law enforcement officials.  If hunters have questions about rules or regulations they need only contact their local officer for authoritative clarification.

Mik Mikitik

Department of Fish and Wildlife

Enforcement Program

Hunter Education Division

Need to forward that on to that above mentioed game warden that would write a ticket for it;)

[KimberRich]

Good info.  It's good to see it in writing and makes sense.  Thanks

[bow4elk]

My response to Mik:

Hi Mik,

Thank you for the clarification.  As an IBEF/NBEF bowhunter education instructor (not currently teaching) I used to get a lot of questions, such as this one, that didn’t have a clear statement in the regulations, such as your response below.  I am an active measurer for the Pope and Young Club as well, and in the process of measuring people’s animals I get a ton of questions about legal archery equipment, etc.  However, I fully understand it’s the responsibility of the hunter to educate themselves before hunting.

To that end, I’d like to suggest that such equipment regulations clearly articulated.  Having hunted in many states, I know that it can be difficult for law-abiding hunters to follow the law, especially when certain regulations are in place solely to curb illegal activities.  For example, Illinois has a law that a bow must be “locked or inoperable” while transporting in the field during non-legal shooting hours.  For a compound bow this means a padlock through a cam or around the string/cables.  Not many non-residents have a lock on their person but the citation is a stiff fine should you forget or simply not know.  Again, the intent is to curb illegal activities before or after legal shooting hours but, like many laws, these sorts of mandates only confuse good-intentioned folks and leave them at risk of game violations.  Poachers don’t give a rip about laws, they are cheaters plain and simple. 

My point is that Washington is home to a lot of military families, many of which love to hunt.  This ‘legal broadheads for turkey’ topic is very confusing to most who’ve read the regulations and tried to wade through the WAC codes referenced therein.

Thanks again for clearing this up.
- Tom