The new big game hunting pamphlet has been published and is available to hunters who should obtain a copy and study it from cover to cover.

This is necessary for those who will be applying for the various permits available for moose, goat, sheep, deer, elk, turkey etc.

At the beginning of the pamphlet is the statement, "This pamphlet is a summary of the hunting regulations and seasons adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. This pamphlet does not contain nor is it intended to contain all department regulations."

What we find in the pamphlet is a summary of the entire hunting regulations found in various parts of the Washington Administrative Code or WAC.

This is fine with me, because I've read some of the WACs and the reading is not pleasant. Hunters should be satisfied and thankful they are not asked to read the entire contents of the WACs to figure out the hunting regulations.

The persons charged with putting together the pamphlet has been improving the contact in several ways, two include the statement about "significant changes are in red" and noteworthy information is in blue."

The first showing of blue on page 15 under refunds/exchanges of hunting licenses states: "There are no refunds for hunting licenses or transport tags. Exchanges of hunting license documents will not be made after applying for a special permit or after the hunting season opens."

There are several exceptions listed under this statement, which again emphasizes the reason for careful study of this booklet.

An example of a significant change, which is displayed in red, is on page 25 under the special hunt application information about the category of buck deer: Under hunt 1103 and hunt name Mayview any deer tag may apply, the hunt dates are Nov. 16 through 19.

A legal deer is 3-point minimum. The hunt area is Game Management Unit 145 and 25 permits will be issued. The number of 2012 applications summated and the average number of points to be drawn is missing and the word "new" is listed.

The column on these special hunt categories are interesting and provide valuable information. Take elk hunt 2001 for example: The hunt name is Prescott and an Eastern Washington Modern Firearm tag is required to apply.

The season is Sept 24 through 28 and a legal elk will be any bull in GMU 149, with the number of permits issued to be one. The number of 2012 applications submitted was 96 and the average number of points required to draw a tag was 16.

Although a hunter applying for the first time may be drawn for this tag, realize it may take almost two decades to be successful.

Another example is in the deer special permit in hunt number 1315 and under the category of second deer hunts. The hunt name is Roosevelt with a modern firearm tag required to apply.

The hunt dates are Oct. 12 through 20 and the legal deer is antlerless. The GMU is 133and the number of permits is 150. The number of 2012 applications was 619 and the average number of points required to score a permit is three.

Hunters applying for this hunt have a much better chance to be drawn.

The second deer category in the special deer permit section is interesting. This is the third or fourth year for this category. It allows the taking of a second deer, which must be antlerless, in addition to the taking of a buck deer.

This means I can shoot a 3-point or better buck, plus an antlerless deer in the same GMU I hunt if drawn. This actually happened last year, when I shot a buck and, a few days later, a doe. It is know the GMU I hunt has had an overabundance of does, so allowing the taking of a second deer is timely and appropriate.

The special permit application deadline is midnight on May 22.

The easiest way to submit the application is online and I have been the group leader for my hunting buddies for years. However, a hunter is allowed to submit an application as an individual, too.

In addition to the special permit applications for the various big game species, there is also a series of raffle permit hunts.

The raffle tickets for deer, elk, moose and mountain goat are $6 each and bighorn sheep is $11.50. the raffle permit hunt deadline is July 15.

These raffles are a chance for hunters to spend more time in the field, but also this is a way for Fish and Wildlife to raise more money for the various species.

An example of a raffle hunt is the mule deer raffle. This hunt is open from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 and is open in all GMUs which are open to mule deer hunting. The bag limit is one additional buck mule deer.

A hunter is allowed to purchase as many tickets as desired. I will most likely purchase mule deer tickets, eastside elk tickets and moose tickets, but not sure how many yet.

Once again, hunters need to get their hands on a 2013 big game pamphlet and study it from cover to cover.