Disabled hunter info needed.

[lostriverproductions]

Looking for info on states that have special seasons or tags for disabled hunters. I have a good friends kid that became a paraplegic about year and half ago due to a work accident. He’s had several surgeries and been to a couple rehabilitation centers. He went into this high hopes and good spirits, but that has since went to the side. He has unfortunately learned who his real friends are in this time as well. I’m slowly getting him back into the outdoors, which has seemed to really raise his spirits. We started shooting hand guns this summer and we have the goal to get him a deer this fall in IN. That’s going to be a challenge because of my hunting property lay out, but we aren’t letting that detour us. I started talking to him about going out west with me sometime and that really put a smile on his face. So I turn to this forum for some guidance to point me in the proper direction. I know CO has certain antlerless tags he can get and am going to look more into that. But unsure about some of the other western states. These hunts don’t have to be buck or bull hunts, and antlerless/cow hunt would be just as great. I have him starting to build points for Antelope in WY.
Thanks for any info you can provide.

 

[go_deep]

Wyoming has a disabled permit that you can get for free once you have an issued license, for $5 you can get a disabled hunter plus companion permit which allows the person named as companion to finish off a wounded animal and retrieve an animal. Once you have the disabled permit you can get a shoot from a vehicle permit, you can't shoot from a county road/highway, but you can shoot from a truck on public or private land.

Good luck!

 

[Fink]

I know New Mexico has specific mobility impaired tags, and they aren't junk tags, some top of the line units.

You may be better served to look up groups that specialize in taking out mobility impaired hunters? Here in Missouri, my chapter of NWTF focuses on getting disabled veterans out hunting. We do duck, deer and turkey hunts, some on land that chapter members own/have access to, and some on land that people let us hunt, because they want to help the cause.
I'm sure there's groups that provide similar services in the Western states.

 

[Hilltop]

I think antelope is a great idea in Wyoming. I think an elk hunt is going to be very challenging unless you can get some good private access where you can set him up in a blind. I am not aware of any special seasons or tags but I do know there are special rules like shooting from a vehicle that may allow him some opportunities in several western states. If your willing to spend the money, there are many outfitters that cater to handicapped- just a thought.

 

[lostriverproductions]

Thanks for the fast replies. I do realize some of the hunts would be a lot harder then others. I have been looking in to the shooting from a vehicle permits as well. I am getting a UTV this winter or spring to that will help with getting around and away from the truck.
I will look into some of the different groups as well.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

While I am not a big SCI backer, they have a great program for disabled hunters. If you have a local chapter, you should contact them to see if they can help.

 

[luckynv]

Idaho also has some Tags for disabled youth, Lots of people don't like Sportsmans for Fish and Wildlife out of Utah(SFW) but they have done several things with disabled youth. Nebraska has over the counter antlerless tags for kids for $5.00 the season is in January for about 2 weeks. I have seen several articles of Wounded Warriors hunting with off road wheelchairs. You might contact them for info. I would also check with RMEF. Good luck and God bless

 

[luckynv]

Hey LostRiver, how old is he?? God bless

 

[Dos Perros]

Kansas has early mule deer muzzleoader tags available. I saw a really nice one taken this way this year. I doubt getting access would be very hard, either.

 

[Don K]

There is a guy on another board that owns land in Iowa. He is looking to host someone like this and I also believe he has talked to the DNR about a tag. I will shoot you a PM with the link

 

[jjenness]

Here in MT he could get a permit to hunt from a vehicle. Also you can go to the local FWP office for the area you hunt and get the keys to all the locked gated roads in the area, such as old logging roads. He would be able to shoot from inside the vehicle and you would be able to finish off any wounded game and retrieve it for him. I use to take my father out when his leg was amputated, and he actually would get shots at elk every year. Best of luck.

 

[chsdaddy]

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/download/hunting/license-information/discounts-exceptions/Mobility-Impaired-Information.pdf

Check this out for NM. As others said there are good hunts to be had.

 

[tim]

as was said ealier, Idaho has something. I don't know what though.

 

[RICMIC]

I checked on the Idaho program, as both my son and I are disabled Vets. The state gives out a number of tags to qualifying persons who are sponsored by an approved non-profit. These are not handicap accessable type hunts, but are a shortcut to get tags. I just accessed the info by Googling Idaho Game & Fish disabled hunts. I did speak to the woman in charge, and she told me that they had fewer applicants than tags in the past, but the word is now out, and it has swung the other way. I did not apply because I felt this type program should be used by someone who really couldn't hunt otherwise. In your circumstances, a ranch hunt may be the best option.

 

[hoshour]

I would call around to the Game and Fish departments for the western states and ask for the licensing dept. Phone numbers are almost always on the websites. They'll be able to tell you quickly and will probably point you to the page on the site that deals with that. In an hour or so you'll know the score for each state and how to apply.

 

[lostriverproductions]

Thanks for all the info from everyone. I'm looking in to all the mentioned suggestions thus far.

 

[Hilltop]

I would call around to the Game and Fish departments for the western states and ask for the licensing dept. Phone numbers are almost always on the websites. They'll be able to tell you quickly and will probably point you to the page on the site that deals with that. In an hour or so you'll know the score for each state and how to apply.

Wouldn't be bad to add this to the MRS. There has to be a gob of disabled hunters out there that would benefit from the information.

 

[RICMIC]

I did research all the western states recently, and a unique one was something that Washington has implemented a year or two back. If you are a disabled vet and 65 or older, then you can buy a non-resident tag at the resident rate. I will meet that criteria in a couple years, and my wife is from Wash. I don't have any points, so my options will be limited, but who knows????

 

[jjenness]

Wouldn't be bad to add this to the MRS. There has to be a gob of disabled hunters out there that would benefit from the information.

I second that nomination!

 

[hoshour]

Wouldn't be bad to add this to the MRS. There has to be a gob of disabled hunters out there that would benefit from the information.

Thanks. Great idea.

I'm always looking for ideas for the MRS, especially for the two sections that I write each fall which cover all the states. For example, the EBJ you'll be getting any day covers all the raffle and auction tags in the West.