HUNTING -- Portions of five roads in the Colville National Forest have been designated as routes that will be open to disabled hunters during the upcoming hunting seasons.

The program allows motorized access into a gated road where other hunters must walk in, said Franklin Pemberton, Forest Service spokesman.

The 2014 disabled hunter access routes include:

• Betty Creek in Ferry County (12.4 miles),
• Boundary Mountain in Ferry County (7.8 miles),
• Brewer Mountain in Stevens County (2.4 miles),
• Mitchell in Stevens County (7.8 miles),
• Renshaw in Pend Oreille County (2.8 miles).

The program does not provide special motorized access to all areas on the CNF, just to specially designed roads otherwise closed to motor vehicles.

“Disabled Hunter Access hunters and one of their two permitted assistants can harvest any game in season for which they have purchased licenses,” Pemberton said.

Permitted hunters can use the weapons allowed for the particular season by state hunting regulations. Participating hunters with disabilities must have a state issued disabled hunter permit and must register and sign-in at any one of the six Colville National Forest offices prior to hunting.

• Colville National Forest Supervisor’s office, 765 S. Main St., Colville. Phone (509) 684-7000. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Three Rivers Ranger District office, 255 W. 11th St., Kettle Falls. Phone (509) 738-7700. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Republic Ranger District office, 650 E. Delaware, Republic. Phone (509) 775-7400. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Newport office: 315 North Warren, Newport. Phone (509) 447-7300. Office hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Sullivan Lake office: 12641 Sullivan Lake Road, Metaline Falls. Phone (509) 446-7500. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Colville National Forest partners in the project with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council.