Programs in place to aid hunters with disabilities

Hunters with disabilities can gain motorize access to blocked roads during hunting seasons through programs on national forests in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

The special access to roads otherwise closed to unauthorized motor vehicle use are open to hunters with the proper handicapped permits and licenses as required by the states.

Idaho Panhandle National Forests will use a lottery to issue a limited number of passes this year on the Bonners Ferry Ranger Station, (208) 267-5561, and Sandpoint Ranger Station, (208) 263-5111, for use during the opening days of the general rifle hunting seasons for deer and elk. No passes will be issued for the Coeur d’Alene district this year because of logging operations.

Applicants can enter their names at the district offices before the drawings, which are set for Oct. 9. Hunters will be allowed access for three consecutive days starting Oct. 10. Applications for all other days of elk and deer season will be accepted starting Oct. 10 on a first-come, first-served basis.

For information about Idaho disabled hunting permits, contact Idaho Fish and Game, (208) 769-1414.

Colville National Forest designates portions of five roads as routes that will be open to disabled hunters during the upcoming hunting seasons.

• 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).

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

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. Info: (509) 684-7000.