Opportunities increasing for disabled hunter access
Programs are expanding to give disabled hunters more opportunities to drive on forest roads that are otherwise closed to public vehicle travel.
Both the Colville and Idaho Panhandle national forests have disabled hunter programs, as do some private timber companies.
Certain roads that have been closed to vehicles for budget or conservation reasons are available to qualified disabled hunters during the deer or elk seasons.
The Colville’s Aladdin Mountain Unit, including Roads 300, 330, 350, 360 and 7018 on the Three Rivers Ranger District, has been a disabled hunting area for deer and elk for 10 years.
Other Colville forest roads in the program include:
“ Middle Fork Calispell Road 353001 on the Newport Ranger District.
“ Boundary Mountain Road 6120900 on the Republic Ranger District.
“ Snyder Hill Road 330050 on the Sullivan Lake Ranger District, is open only during the general elk season. Hunters allowed on this road are drawn by lottery, but the number of permits has been increased this year to two a day. Applications, available at Colville forest offices and at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife office in Spokane, must be received by the Forest Service before Oct. 1. Info: Sullivan Lake Ranger District at (509) 446-7500.
Red and white signs will be posted at the entrance to each unit. Vehicles are prohibited on the roads unless they display a Washington Fish and Wildlife disabled hunting placard.
Walk-in hunting still will be allowed for the general public in these areas.
Only the disabled hunter and one hunting companion can carry firearms in their vehicle while in the disabled-access units. Non-hunting family members and friends may accompany the disabled hunter, said Byrd.
Disabled hunters may not cut firewood, camp or gather any other forest products when hunting in the areas under this permit.
Forest Capitol timber company allows disabled hunters to drive through locked gates in certain areas of the Huckleberry Range in Stevens County. The program is administered by the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council. Info: 487-8552.
In Idaho, a drawing will be held Oct. 3 for two-day hunting access permits on the Panhandle forests during the big-game rifle hunting season Oct. 10-Nov. 3.
The deadline is Sept. 30 for disabled hunters to apply for a permit in these areas: Idaho Gulch Road 1505 off Kings Pass Road near Murray, Idaho; Haystack Mountain area Roads 944, 6544 and 6545; and Prado Creek area Road 806, including 23 miles of accessible roads on the west side of the district.
To be eligible for the drawing, applicants must come in person to the Forest Service District Office in Silverton or Fernan to present their Idaho handicapped person’s motorized vehicle hunting permit, an Idaho disabled hunting license and big-game tag.
More info: (208) 752-1221.