Disabled Sportsmen and DNRs - state departments of natural resources and services for handicapped hunters - Brief Article

Accent on Living, Fall, 2000 by Dave Baskin

State Laws governing hunting by people with physical disabilities appear as a patchwork of good intentions, but with very little standardization between the states. The reason for the dif ferent rules from state to state is rooted in each agency's response to specific requests from sportsmen with disabilities, and the absence of any coordinated planning.

Following WWII some states actually prohibited any hunting by disabled citizens. This was due to the pre-World War II belief that people in wheelchairs could not handle the safety rules.

Those disabled sportsmen who ventured out into the field usually did so with the assistance of close friends or family on private land. The first known effort to promote opportunities in hunting and fishing activities for disabled sportsmen came as a result of lobbying by veterans organizations to a few of the DNR's. In fact, many states still have in their regulations that disabled veterans receive the benefit of a free or reduced fee license and have not included the disabled civilian sportsmen in any licensing benefits.

Some DNR's now offer exclusive hunting opportunities just for the disabled hunter.

Interestingly, there are a growing number of sportsmen with disabilities who feel that they should pay full hunting and fishing fees, just like everyone else does, in order to share in the responsibility of supporting the work of the game and fish agencies and enjoying the benefits.

Most DNR's did not view the growth in disabled hunters as an issue that required discussion or cooperation between the agencies, so states simply adjusted their regulations according to local demand. This isolated decision making resulted in some rather interesting rules being implemented across the nation, many of which assisted disabled sportsmen, while a few actually limited their opportunities.

All DNR's have provisions in their regulations for the accommodation of hunters from other states. Many of these DNR's also issue disability permits for crossbow and hunting from a motor vehicle, but do not grant these same privileges to out-of-state residents. It seems to have been inadvertently overlooked that sportsmen with disabilities should be accorded the same opportunities to hunt across state lines as their able-bodied counterparts.

Two states have their crossbow rules for disabled sportsmen written in such a manner so as to actually preclude the majority of hunters with legitimate disabilities. In one case, to qualify for the permit an applicant must have a severe mobility impairment and be over 65 years of age. The second DNR only issues crossbow permits to those persons who are so disabled that they must use a mouth device in order to operate the trigger mechanism. Both of these examples illustrate seemingly well intentioned regulations that in reality eliminate participation by most of the qualified disabled sportsmen in these particular states.

Along the same lines, three DNR's allow quadriplegics a disabled hunting permit, but deny one to paraplegics. Ninety-eight percent of people with these two conditions must use a wheelchair for their daily living activities. Both of these disabilities which usually require a wheelchair for mobility prohibit a person from functioning as a hunter in the traditional manner, and should qualify a sportsman for a disabled permit.

Many states require that a doctor certify that an applicant has a disability, but do not request the physician to make the judgement as to whether the impairment directly impacts the hunting function in question.

When viewed from a sports function perspective, even the most complicated problem can be defined and resolved. The best illustration of this procedure is the issue of allowing citizens with total blindness to hunt.

The main hunting function that is missing for the blind sportsman is the ability to see and identify the target. But this basic function can be performed by a sighted partner, who looks over the sportsman's shoulder and through an elevated rifle scope, while speaking accurate aiming instructions. This method of hunting has proven extremely safe.

Many organizations are searching for information and guidance on this important issue. One valuable resource available to DNR's, outfitters, equipment suppliers and rehabilitation hospitals, is the NRA Shooting Sports Disability Awareness Workshop. This educational seminar was developed by NRA Disabled Shooting Services.

The first workshop was conducted in 1996, for the master hunter education instructors of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. The resulting success of the workshops prompted Safari Club International to sign on as a cosponsor in 1998. Exactly one year later in January 1999, the prestigious Lakeshore Foundation joined the NRA and SCI as a name sponsor.

The Birmingham, Alabama-based organization is the largest foundation of it's type in the nation to serve sportsmen and women with physical disabilities. For more information on the Lakeshore-NRA-SCI Shooting Sports Disability Awareness Workshop.