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Several
laws, regulating fishing and hunting in Michigan, contain specific provisions
designed to assist hunters and anglers with disabilities to enjoy Michigan's
recreational resources. This pamphlet is a brief summary of these regulations.
For more detailed information contact any Michigan Department of Natural
Resources Office.
Hunt
from a Standing Vehicle Permit
Michigan
law authorizes the Department of issue permits to hunt from a standing
motor vehicle to disabled persons who are unable to walk due to being
a paraplegic or an amputee, or being permanently disabled and unable
to walk because of other disease or injury.
Once issued,
this permit grants a properly licensed person the privilege of sitting
in or upon a stationary motor vehicle with a loaded firearm or strung
bow while hunting. It further authorizes a hunter to take a deer of
either sex anywhere in the state as long as the season is open.
A hunt
from a motorized vehicle permit expires on March 31 of the fifth calendar
year following the date of issue.
Permit
to Hunt With a Modified Bow
The Department
may issue a permit to hunt with a modified bow to a permanently disabled
person who has full use of only one arm and who upon investigation is
unable to hold, aim and shoot a bow.
This permit
authorized a person to affix to the bow devices which will allow the
hunter to shoot a bow in a manner not presently permitted under current
law. These devices are most frequently something which will hold the
bow at full draw until ready to shoot. This device cannot convert the
bow into a crossbow.
Permit
to Hunt with a Crossbow
Recent
amendments to the Wildlife Conservation Act permit qualified persons
to hunt game with a crossbow. To qualify for a crossbow permit, a person
must have a licensed physician certify that the applicant is at least
80% permanently disabled, in combination or individual impairment, of
hand, elbow and/or shoulder due to amputation or spinal cord injury.
Persons with permanent disabilities due to other reasons must be at
least 80% disabled and have the level of their disabilities confirmed
by a qualified physical therapist and approve by a licensed physician.
Off
Road Vehicle Handicapped Permit
Persons
that meet the following criteria are permitted to operate licensed ATBs/ORVs
less than 50 inches wide on all forest roads on state lands (including
those not posted open):
- Those
person issued a valid temporary or permanent handicapper paring permit
issued by the Michigan Department of State.
- Those
persons holding Permits to Hunt From A Standing Vehicle.
- Those
persons experiencing the following disabilities; Loss of 1 or both
legs or feet; Inability to ambulate more than 200 feet without having
to stop and rest; Inability to ambulate without prolonged use of wheelchair,
walker, crutches, braces or other devices to aide mobility; Lung disease
from which the person's expiratory volume for 1 second is less than
1 liter when measured by spirometry; Lung disease from which the person's
arterial oxygen is less than 60 mm/hg of room air at rest; Cardiovascular
disease from which the person measures between 3 and 4 on the New
York heart classification scale; Cardiovascular disease from which
a marked limitation of physical activity causes fatigue, palpitation,
dyspnea or anginal pain; Other disease or disorder including but not
limited to severe arthritis, or a neurological-orthopedic impairment
that creates a sever mobility limitation.
Person
with obvious severe disabilities (i.e paraplegics, quadriplegic).
Operation
of the ORV is subject to licensing and all other requirements and restrictions,
and shall only be at a speed and in a manner which does not degrade
the environment. These privileges may extend to one companion of the
handicapper serving as operator or passenger of the handicapped's ORV.
Fishing
License Exemption for Persons with Mental Disabilities.
The Fishing
and Hunting License Act provides for permits to be issued which authorizes
a mentally retarded person or resident of a home for the aged to fish
without a license if the mentally retarded person or resident of the
licensed home for the aged is a member of a group accompanied by 1 or
more adults. These supervising adults must possess a valid license to
fish.
Permits for
the Legally Blind Resident
A resident
who is legally blind may purchase a senior citizen fishing license, also
may obtain a permit to hunt with a laser sight mounted on there Firearms & Bows!
Proof of blindness must be presented to the license agent by the qualified
blind person.
The person
who purchases such license must have, on his person when fishing, proof
of blindness and furnish this proof to a law enforcement officer upon
request.
Senior
Citizen Hunting/Fishing License for Veterans with 100% Disability
A resident
who has been determined by the veterans administration of the federal
government to be permanently and totally disabled and entitled to veteran
benefits at the 100% rate for a disability other than blindness, is
eligible to purchase a senior citizen hunting or fishing license. Proof
of 100% veterans benefits due to disability must be presented to the
license agent by the qualified person.
The licensee,
when hunting or fishing, must possess proof of eligibility and must
furnish proof upon request of a law enforcement officer.
Equal
Rights for Natural Resource Users
The Michigan
Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunities for employment
and for access to Michigan natural resources. State and Federal laws
prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin,
religion, disability, age, marital status, height and weight. If you
believe that you have been discriminated against in any program activity
or facility, please write the Michigan DNR Equal Opportunity Office,
P.O. Box 30028, Lansing, MI 48909; The Michigan Department of Civil
Rights, 1200 6th Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226; or the Office of Human Resources,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. 20240.
How
to Apply for a Special Permit
Several
of the foregoing require special permits. Applications for these permits
are available without cost at any Department of Natural Resources Office.
*Other
information which could be included: regional and district offices;
TDD phone numbers; contact information numbers for major land (facilities)
management division: Parks, Forest Management, Wildlife, Fisheries,
Recreation.
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