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- Villagra
Building
P.O. Box 25112
Santa Fe, NM 87504
Ph. (800) 862-9310
The Dept.
of Game And Fish offers reduced-fee hunting and fishing licenses for
handicapped residents only. In addition, elk and antelope licenses are
available for Mobility Impaired hunters, residents, or nonresidents.
"Handicapped" and "Mobility Impaired" are not the same thing; please
read this information, then call if you have questions.
HANDICAPPED
HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES
To
comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the regulation regarding
handicapped licenses reads as follows.
"To hold
a handicapped fishing or handicapped general hunting license, any individual
must show proof of a severe disability by reason of one or more physical
disabilities resulting from amputation, arthritis, blindness, burn injury,
cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, musculo
skeletal disorders, neurological disorders, paraplegia, quadriplegia
and other spinal cord conditions, sickle cell anemia, and end-stage
renal disease, or who has a combination of permanent disabilities which
cause comparable substantial functional limitation. Reasonable accommodation
will be made, relating to these licenses, upon request."
Effective
for the 1997-98 license year, a hunter can purchase a reduce-fee handicapped
license from any license vendor by presenting proof of his residency
and one of the following:
- written
proof of his disability signed by his physician
- an orange
Disabled Sportsman's Card
- a letter
from the Veteran's Administration verifying disability
The Disabled
Sportsman's Card and/or the Form MI are not required to purchase a handicapped
license.
Please
note: The purchase of a handicapped license does not authorize the
hunter to any special privileges or assistance; he/she must request
a Reasonable Accommodation.
MOBILITY
IMPAIRED HUNTS
To provide
Mobility Impaired hunters with hunting opportunities, the Dept. offers
special elk and antelope hunts for individuals with severe mobility
restrictions. The regulation regarding Mobility Impaired elk and antelope
hunts reads as follows:
To hold
a mobility impaired elk or antelope license, "any individual must show
proof of a permanent mobility restriction which limits their activity
to a walker, wheelchair, or two crutches, or severely restricts the
movement in both arms or who has a combination of permanent disabilities
which cause comparable substantial function limitation."
If you
want to apply for a mobility impaired elk or antelope hunt, and believe
that you qualify under the above regulation, your physician must complete
and sign the Form MI. Please note that "a combination of permanent disabilities"
requires explanation and must involve significant impairment of extremities
which severely limits the ability of a hunter to walk or hold a weapon.
REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATION
A holder
of a Disabled Sportsman's Card is authorized to shoot at and kill protected
species during open seasons from a stationary motor-driven vehicle that
is not on a public road or highway. That hunter may be assisted by another
person in reducing a wounded animal to possession.
Many other
hunters who believe they need such privileges must receive a "reasonable
accommodation;" merely holding a handicapped license does not entitle
a hunter to such privileges. Please address your written inquiries regarding
a "reasonable accommodation" to Shirley Baker, Dept. of Game And Fish,
P.O. Box 25112, Santa Fe, NM 87504
Hunters
must carry their Disabled Sportsman's Card or their reasonable accommodation
form along with the appropriate license during their hunts. If you have
any questions, please contact the Public Affairs Division at (505) 827-7911.
Call
or write for further information, Form MI, Disabled Veteran licenses,
or any other application.
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