To Obtain Disabled Hunter Road Access Entry Program Permit Drawing for Deer and Elk, Please Contact: Brenda Kane 360-902-2349 kanebkk@dfw.wa.gov

The Road Access Entry Program is a cooperative effort with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Recreation and Conservation Office, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), private timber companies, and hunters with disabilities.

This is NOT a permit drawing for a deer or elk tag, doe or cow tag. This is NOT the same as the special permit drawings for deer and elk tags offered each year in the “Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules” pamphlet.

If you are drawn for an area, in addition to the road access entry permit you receive from the Department, you may also be issued a permit by the landowner/manager allowing you to drive a motor vehicle into a closed or gated area where other hunters walk in to, but are not allowed to drive a motor vehicle.

All areas are:

• still open to other hunters that can walk in, use horses or mountain bikes.
• subject to administrative use by the agency or land manager. Trespassers and violators of the closed or gated roads may also be a problem in some areas.

Other road systems are available for hunters with disabilities that do not require participation in this drawing. For more details see the Section “Other Road Access Opportunities” on page 25.

You do NOT have to buy your license or tags first to apply for these Road Access Entry Permits, you only need to be a registered hunter with a disability and have your Disabled Hunter Permit number available. (This is the number on your orange placard).

If you are successful in drawing a Road Access Entry Permit, then you must have all appropriate licensesandtags for the game you are pursuing. You must follow all state laws applying to hunters and hunters with disabilities.

Successful hunters with disabilities and their designated hunting companions must follow all the rules and regulations of the land manager while hunting/driving in the permit area. You will receive a list of these rules when you receive your Road Access Entry Permit. You may be required to go to the officenear the hunting location in person at a specific time and date to pick up a key, sign papers, and leave a check for a key deposit. Each land manager makes this decision.

NOTE: Please notify Brenda Kane ASAP if you are unable to use the permit you drew. This allows the permit to be reissued to an alternate. Also, please contact Brenda Kane at (360) 902-2349 or Brenda.Kane@dfw.wa.gov if you have an address and/or telephone number change.

You must fill out the official application card for either deer and/or elk and return the cards by July 31, 2009 in order to be eligible for the drawing. These cards are available at any WDFW Regional Office or by mail from WDFW after June 30, 2009. Elk requires a different card than deer. Only one application card per specie, per hunter is allowed. Note: Your choices from your drawing entry cards are placed into the database. If you have more than one deer or elk card, you will not be able to participate in the drawing. Your cards will be destroyed. You may have up to four road choices per species. If you want to be considered as an alternate, check the any “alternate” box. If there are areas left over, wherever possible, we will match unsuccessful hunters with disabilities with an area close to their preferred choices by geographic location.

Fill out the Application for Road Access Entry for Hunters with Disabilities Permit cards (for Deer and Elk) with the number(s) for the road area(s) you would like to drive into. Enter the number listed under the “Drawing Entry #” column. Please print your Name, Address (including city, state, zip code), telephone number (area code) and your Disabled Hunter Permit number (the number on your orange placard). Your Disabled Hunter Permit number must appear on the cards in order for you to qualify for the drawing. Drop the card off at any WDFW Office or have it post marked by July 31, 2009. The drawing is August 12, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. in Room 175-A located in the Natural Resources Building (NRB), 1111 Washington Street, Olympia. The drawing is open to the public.

• Hunters with disabilities who are drawn will receive information including:
• the Road Access Entry Area they were drawn for
• instructions on how to obtain the key and entry permit

Hunters with disabilities who are not drawn will NOT be notified.

• Designated Hunting Companions - Some areas have different rules for the designated hunter companion and whether they can hunt on their own tag or can only help the hunter with a disability harvest their animal.

If allowed on the entry permit, other non-hunting persons or family members may accompany the hunter with a disability.

• Do not notify any of the land managers directly with questions or concerns about hunting on their land. They prefer all questions be directed to WDFW at (360) 902-2349. Questions regarding only DNR lands should be directed to (360) 902-1375.
• Please read where the Road Access Areas are located and apply only for those areas you would actually travel to should you be drawn.
• If applying for elk, the west side and east side elk tags are different and you must hunt in compliance with your tags and weapons. Don’t apply for a road entry area in western Washington if you have an east side elk tag. Game Management Unit (GMU) numbers for the Road Access Entry Areas are listed in the far right column for your convenience.

Tips for Hunters with Disabilities Drawn for a Road Entry Permit

If you are successful in drawing a Road Access Entry permit, please follow the instructions on the letter you will receive. The letter will describe how to obtain your key or combination and other documents needed for entry into the gated access entry area.

Please:

• Be courteous and professional to the staff where you pick up the key or combination. They did not pick the areas or start the Road Access Entry Program. They are giving out the key or combinationand providing the paperwork as a courtesy to the hunter.
• Do not share stories and consume their time when getting the key or combination.
• Do not call and seek any other information from the land manager, unless the letter instructs you to do so. Keep your visit short and professional. Do not complain to them about harvest success.
• Do have your Disabled Hunter Permit (orange placard) with you.
• Return the key and required paperwork when your hunting time is up in the area.
• Follow all the Hunting regulations, rules, instructions and procedures of the Road Access Entry Permit so you and other hunters with disabilities will be welcomed back.

REMEMBER

• Access into these drawing entry areas do not guarantee harvest or seeing a legal animal. Your entry permit only allows you to drive a vehicle into an area other hunters walk into. All other state hunting laws apply to you. Other vehicle traffic may be allowed in the area for other reasons than hunting. Other hunters with disabilities may be in the area at the same time. There are no guarantees that someone may not trespass into the areas and be there illegally. Everyone has a different expectation of what makes a quality hunt, but the areas provided should offer a fair to excellent chance of seeing game, with minimal interference from other hunters and vehicles.

• Signs or gates may be vandalized. Gates and/or locks may be damaged due to vandalism that may prevent you from entering the area you are assigned or damaged gates may not restrict others from accessing the area. If this occurs, WDFW cannot guarantee you will be able to use your permit at the assigned time.

• If you suspect a vehicle is trespassing, DO NOT ENDANGER YOURSELF, rather note a description of the vehicle, persons involved, license number, time, place, etc. and notify the Land Manager and/or Law Enforcement as soon as possible.

Road Access Entry Permit Opportunities for 2009

Applications for the Disabled Hunter Road Access Entry Permit drawing for Deer and Elk must be submitted to:

Brenda Kane, ADA Accessibility Program Manager
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA 98501-1091

Applications must include your Disabled Hunter Permit number and must be received or postmarked by the close of business on July 31, 2009. The drawing will be held on August 12, 2009 in the Natural Resources Building, at 8:30 a.m. in Room 175-A in Olympia, located at 1111 Washington Street. Successful applicants will be notified by mail. Unsuccessful applicants will not be notified.

If you have questions, or need help filling out your entry card applications, please contact Brenda Kane at (360) 902-2349 or Brenda.Kane@dfw.wa.gov

DISCLAIMER:

PLEASE NOTE: If any of the following dates associated with the GMU are incorrect, or the GMUs listed in this pamphlet are incorrect, the 2009 “Big Game Season and Rules” pamphlet dates associated with the GMU’s apply. Landowners/managers at anytime may cancel the permit due to fire danger or logging activity. The Department has no control over their decision.

A cooperative effort with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, Private Timber Companies, and hunters with disabilities.The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with disabilities who need assistance in the application or testing process, or those needing this booklet in an alternative format, may call (360) 902-2349 or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (360) 902-2207.This program receives Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is the policy of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to adhere to the following: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability and sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, please contact the WDFW ADA Coordinator at 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, Washington 98501-1091 or write to:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of External Programs
4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 130
Arlington, VA 2220