Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: EsotericPA on November 03, 2019, 06:32:05 AM

Title: Disabled Hunter Access Question
Post by: EsotericPA on November 03, 2019, 06:32:05 AM: Has anyone else come across hunters with a disabled hunter permit for road access that have additional hunters with them? I may be mistaken, but I thought they could have a "guide" with them but not additional hunters. The reason I ask is because the last few years I have hiked in to limited access areas, with the limited access only being available to disabled hunters. I am in full support of access for disabled hunters. However, the two vehicles I have encountered have had the disabled hunter and then additional hunters hiking around with them, armed and in orange. It's disheartening to put in a ton of effort to get back to areas you think will have very limited access and then have able bodied hunters drive in and start scouring the area for deer. For reference these incidents both occurred in north central WA.
Title: Re: Disabled Hunter Access Question
Post by: Ghost Hunter on November 03, 2019, 06:38:15 AM: What is a Hunter Companion Card?
It is a 5-inch section of your hunting license issued by the department to any person who has applied for and received Disability Status. A Hunter Companion Card allows you to designate another licensed person to assist you or act on your behalf in that specific function you are not able to perform for yourself during your recreational activity such as stalking, shooting, tracking, retrieving, or tagging of game birds and game animals. Persons meeting WDFW disability qualifications must complete a Hunter/Fisher Disability Status application for approval. If approved, you will receive the hunter companion card and access to WDFW ADA programs, services, and facilities. Please see the Eligibility Requirements for Disability Status page for the application and additional information.
Title: Re: Disabled Hunter Access Question
Post by: EsotericPA on November 03, 2019, 07:44:27 AM: Quote from: Ghost Hunter on November 03, 2019, 06:38:15 AM
What is a Hunter Companion Card?
It is a 5-inch section of your hunting license issued by the department to any person who has applied for and received Disability Status. A Hunter Companion Card allows you to designate another licensed person to assist you or act on your behalf in that specific function you are not able to perform for yourself during your recreational activity such as stalking, shooting, tracking, retrieving, or tagging of game birds and game animals. Persons meeting WDFW disability qualifications must complete a Hunter/Fisher Disability Status application for approval. If approved, you will receive the hunter companion card and access to WDFW ADA programs, services, and facilities. Please see the Eligibility Requirements for Disability Status page for the application and additional information.

This would make sense if they were hunting/performing functions in the place of the disabled hunter, but these were "additional" hunters. For instance, the last group I encountered had the disabled hunter hiking up into the timber and the person with them hiking along the road hunting clear cuts.
Title: Re: Disabled Hunter Access Question
Post by: huntnfmly on November 03, 2019, 07:57:30 AM: Were they hunting clearcuts?or trying to push deer towards the disabled hunter?
Title: Re: Disabled Hunter Access Question
Post by: EsotericPA on November 03, 2019, 08:00:30 AM: Quote from: huntnfmly on November 03, 2019, 07:57:30 AM
Were they hunting clearcuts?or trying to push deer towards the disabled hunter?

They were hunting. The other individual told me they had both harvested deer in this area last year as well.
Title: Re: Disabled Hunter Access Question
Post by: bobcat on November 03, 2019, 08:06:26 AM: If it's the WDFW disabled hunter road access program, the companion Hunter is sometimes allowed to hunt, and sometimes not. All areas have their own rules. Some allow additional people to come along as helpers. I'm not sure if there are any that allow multiple additional hunters. You can read about the program here:

https://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/disabled-hunter-road-access-entry-program