Licenses & Permits for Disabled People & Veterans

Licenses & Permits for Disabled People & Veterans

The outdoors should be experienced by everyone, no matter what disability they may have. Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has a great section for enhancing fishing and hunting for people with disabilities. Within the article there are a number of links you can click on that talk about all the different permits you can get as a disabled person.1. In 2001, Maine adopted a new law that was designed to provide a mechanism for hunting and fishing access.

           The law was put into place in order to allow those with permanent physical disabilities to be able to hunt, fish and trap in ways that would normally be prohibited by the Maine's hunting and fishing laws. this law made it possible for  the hunters and fishers with disabilities to have a board  known as the Disabled Hunter, Trapper, and Angler Advisory Committee. This board would give Maine direct access to the disabled community and be able to learn firsthand what they would need to make this a success. The board would allow all the disabled hunters to have their own say in special equipment and accessories they would need a permit to hunt and fish with. One stipulation for the committee was that it was to be comprised of 4 disable persons; a licensed physician; a representative of the state agency that works on disability issues; 2 statewide organizations representing hunters, trappers, or anglers; and 1 interested person2.

           Along with the special permits, there are also complimentary licenses available through this committee. There are licenses for blind fishing; disabled veterans; people with cognitive disabilities (fish only); and paraplegic. No individual with any type of disability should ever lose their right of hunting or fishing. The outdoors in general is not only fun, but can also be beneficial for everyone. Experiencing the nature that God created is amazing.

    1.Alan Bright, Janiece J. Sneegas, Bev Driver and Michael J. Manfredo

Wildlife Society Bulletin, Vol. 17, No. 4 (Winter, 1989), pp. 487-493

Hughes, J. V. (2008, Feb 17). For disabled hunters, sport goes on. New York Times

2..Jones, W. (1995, 10). Enabled for the outdoors. New York State Conservationist, 50 Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/237065976?accountid=7078