[Guest]

Ok, it is twice now that I have been told by DCNR folks that if a disabled person qualifies under the PGC's regs for disability, they allow them to use the gated roads on state forest.

Contact the local Bureau of Forestry office in the area you want to hunt and tell them what gate you want to use, they will give you a key to the gate for better access.

 

[dce]

I wonder how much discretion the district forester has over that?I'm pretty sure that it would be tough to get a key to any gates around here.

 

[vision175]

i hunt 5A off 4 wheeler on state ground no problems go to district forester told him where i wanted to hunt 5to6 diferent areas sent me papers to show others of permission to be there also hunt 2g same process only problem other hunters that can WALK both areas permits from state dnr pgc

 

[Stroupy]

Most areas it's legalized road hunting now if the guys woulds stay put I would have no problem with it but they abuse it like everything else.

 

[buckshot164]

Maybe someone can help me here. I have a disabled hunting permit. I got a permit to use a specific road. To use a atv with a disability permit. The Rules for PGC are different than DCNR. I pretty much have to set my blind for Turkey right on the road that they have designated. I use a blind over my atv. That would put me in contact with any vehicle coming down the road. Is this right because this is what they are telling me. This makes using a atv to hunt gobblers no good. But I can hunt out of a vehicle without any trouble at all. Recourses for disabled hunters is hard to find. The rules are different for where you are and hard to understand. It seems anymore you need a attorney to go into the woods. I have both legs but I cannot walk on uneven surfaces. Very bad health so walking off the road is very difficult. So this means I have to give up hunting. I just cant make myself shoot a animal from a vehicle. Just not right to me. So any guidance would be nice.

 

[yobuck 1]

Well you bring up a very good subject. Its also one which will bring few if any good answers from law enforcement people. The law weve had for many years now requiring one be I believe 25 yds from the traveled portion of a road, was created in an attempt to stop road hunting.
What actually stopped it however, or at least much of it, is the fact that it just dosent work well anymore due to less deer. But the fact still remains that with a permit one can just wind down the window and shoot right from the vehicle.
We have an ever increasing amount of older hunters, and an ever increasing amount of land that is deemed off limits to them due to road closures.
And the road closures, at least in the N C region has been done with one purpose in mind, that being that the elk herd is more important than the hunters.
The good news is that DCNR will give you combination locks on I believe 3 gates of your choice for the hunting season if you have a handicap permit.
But you must drive in alone, except for another handicap person.
So check that out as it is about all available to you.

 

[buckshot164]

There is a problem no one seems to understand. If you are disabled loading and unloading a 4 wheeler is tough.
Doing this at night by yourself is just dangerous. Not having proper access is very difficult. We have a camp that is located very close to a PGC disability access road but can`t drive a 200 yards to it. They say I have to trailer it for that 200 yards. Not to understand that is not easy for me. They seem to go out of there way to make it difficult and do not understand that.

 

[yobuck 1]

There is a problem no one seems to understand. If you are disabled loading and unloading a 4 wheeler is tough.
Doing this at night by yourself is just dangerous. Not having proper access is very difficult. We have a camp that is located very close to a PGC disability access road but can`t drive a 200 yards to it. They say I have to trailer it for that 200 yards. Not to understand that is not easy for me. They seem to go out of there way to make it difficult and do not understand that.

Fact is I do understand. I'm 82 years old, and have been having mobility problems for a very long time. I have had numerous places I hunted for decades declared off limits, due to access to the area being gated off.
Now the younger generation might think of that as being a good thing.
But fact is they aren't using those areas either, as many have stopped hunting or never even started.
You are facing a second problem due to your choice of vehicle.
You are permitted to own a 4 wheeler, and you are permitted to buy a tag for it. But by and large you aren't permitted to use it due to regulations against them.
You need to be rethinking the type vehicle you use if you want
to continue to hunt.
Put it this way, I will follow you pretty much (anywhere) you choose to go with my Jeep Rubicon.
And I can drive there legally where you cannot, not to mention no trailer or off loading.
Get the automatic tranny, and you will never look back.

 

[bohunr]

access for disabled people need to be upgraded and improved. they build boat launching areas why not 4 wheel loading and unloading areas where you can back your truck up to a "dock" and simply drop your tailgate and drive right off onto a level surface.

it would be a lot safer.

 

[flintlock hunter]

I am presently going through the process of gaining a handicapped permit for pretty much everywhere they are available, State Parks, State Game Lands, and now, State Forests. While the State Parks and Game Lands are permitted to allow use on any of them with only one permit for Parks, one for Game Lands, the State Forest Handicap permit is good only for the Forest designated on the permit. There is one thing else which is universal for the handicap using a permit, that being you ARE allowed to bring a person along who may assist in the trailering/ unloading of the vehicle being used for the hunt, and may also accompany the permitee to assist if necesary to the safety and/or well being of the hunter.

For example: you have problems trailering, or getting on or off the ATV, even if not necesary every time, you CAN have someone to aid you as necesary. If this person is also a hunting partner that's fine too.

I hope this clears up some question for some, I know it was perplexing for me at first. Oh.....Blaze orange rules also apply whether the "helper" is hunting or not.

 

[Steeltrap]

I have the PGC "Shoot from a vehicle" permit. I also have the DI sticker from the DCNR.

The PGC and the DCNR are two completely different State agencies with two completely different set's of "rules" as to what qualifies as "disabled."

The PGC application is very detailed and they hold to very strict standards as to determination of "disabled" for hunting. The PGC application must have an accompanying statement from a physician stating the reason for the DI and what exactly is effected by the DI. This is why the DCNR ask if you have the PGC permit. If you have the PGC permit, you will obtain the DCNR permit without too much of an issue.

However, if you DO NOT have the PGC permit, all you have to do is request the DCNR permit is ask them. You are not REQUIRED to disclose the medical reasons for your disability. OTOH, if a DCNR employee see's you performing task that is outside the norm of what a disabled person can do, they will pull your DCNR permit. And who could blame them?

I've needed my PGC permit for 15 years now and I can tell you that any outing to a "new" place requires a lot of research, a lot of asking, and a lot of documentation. And after all of that, you still may not be permitted to use your "vehicle" (Truck, car, ATV, UTV) for an area you would like to hunt.

Private land is a different matter completely.

 

[flintlock hunter]

I have the PGC "Shoot from a vehicle" permit. I also have the DI sticker from the DCNR.

The PGC and the DCNR are two completely different State agencies with two completely different set's of "rules" as to what qualifies as "disabled."

The PGC application is very detailed and they hold to very strict standards as to determination of "disabled" for hunting. The PGC application must have an accompanying statement from a physician stating the reason for the DI and what exactly is effected by the DI. This is why the DCNR ask if you have the PGC permit. If you have the PGC permit, you will obtain the DCNR permit without too much of an issue.

However, if you DO NOT have the PGC permit, all you have to do is request the DCNR permit is ask them. You are not REQUIRED to disclose the medical reasons for your disability. OTOH, if a DCNR employee see's you performing task that is outside the norm of what a disabled person can do, they will pull your DCNR permit. And who could blame them?

I've needed my PGC permit for 15 years now and I can tell you that any outing to a "new" place requires a lot of research, a lot of asking, and a lot of documentation. And after all of that, you still may not be permitted to use your "vehicle" (Truck, car, ATV, UTV) for an area you would like to hunt.

Private land is a different matter completely.

I can agree that not all areas are open to handicapped persons. For instance, not all SGL will allow handicap access, and not all State Parks either. Personally, I had to show a Drs' certificate to be awarded a permit, but if I already had supplied it to one State agency, that was considered proof for the next.
The concept of allowing a "helper" not only to assist in trailering needs, but also being permitted to accompany a handicapped hunter when necesary for his/her well beingis a constant.

Yes, there are also some regulations that vary between areas governed by different agencies as well. No one even suggested that a handicapped hunter was guarenteed an easy time of it.

 

[Buckskin Dave]

I can say one thing from direct experience. The people, maintenance crews, foresters, land managers, etc. out there WORKING on DCNR land or the GC guys working the gamelands will bust their hump trying to make a way for disabled hunters to use the property and keep hunting. Ive seen that with my own eyes and been part of it. The trouble is not there. The trouble is with the people sitting in offices in Harrisburg that are so far removed from reality they take a simple thing and make it a complex problem.
They are so worried some lazy hunter may take advantage. That may well happen but let the rangers and wardens worry about that and make what is supposed to be easy access be just that.

 

[flintlock hunter]

100% in agreement!