Hunt #1 - Annual Deer Hunt - Northern Minnesota

Call for Applications: My name is Randy Sorensen and I want all disabled hunters to know about a whitetail hunt we do for people with disabilities in northern Minnesota. We are not an outfitter, we are a Center for Independent Living that has designed the hunt to assist people with new disabilities and youth with disabilities who want to get into hunting. We try to design the hunt so that people have a chance to visit with each other while still being able to access the bush. This will be our 15th year that we have offered the hunt. Any assistance in getting the word out would be appreciated. In the past we have had people with all types of disabilities including total blindness, complete quadriplegic, MD, CP, downs syndrome, and traumatic head injuries to mention a few. I can be reached at (800) 726-3692, randy@myoptions.info or my cell (218) 779-7408. Visit our hunt website at http://options-rydellrefugedeerhunt.wikispaces.com/.

Rydell National Game Refuge offers hunters with disabilities a unique experience by providing hunters the opportunity to hunt in one of the most accessible wildlife refuges in the Nation. Rydell has miles of paved trails in addition to hard-packed trails. It is large enough to accommodate up to 20 hunters, having enough land so that risks associated with deer hunting are minimized. The refuge has all terrain vehicles with accessible trailers so that if a hunter chooses they can be driven out to their stands. The refuge also has some accessible hunting platforms available.

Hunters are responsible for travel to and from the refuge, their sleeping accommodations while at the hunt, purchasing their license, and providing for their personal needs such as warm clothes, guns, ammo,
attendants, etc. Hunt organizers will assist hunters with getting from the refuge headquarters to and from their hunting site, providing volunteers to assist with the handling of the animal after it is shot (if requested), and meals. Meals will consist of a noon meal prior to hunting and an evening meal once the hunter has come back from hunting. If more applications are received than spots available applicants will be selected based on severity of disability, hunting experience as a person with a disability, hunting experience at Rydell Refuge. If all is equal a random drawing will take place.

Anyone interested in applying for this year’s hunt please contact Randy for a hunting application. Applications must be postmarked by September. For those persons chosen, the Refuge will be open for scouting and choosing a blind location in late September.

Hunt #2 - MINNESOTA & WISCONSIN - 2009 UFFDA HUNT DRAWINGS

If you are a physically challenged UFFDA member in good standing (with your dues paid to date - $25.00), we invite you to register for our 2009 UFFDA Hunts. Our organization is growing and more opportunities are becoming available all the time. Please read carefully the following instructions to keep the selection process trouble free. In the year 2009, UFFDA will sponsor 3 separate whitetail hunts. The first will take place at Camp Wilderness in Park Rapids, MN.

The second will take place at BSAA in Baraboo, WI and the third will take place in Rhinelander, WI. Please print out and then fill out the 2009 UFFDA Hunt Application that is attached to this message and return it to the UFFDA main desk as soon as possible. This application is your official entry form into the drawing for the 2009 hunts. If you have any questions about the hunts, contact the UFFDA main desk at 320-634-3660 or email us at bowtwang@runestone.net.

The drawing for the 2009 hunters will take place the first of June. Applications must be received by 5/09 to be included in the selection process. It is important to know that first time applicants are given priority in the drawing. If you have never been to an UFFDA hunt, you are guaranteed of being selected. The next group is taken from members who have been to a hunt and have not harvested a deer. If there are still places to fill, the final spots are given to UFFDA members who harvested deer at the previous year’s hunt. If you have any questions about what is expected of you or what is required for registration, call the UFFDA main desk at 320-634-3660.

Daniel James Hendricks POB 251, 20 NE 9th Ave Glenwood, MN 56334

Hunt #3 - Southern Minnesota Turkey Hunt (April)

Ironwood Springs hosted the first ever Turkey Hunt for the disabled in 2008. It is a great event for people with disabilities to have the opportunity to go turkey hunting. The weekend involves the following...

-Participants will stay overnight in the Miracle Lodge
-Cost is based on a donation basis
-Limited to 12 hunters (each hunter will be paired with an able-bodied turkey hunter)

For more information email Bob Bardwell at bob@ironwoodsprings.com.

Hunt #4 - Rice Lake Announces Deer Hunt

Call for Applications: Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge, in collaboration with the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources is pleased to announce that applications for the second annual deer hunt for people with disabilities are ready to be released. The dates of the hunt will be early October. This hunt will be open for buck or doe.

Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located five miles south of McGregor, Minnesota on Hwy 65. McGregor is located approximately mid-way between Brainerd and Duluth. The Refuge is large (18,000 acres), offering hunters varied terrain from which to hunt. The habitat is a mix of upland deciduous forest, tamarack and black spruce bog, to lowland hardwood forest. The maximum number of hunters who can participate is twenty.

Hunters are responsible for travel to and from the refuge, sleeping accommodations while at the hunt (limited accommodations are available at Camp New Hope), purchasing their license, and providing for their personal needs such as warm clothes, guns, ammo, attendants, etc. Hunt organizers will assist hunters with getting from the refuge headquarters to and from their hunting site, providing volunteers to assist with the handling of the animal after it is shot (if requested), and meals. Meals will consist of a noon meal prior to hunting and an evening meal once the hunter has come back from hunting. If more applications are received than spots available applicants will be selected based on severity of disability and hunting experience as a person with a disability. If all is equal a random drawing will take place.

Anyone interested in applying for this years hunt should request an application packet by calling Walt Ford, Refuge Manager, at 218-768-2402.

Applications must be postmarked by September. For those persons selected the Refuge will be open for scouting in late September.

Hunt #5 - Honorable Harvest provides hunting for disabled vets

Honorable Harvest is a new program working to find good hunting sites for disabled hunters coming back from service who still love pursuing game, but who may be limited by either injury or opportunity.

The program is getting a solid foothold in this area, thanks to the assistance of the Rum River branch of Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). Honorable Harvest is a new program working to find good hunting sites for disabled hunters coming back from service who still love pursuing game, but who may be limited by either injury or opportunity.

The program is getting a solid foothold in this area, thanks to the assistance of the Rum River branch of Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA).

Rum River QDMA leader Mac Perry caught wind of the the idea and brought it to his board. Perry's uncle, John Anderson of Lino Lakes, offered up his Pine County land to be available for Honorable Harvest hunts this season.

The Rum River QDMA board has monthly board meetings. The chapter hosts its annual fundraising banquet in late March. For membership inquiry, Perry can be reached at MacPerry90@hotmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For inquiries into helping Honorable Harvest, executive director Thomas Cummings can be contacted at thomas.cummings1@us.army.mil This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (763)-360-0698.

Hunt #6 - Capable Partners, Inc

Mission - The Vision and Mission of Capable Partners is to create a well known and respected Twin Cities based non-profit organization of sport persons whose mission is to volunteer their time and talents to provide hunting, fishing, and related opportunities for the physically challenged.

We do deer, goose & turkey hunts as well as fishing events in and around the Minneapolis/St.Paul area. Contact us through our website for more information.