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Indiana Handicap Deer Hunter Need Help

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I would like help to get more land open up for handicap hunter. Please send this letter to the following people listed at bottom of letter.
Thank you

February 9, 2020

Your Name
Address

Name
Address here

Dear :

I am requesting changes to the Indiana ADA handicap hunting area rules.

As a handicap hunter I believe that I am being discriminated against due to the restriction of handicap hunting areas. Hunting in the and State Forest and Fish and Wildlife areas, I can hunt only in the handicap hunting areas due to State restrictions and my abilities to get around in the woods. I cannot use my vehicle or an ATV/UTV to go anywhere in the State Forest or Fish and Wildlife areas to hunt except where designated for the specified handicap areas. Yet, every hunter without a disability can go anywhere in the forest including the areas designated for handicap hunters. I believe as a handicap hunter I am being discriminated
against as I am not allowed to use all hunting areas within the State Forest and Fish and Wildlife areas.

I believe that handicap hunters should be able to use ATV/UTV or a vehicle in the State Forest and Fish and Wildlife area. However, limit ATV/UTV or vehicle usage to putting up tree stands and dragging deer out, as well as driving back and forth to our tree stands.

If a handicap hunter is caught driving out of the designated hunting areas, he or she should lose his/her handicap ATV/UTV or vehicle handicap hunting permit. I believe this restriction should be put in place, so the vehicle permits are not abused in the State Forest and Fish and Wildlife areas

I enjoy turkey and deer hunting, but with the restrictions for the handicapped, it is hard for to go hunting due to the lack of hunting areas. I truly believe, as a handicap person, I am being discriminated against and feel this restriction criteria should change because



1. Atterbury Fish and Wildlife has approximately 4586 acres of land for Non-Handicap hunters while Handicap hunters’ area is only a half mile path to drive on and less than 88 acres of hunting area.
2. Morgan-Monroe State Forest has approximately 25884 acres of land for Non-Handicap hunters and Handicap hunters’ first hunting area is a 1.9-mile path to drive on and approximately 309 acres of hunting area. This second hunting area is about a 1-mile path to drive on with approximately 176 acres hunting area. The third hunting area is a 1.7 miles path for ATV/UTV and 275 acres hunting area.
3. Yellowwood State Forest has approximately 25117 acres of land for Non-Handicap hunters’ while Handicap hunters’ have the following hunting areas. One and half mile path to drive on and approximately 264 acres of hunting area. One and quarter mile path for ATV/UTV and approximately 250 acres of hunting area.

Where is the fairness for the handicap hunters compared to the non-handicap hunters? Handicap hunters should be able to hunt just like the non-handicap hunters by allowing use of his/her ATV/UTV or vehicle.
Please change the current restrictions for the handicap hunters.

Sincerely
Your Name

Governor Eric Holcomb
State House,
200 W. Washington St.,
Second Floor, Rm. 206,
Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Senator Jean Leising
State House,
200 W Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204


Representative Sean Eberhart
State House,
200 West Washington Street,
Suite 401,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204


DNR Director
Cameron F. Clark
402 West Washington Street
Indiana Government Center South
Room W256
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Director of DNR Fish & Wildlife
Amanda Wuestefeld
Indiana Government Center South
402 W. Washington St.,
Room W273
Indianapolis, IN 46204
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I know some hunter think Handicap hunters are a pain, this why we add this part.
If a handicap hunter is caught driving out of the designated hunting areas, he or she should lose his/her handicap ATV/UTV or vehicle handicap hunting permit.
I don't know if the law has changed but to hunt from an atv/vehicle had to be some kind of special permit (can't remember what it was called), which at that time there was only like 2 of them handed out in the entire state of Indiana back in the early 2000.

I believe the biggest problem you're going to face is, the hunters who abuse the regular handicap permit they hold. For instant's the handicap guys who drive their vehicle out to their hunting spots to get closer to where they're going to hunt and then drags the stand thru the woods to setup or the handicap guys who hauls all their buddies around dropping them off to get closer to their hunting spot. Let's not forget about the handicap hunters who drive around inside the FWA looking to spot deer before stepping out of the vehicle to take a shot.

I don't believe anyone is discriminating against handicap hunters, I think most hunters get upset that handicap hunters get away with a lot more than they should and abuse their handicap privileges.

When I have to park in a parking lot at a FWA and drag my stand from there or drag a deer back and a handicap hunter is allowed to drive out to his/her spot to hang a stand or retrieve their deer - my question "if they can drag a stand thru the woods, over down trees, across creeks & ditches and hang it up on their own or drag a deer to their vehicle and load it up, what makes him/her a handicap"?

If I see a hunter in a wheel chair or prosthetic arms or legs, paralyzed in some shape or form or some type of disability that enables them from getting around which I have - then I completely understand 100% where you're coming from. Other then that most handicap hunters I see - there ain't a damn thing wrong with them except their to damn lazy to walk from the parking lot to their hunting spot.
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I have some issues with this letter because of the sense of entitlement. I should also prerequisite the counter points below that I have two bad knees from a torn ACL injury and extra wear and tear on the other knee from overcompensating for the other. Because of this, I can’t get around without knee braces at the moment. I will most likely need knee replacement surgery on both knees now in the future, and may possibly become handicap myself.

First off, this is wildlife habitat area and I believe use of a vehicle should only be reserved for DNR workers or those with permission to minimize destruction/ disturbance. Use of an ATV is a fair compromise for truly disabled persons and the disabled person only. Others more capable ought to use trekking poles before resorting to ATVs. Again, the highest priority is to minimize habitat destruction/ disturbance.

Secondly, if we’re going to make this about fairness, how is this fair chase for the animals?! There’s a reason that non handicap hunters can’t hunt from the vehicles. Life isn’t about fairness. If it is, one will have a very long unhappy, disappointed life. I recommend getting help to adopt a healthier, grateful attitude because life is too short to not live contently.

Also, what percentage of handicap hunters are there and how much time do they get out on the field? Again, if it’s about fairness, I believe that percentage of acres should be the same as the percentage of handicap and the percentage of time they use it.

Lastly, do handicap persons expect non hunters to be disallowed from using the handicap hunting areas too? If you do not expect this, then it seems that only non handicap hunters are being discriminated against. And how come handicap persons are fighting for hunting land only? I don’t see a push for handicap only hiking trails with use for ATVs/Vehicles and handicap only campsites.

I believe public land is just that; public for all!
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i have issues with the last post. its three year old thread. lol poke poke, funnin with ya tigerlilly😀
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