DNR - Information for Hunters with Disabilities, Permits

Information for Hunters with Disabilities, Permits

Information and applications for all the following are available at DNR Operations Service Centers.

Legally blind hunters may use laser sighting devices to take game, subject to all other regulations, with a firearm or crossbow if all the following conditions are met:

The person is accompanied by a sighted person who is at least 18 years of age;

The sighted person possesses proof of a current or previous hunting license (other than an apprentice license) or proof of successful completion of a hunter safety class;

The legally blind person possesses the appropriate hunting license and proof of impairment in the form of a Secretary of State ID card.
No permit is necessary for this accommodation.

Permits for Hunters with Disabilities

A person with a disability may apply for a crossbow permit. A physician can automatically certify a hunter as eligible for a crossbow permit if the hunter:

has an amputation involving body extremities required for stable function to use conventional archery equipment, or,
has a spinal cord injury resulting in permanent disability to the lower extremities, leaving the applicant permanently non-ambulatory, or
has a permanent wheelchair restriction.

If none of the above criteria apply, physicians, physical therapists or occupational therapists can certify hunters who fail:

a functional draw test that equals 35 pounds of resistance and involves holding it for four seconds, or
a manual muscle test involving the grading of shoulder and elbow flexion and extension, or
an impaired range-of-motion test involving the shoulder or elbow. In addition, a physician can recommend a crossbow permit for other permanent disabilities, such as neuromuscular conditions. For more information and an application, contact 517-373-1204.

A person with a permanent disability who has the full use of only one arm may apply for a modified bow permit. This permit allows modifications to a compound bow, including the addition of an overdraw lock device. This modification may not convert a compound bow into a crossbow For more information, go to www.pcba-inc.org/.

A person who, due to injury, disease, amputation or paralysis, is permanently disabled and unable to walk, may apply for a permit to hunt from a standing vehicle. This permit allows a person to hunt, and shoot from, a parked motor vehicle or ORV. Subject to all other regulations, this permit also entitles the holder to take a deer of either sex under any valid deer license.

A person who meets one of the eligibility requirements below may hunt deer on private land in a special season starting the Thursday prior to the third Saturday in October and for 3 days thereafter :

Persons who have been issued permits to hunt from a standing vehicle.
Persons who are legally blind.
Veterans who have a 100% disability or are classified as individually unemployable by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Hunters with other permanent disabilities may apply to the DNR Resource Deputy for a permit to use a laser sighting device with a firearm or crossbow to take game. Subject to all other regulations, a permittee may take game with the use of a laser sighting device only if accompanied by a person who is at least 18 years of age who is licensed to hunt the same game (other than an apprentice license). For application information, please call 517-373-1230.