Approved On: April 25, 2019
Effective On: April 25, 2019
- A person who is permanently mobility-impaired may apply to the Commission to receive a Mobility-Impaired Access Permit allowing the person to access designated areas and to use an All-Terrain Vehicle or similar form of specialized motorized transportation for certain access uses on Commission-owned WMAs and WMAs listed in compliance with Code 20.15. To qualify, an applicant must submit a completed official form with certification from a physician duly licensed to practice medicine by a state medical board attesting the applicant either:
- Has a permanent physical condition severely impairing the applicant’s mobility and requiring permanent use of a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair or walker; or
- Is permanently restricted by lung disease to such an extent the applicant’s forced expiratory volume for 1 second, when measured by spirometry, is less than 1 liter, or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60mm/hg of room air at rest; or
- Has a permanent physical condition requiring use of portable oxygen; or
- Has a permanent cardiac condition to the extent the applicant’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to current standards set by the American Heart Association.
- Upon issuance of a Mobility-Impaired Access Permit, the following terms and conditions shall apply:
- The Mobility-Impaired Access Permit is not a license to hunt or fish. While engaging in hunting or fishing activities, a Mobility-Impaired Access Permit holder must have on his or her person the appropriate hunting or fishing license, permitsand/or stamps in addition to the Mobility-Impaired Access Permit.
- Only ATVs or other similar specialized transportation devices with three or more wheels may be used. No two-wheel ATVs or trailers may be used.
- Upon the receipt of and successful processing of a Mobility-Impaired Access Permit application, the Commission shall issue 2 Mobility-Impaired Access Permit Tags to the applicant. One tag must remain on the Mobility-Impaired Access Permit holder at all times while engaged in any hunting or fishing activity on any Commission-owned WMA and WMAs listed in compliance with Code 20.15. The second tag must be clearly displayed on his or her ATV or other similar specialized transportation device while engaged in any hunting or fishing activity on any Commission-owned WMA and WMAs listed in compliance with Code 20.15.
- The ATV or other similar specialized transportation device shall only be used for the following purposes:
- To travel on graveled, all-weather roads unless otherwise posted as closed to vehicular traffic
- To travel on designated, signed Mobility-Impaired Access Trails
- To travel off graveled, all-weather roads and designated, signed Mobility Impaired Access Trails during all hunting seasons; the allowable distance traveled off graveled, all-weather roads and designated, signed Mobility-Impaired Access Trails is a minimum of 100 feet from the center line in compliance with Code 05.05 and a maximum of 300 feet; ATV use within this special access zone is specifically for placement of hunting stands and bona fide hunting activities. Mobility-Impaired Access Permit holders must maintain clear visual contact with his or her ATV or other similar specialized transportation device at all times while engaged in hunting or fishing activities on any Commissionowned WMA and WMAs listed in compliance with Code 20.15.
- Travel off graveled, all-weather roads and designated, signed Mobility-Impaired Access Trails, as well as outside the special access zone is permitted only for the retrieval of big game taken by the Mobility-Impaired Access Permit holder.
- If a condition exists where a single helper is required to assist the Mobility-Impaired Access Permit holder, this helper must first be approved through issuance of a Mobility-Impaired Access Helper Permit issued by the Regional Wildlife Supervisor for a particular Wildlife Management Area; for safety concerns, the helper must ride a separate ATV and remain within eyesight and normal voice range of the Mobility-Impaired Access Permit holder at all times. If the Mobility-Impaired Access Permit holder is incapable of safely operating an ATV or other similar specialized transportation device, the helper may be approved by the Regional Wildlife Supervisor to accompany the Mobility-Impaired Access Permit holder and operate an ATV or similar specialized transportation device that is designed to safely carry two persons; no additional passengers are allowed.
- During all ATV or similar specialized transportation device use, all weapons must be unloaded and firearms must be cased at all times.