MONTGOMERY-People with special needs are finding that some forms of outdoor recreation, such as hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing can easily be enjoyed with certain accommodations. The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has made it a goal to expand outdoor recreational opportunities for people with special needs. One of the ways the division does this is through the Alabama Hunting and Fishing Trail for People with Physical 
Disabilities. This trail provides hunting, fishing and shooting opportunities through a network of public and private sites scattered around the state. The trail consists of 17 physically disabled hunting areas, 23 public lakes, 11 shooting ranges and nine community archery parks. The hunting areas are located from Jackson County in the north all the way to Mobile County in the south. Shooting houses are wheelchair accessible and qualified participants may bring a non-hunting partner to assist. Hunting is restricted to two or three days per week so that the deer are not overly pressured. Nearly 100 deer were harvested on Physically Disabled Hunting Areas during the 2012-2013 hunting season. The fishing opportunities on the trail are located at state-owned public lakes. These lakes range in size from 13 to 184 acres for <a total of> 1,912 surface acres. Each lake is intensively managed to provide quality fishing. Wheelchair accessible covered piers make it easy to reach deeper water without using a boat. 
The shooting ranges and archery parks on the trail have <handicapped> parking available. All of the shooting ranges are wheelchair accessible and have concrete walkways for downrange access to the target lines. The archery parks each have at least one wheelchair accessible shooting lane. An application process and preregistration is required before using the hunting areas. No preregistration or application is required to use the lakes, shooting ranges or archery parks; however, all state laws and regulations must be followed, along with any licensing or permit requirements. Visit www. outdooralabama.com/physically-disabled-hunting-and-fishing-trail to learn site locations, licensing requirements and instructions for the application process to use the hunting areas.
Beyond these efforts, many private companies and nonprofit agencies promote and sponsor outdoor recreation events throughout the state. One of the goals of many of these programs is to re-introduce the beauty and excitement of the outdoors to disabled people. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “It is an incalculable added pleasure to any one’s sum of happiness if he or she grows to know, even slightly and imperfectly, how to read and enjoy the wonder-book of nature.” The chance to learn to shoot, hunt, fish, and view or photograph wildlife in their natural setting can be life-changing events for everyone, including people with special needs. MEDIA RELEASE/Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources /Michael Bloxom, Regional Hunter Education Coordinator
