Special Use Permits

Special Use Permits are available to any person who possesses a valid disabled hunter permit and/or a harvester card and qualifies with a physician's signature.

Special Use Permits are available for:

• Adaptive Archery Equipment
• Crossbow
• Scopes
  • Muzzleloader
  • Crossbow
• Fly Fishing Only Waters
• Other Power Driven Mobility Devices

Eligibility Criteria for Special Use Permits

Archery Adaptive Equipment
A person with a permanent disability that has a loss of use of one or both upper extremities, has a significant limitation in the use of an upper extremity, or has a permanent physical limitation, which loss or limitation substantially impairs the ability to safely hold, grasp or shoot a long bow, recurve bow or compound bow. The loss or limitation may be the result of, but not limited to, amputation, paralysis, diagnosed disease, or birth defect. Please refer to samples in the application packet when making determination. Adaptive equipment includes cocking devices that hold the bow at full draw; trigger mechanisms that may be released by mouth, or chin, or hand holding the bow; and devices that assist in supporting the bow. (WAC 232-12-054)

Crossbow
Persons must meet the requirements for an Archery Adaptive Special Use Permit and must be unable to use adaptive archery equipment. Doctor’s must state why the applicant is unable to use adaptive archery equipment and why they need to use a crossbow. Muscle weakness, impaired range of motion, or unilateral hand weakness disability, of both hands, or both arms or both sides of the upper extremity, may result in an inability to use adaptive archery equipment. (A copy of the testing protocol and results may be submitted with the application) (WAC 232-12-054)

Scopes
Scopes are allowed on Crossbows and Muzzleloaders for persons who are visually impaired. “Visually impaired” means central visual acuity that does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with corrective lenses, or the widest diameter of the visual field is no greater than twenty degrees. (WAC 232-12-828)

• Crossbow (only for persons qualifying for/or having a crossbow special use permit)
• Muzzleloader

Fly Fishing Only Waters
Person has a permanent disability and because of the inability to use one or both upper extremities, the fisher is physically incapable of using conventional fly fishing gear. Fishers who qualify may use spin-casting gear with a casting bubble. Monofilament line is permitted with no limit on the breaking strength of the line. (WAC 220-56-210)

Other Power Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMD)
A person with a mobility disability that may include, but is not limited to, a person with a permanent lower extremity impairment who has lost the use of one or both lower extremities; or has a severe limitation in the use of lower extremities; or who has a diagnosed permanent disease or disorder which substantially impairs or severely interferes their mobility. (WAC Forthcoming)

 

Applying for a Special Use Permit

1. Download entire application packet (2 documents). Other Power Driven Mobility Devices questionnaire must be returned with application when applying for OPDMD permit

2. Fill out application form.

3. Review entire packet with your physician, and get physician's statement and signature.

4. Applications must have your physician's statement and signature to be valid.

Special Use Permit Application Packet: Special Use Permit application form Other Power Driven Mobility Devices Questionnaire Crossbow Fact sheet and examples of adaptive equipment

5. Send completed application forms to:

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
ADA Access Program Manager
600 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA 98501-1091