Teaming up to help hunters with disabilities
WDFW and INWC place the first ADA-accessible waterfowl blind in WDFW’s Eastern Region
Hunting can be difficult, even for experienced hunters. So, imagine the added challenge of trying to hunt when in a wheelchair or with limited use mobility. That’s a reality for many people in our state, but one that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and partners are working to help people overcome.
A new ADA-accessible waterfowl blind was recently constructed in WDFW’s Region 1, thanks to a partnership between WDFW, the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council (INWC), and a private land owner.
Earlier this year, INWC received materials from WDFW to build the blind. Members of the group’s Disabled Access Team spent a significant amount of time over several months assembling and fine-tuning it. While the weather was nice this past spring, volunteers put the basic parts together in the parking lot of the INWC headquarters in north Spokane.
“Even though the waterfowl season was months away, getting the blind assembled was a priority for us because we wanted people to have a place to hunt this fall where they could be successful,” said Ken McNaughton, one of the leads for INWC’s Disabled Access Team.
McNaughton is also a member of WDFW’s American’s with Disabilities Act Advisory Committee (ADAAC), along with Ron “Z” Zubrick, also an INWC member and one of the volunteers instrumental in making this ADA waterfowl blind a reality. As part of the ADAAC, they represent the interests of disabled hunters, anglers, and wildlife viewers and advise the Department on matters pertaining to barriers to recreational access to public lands, WDFW-managed lands and hunting and fishing opportunities for people with disabilities. McNaughton and Zubrick go well above the call of duty for the ADAAC, proactively creating more opportunities for hunters and anglers with disabilities in Eastern Washington to access the outdoors.
“While having an accessible place to hunt is half the battle, we know firsthand that an added frustration is having to compete with other hunters in areas open to all for hunting,” said McNaughton. “To avoid this, I wanted the blind to be on private property where the general population can’t go.”
That’s where WDFW private lands biologist Dean Nizer got involved. Part of Nizer’s job is to connect with people who own property in areas that are ideal for hunting and get them interested in WDFW’s Private Lands Hunting Program. The program then matches people looking to hunt private lands with property owners willing to have hunters on their land. Landowners benefit by having wildlife populations managed, which can prevent damage to crops and reduce negative interactions with wildlife. Participants also work with private lands biologists like Nizer on management strategies for their property and to conserve habitat. Some landowners in the program are financially reimbursed for the use of their property.
Nizer had been mentioned to McNaughton as someone who may be able to help find a home for the waterfowl blind on private property. The two got together and Nizer was as enthusiastic about the project as McNaughton.
“I was more than happy to help find a place to put the blind,” said Nizer. “I had a landowner near
Clayton, in Spokane County, in mind and, as I suspected, he was receptive to having hunters with disabilities hunt his land.”
That property is unique in that it has a pond in the middle surrounded by agricultural fields.
“This makes it perfect for waterfowl such as ducks- mallards, blue wing teal, wigeons, and more- to land in the wide opening the pond offers. And if you’re a goose hunter, the field next to it offers a great spot to put up Canada geese decoys ato attract them to land next to the blind,” said Nizer.
The pond is also spring fed so stays wet throughout the year and takes a prolonged cold spell to freeze it over.
While details were worked out with the landowner, McNaughton and his team pushed forward with construction. He and other volunteers assembled the shell of the blind, then painted it in INWC’s shop to blend in with the natural landscape. In September, a large group of volunteers showed up for the final steps of making this project a reality. It was more than just a construction project though- installation day was a real family affair. Several members of INWC’s Disabled Access Committee helped transport it to the site and many showed up with family members to help put it together, including spouses, children and even grandchildren. WDFW’s Nizer brought his wife and two young sons as well.
“It was inspiring to see how much this meant to everyone,” Nizer said. “Getting young people involved is so important too. Hopefully they will be motivated by this project to volunteer on future projects as well.”
The occasion wasn’t lost on McNaughton either.
“This opportunity will provide hunting to a demographic that doesn’t always have the opportunity to hunt,” he said. “It’s emotional to know you helped to make this happen for someone.”
In addition to this new ADA waterfowl hunting blind, there are also a few others in Eastern Washington in the Regulated Access Area near Moses Lake. To use any of these blinds, you can learn more about the private lands program on the WDFW website, then reach out to the private lands biologist in your area for help getting started.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.
