Wildlife refuge offering deer hunt for disabled

VERNON — Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge is partnering with the National Wild Turkey Federation to offer a special deer hunt for permanently disabled hunters.

A limited number of applicants will be selected to participate. The one-day hunt will take place in January during the permit shotgun season. This opportunity is open to any New Jersey-licensed hunter who has limited mobility and is in need of assistance.

Applicants must possess the permit shotgun, Zone 2 tag in addition to their 2015 New Jersey firearm hunt license. On the day of the event, hunters will be teamed up with an assistant/guide and escorted to a handicapped accessible, heated blind for an afternoon hunt. This partner will stay with the hunter throughout the day to provide assistance as needed and help with retrieving game. A newly acquired refuge parcel (167 acres of non-hunted field and forest habitat) has been set aside for this hunting event.

Lunch will be provided prior to the afternoon hunt, compliments of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

In addition, The Future Farmers of America (FFA) club from Newton High School has offered to process the game at no cost. The opportunity to observe and learn how to butcher your own deer will be available to participating hunters.

For more information or registration, call Fran Stephenson at 973-702-7266, Ext. 10. The deadline to apply is Dec. 24.