Call for Applications: Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge, in collaboration with the Minnesota

Department of Natural Resources announces applications for an annual deer hunt for people with disabilities. The dates of the hunt will be early October. This hunt will be open for buck or doe.

Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located five miles south of McGregor, Minnesota on Hwy 65. McGregor is located approximately mid-way between Brainerd and Duluth. The Refuge is large (18,000 acres), offering hunters varied terrain from which to hunt. The habitat is a mix of upland deciduous forest, tamarack and black spruce bog, to lowland hardwood forest. The maximum number of hunters who can participate is 20.

Hunters are responsible for travel to and from the refuge, sleeping accommodations while at the hunt (limited accommodations are available at Camp New Hope), purchasing their license, and providing for their personal needs. Hunt organizers will assist hunters with getting from the refuge headquarters to and from their hunting site, providing volunteers to assist with the handling of the animal after it is shot (if requested), and meals. Meals will consist of a noon meal prior to hunting and an evening meal once the hunter has come back from hunting. If more applications are received than spots available applicants will be selected based on severity of disability and hunting experience as a person with a disability. If all is equal a random drawing will take place.

Anyone interested in applying for this year’s hunt should request an application packet by calling Walt Ford, Refuge Manager, at 218-768-2402.

Applications must be postmarked by September. For those persons selected the Refuge will be open for scouting in late September.