The M. Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area (FWFTA) in Hale County, Alabama, will host a series of deer hunts for hunters with physical disabilities from late November 2020 through January 2021.
To register for the hunts, call (334) 289-8030 starting Oct. 1. “Access to outdoor activities such as hunting should be available to everyone who has an interest,” said Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and chairman of the Forever Wild Board of Trustees. “We are honored to provide hunting opportunities for all Alabamians including those with physical disabilities.”
Hunt availability is limited and will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Hunters are limited to registering for only one hunt for the season and must bring an assistant to help with the hunt. Hunters will need a hunting license and Conservation ID number prior to registering. Dates for the Forever Wild Field trial area hunts for physically disabled hunters are Nov. 25, 28; Dec. 23, 30, and Jan. 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 27, 30.
Hunters with physical disabilities are required to fill out a Disabled Hunter Permit Application prior to the hunt dates. The permit can be downloaded from the “Physically Disabled Hunting Areas” section of the website.
All deer harvested during the FWFTA physically disabled hunts must be reported via Alabama’s Game Check system. Hunters will have 48 hours to Game Check their harvest through the Outdoor AL mobile app or online.
Persons with questions about the FWFTA physically disabled hunts, can call or send email to Evan Lawrence of the ADCNR State Lands Division at (334) 353-7909 or Evan.Lawrence@dcnr.alabama.gov. The M. Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area consists of 4,300 acres in Hale County and is managed as a nature preserve and recreation area. In addition to developing a sporting dog test ground and a youth hunting program, the ADCNR State Lands Division is currently restoring the tract’s native prairie grasslands and managing its numerous ponds for public fishing events.