Outdoors briefs September 20, 2012

Ranger District offers disabled hunters access

Forest Service officials at the Sandpoint Ranger District will once again allow qualifying disabled hunters to hunt behind gates in three locations - Upper Cocolalla Road 630B1 in the Cocolalla area, Johnson Creek Spur Road 278F in the Clark Fork area and Cat Tail Road 1359 in the Kickbush area off the High Drive Road.

The program allows hunters with disabilities to use a motorized vehicle on the designated roads, which are usually closed to motorized use year-round.

It is available to hunters who hold both a "Disabled Hunting License" and an "Idaho Handicapped Motor Vehicle Hunting Permit."

Qualifying hunters should apply at the Sandpoint Ranger District Office, 1602 Ontario St. in Sandpoint. Applications for opening day must be in by noon Sept. 28.

A drawing will be held at 1 p.m. to determine who wins the opening days. Hunters will be allowed access for three consecutive days.

Applications for all other days of elk and deer season will be accepted starting Oct. 1.

Information: 263-5111

'Remarkable Raptors' program 6 p.m. Sept. 29

Join the Bureau of Land Management, the Idaho Department Fish and Game and the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center for the second "Remarkable Raptors" presentation and learn more about local birds of prey and their habits on Saturday, Sept. 29.

All ages will enjoy the live educational birds and mounted specimens used during the evening presentation to provide participants a "bird's-eye" view of the many species of raptors and owls that live in and around the North Idaho area.

The free program begins at 6 p.m. at the BLM's Blackwell Island picnic pavilion, just across the Spokane River south of Coeur d'Alene along U.S. 95.

Parking fees will be waived for those participating in the evening event.

Information: Carrie Hugo, 769-5048; or Suzanne Endsley, 769-5004