Orwell deer hunt again in the works

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, September 23, 2008

For many older people and those with disabilities, deer hunting is simply a memory. That changed a year ago when, with joint approval from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Natural Resources, deer hunting was held for a few men near Orwell Dam southwest of Fergus Falls.

“We’re happy to have the special deer hunting again this year,” said Ron Welle who coordinates the Outdoors program in Minnesota, the two Dakotas and Wisconsin. “The deer hunting at Orwell Dam shows that people with disabilities also can enjoy the great outdoors.”

The dates for the hunt this year will be Nov. 4-6. The word is out for people in the Fergus Falls area to register. There will be six hunters selected for this year’s hunt. The registration deadline is Oct. 10 after which time a drawing will be held.

Last year some former deer hunters, even those with walkers and in wheelchairs, joined a group of disabled hunters. With the help of volunteer assistants, they had a great time deer hunting near Orwell Dam.

Some of the hunters had bagged over 100 deer during their lifetimes. Others, now in their 80s, began hunting when they were 12 years old.

It was a special time in 2007 near Orwell Dam, as noted by Welle, Bob Schimming of the Army Corps of Engineers and Don Schultz, DNR wildlife manager, Fergus Falls.

The hunters helped in the planning. Included was checking out their special deer hunting platforms. Early the next day they gathered for the actual hunt near Orwell Dam.

“We worked on getting this deer hunting for the disabled here near Orwell Dam off and on for about two years,” Schultz said. “The hunters here last year and again this year are able to hunt, with special permission, in what’s known as the sanctuary near Orwell Dam — where a lot of deer congregate.”

A mandatory safety and shooting orientation will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, at Orwell Dam. Hunting sites will be established during orientation. Both the hunter and volunteer must wear blaze orange in the field and volunteers must be able to field dress deer if needed.

Redeem National Wildlife Refuge, east of Crookston, is another location in Minnesota where disabled deer hunting is held. The refuge is located on the historic Glacial Lake Agassiz beach ridge transition zone, changing from northern tallgrass prairie/aspen to eastern forest.