MADISON — Eligible hunters who are interested in participating in the 2018 gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities are encouraged to contact a land sponsor to sign up for a hunt before the Sept. 1 hunter participation deadline.

As of the June 1 sponsor application deadline, 65 landowners have enrolled almost 80,000 acres across 40 counties, which takes place Oct. 6-14. For a complete list of 2018 sponsors, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “disabled deer hunt.”

“We are thrilled with the number of sponsors that are willing to provide opportunities for our hunters,” said Maggie Stewart, assistant big game ecologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “Giving hunters access to over 80,000 acres of land is instrumental in making this unique opportunity a success and for continuing Wisconsin’s deer hunting tradition.”

Hunters or assistants should contact sponsors directly to sign up for a hunt. Hunters will have to provide their name, contact information, and DNR customer ID number. To be eligible, hunters must possess a valid Class A, Class B long-term permit that allows shooting from a vehicle or Class C or D disabled hunting permit. As in the past, eligible hunters must also possess a gun deer license.

It is important for hunters to note that some properties are able to accommodate more hunters than others. The smaller properties may only be able to allow the minimum number of three hunters, so hunters are advised to contact potential sponsors as early as possible to determine if space is available.