The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Park Service recently revised the available hunting areas for disabled sportsmen and women at Rocky Gap State Park to improve hunting opportunities and to avoid conflict with bathhouse renovations that are scheduled for the next two seasons. Interested hunters may now apply for permits to access eight sites within the park for the 2008 deer firearms season, which runs from November 29 through December 13.

To qualify for access to the sites all interested hunters must submit proof of their valid Maryland hunting license and their Department of Natural Resources disabled hunters permit along with their contact information, including telephone number, to Rocky Gap State Park, 12500 Pleasant Valley Road, Flintstone, Md. 21530 prior to the permit lottery drawing on Monday, November 24.

Individuals interested in hunting during a weekday will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. On Saturdays November 29, December 6 and 13, sites will be filled based on the lottery drawing.

Disabled Hunter Permit applications may be obtained from any DNR Service Centers. The Disabled Hunter Permit allows the hunter to hunt from a vehicle. The disabled hunter may bring a companion to assist; however, the companion is not allowed to carry the firearm, hunt, or pursue deer in any fashion.

All lottery hunters must attend a pre-hunt meeting at the camper contact building on Friday, November 28 at 2 p.m.

Rocky Gap State Park offers 1,451 acres of land designated for rifle and muzzleloader hunting and 300 acres for bow hunting. Six of the eight sites require four-wheel drive vehicles for access, two of these sites can be reached by two-wheel drive vehicles. For more information on the Disabled Hunters Program or other facilities that are available contact Rocky Gap State Park, at 301-722-1480 or visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/western/rockygap.html. For more information about DNR's outdoor access for all efforts visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/accessforall/.

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Predator Hunting on the Manitoba Prairie
As a young lad growing up in any rural area can tell you, predators are a part of life, whether you like it or not. I was introduced to a form of predator control at an early age, my father always used to run a small trap line, nothing special, just a bunch of snares and a few foot traps set out on only the most popularly used predator trails. My old man was always on the lookout for a new spot to set up traps and was usually right on the money when he returned to see if his hunch was correct. His personal best was 8 coyotes and one red fox, which he managed to collect during a 2 - day period about 20 years ago, it seems the tradition is bred into our heritage. This is the story of how my brothers and I tied my dad's personal best.