FERRIDAY — Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge wants to give area handicapped hunters a chance to fill its blinds Jan. 14 and 15.

Bayou Cocodrie, together with the Concordia Delta Longbeards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, will host a Wheelin’ Sportsman hunt that Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

Refuge manager Deisha Norwood said there’s a 20-hunter limit, and the refuge and NWTF chapter want to get as many locals involved as possible. Prospective hunters must have a handicap hunting permit and be mobility impaired.

“We have 20 blinds on the refuge exclusive for use of wheelchair-bound hunters,” Norwood said.

“The refuge has been doing this hunt for several years, but we would get only two to three hunters. Last year, when the Delta Longbeards got involved, we had 20 people show up.”

Of those 20, Norwood said only 18 were able to hunt, but she was happy the Delta Longbeards chapter stepped up to help make the event better.

“They contacted us and said they were willing to promote the hunt and make it the best it could be, and they did,” Norwood said.

Lisa Smith, president of the Delta Longbeards chapter, said most of the hunters last year were from out of town, and they want more local participation this time around.

“Being a local chapter, we want to make locals aware of the opportunity,” Smith said.

In addition, Norwood said she hopes the event will make people more aware of the refuge and what it has to offer.

“The majority of our use is consumptive, either hunters or fishermen,” she said. “Any time you can get people more aware of the refuge, it’s a good thing.

“They’ll be able to see it for all its uses. We have our trails open year round for hiking and wildlife observation.”

Smith also said it was important to show local sponsors of the Delta Longbeards that the chapter is following through with the proper use of donated funds.

“We want the local businesses who supported us to know that we’re doing some local things like we said we would, because the NWTF is such a large organization,” Smith said.

For more information, or for people interested in volunteering, call Norwood at 318-336-7119, or Smith at 318-729-8304.