Free hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans
The Department of Natural Resources says that new, free hunting and fishing licenses will be available for disabled veterans beginning in March.
House Bill 5292, signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder, will allow a disabled veteran to obtain any resident hunting or fishing license for which a lottery is not required, free of charge. The veteran will be required to provide proof of eligibility and carry this proof when using any license obtained under this legislation. Under provisions of the law, the new licenses become available at the beginning of the next license year, which is March 1, 2013. The licenses cannot be obtained before that date.
The law defines “disabled veteran” as a resident who either:
- has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be permanently and totally disabled as a result of military service and entitled to veterans’ benefits at the 100-percent rate, for a disability other than blindness; or
- is rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as individually unemployable.
“Providing free licenses for disabled veterans is just a small token of our deep gratitude for their sacrifice for all of us,” said Denise Gruben, manager of licensing and reservations for the DNR. “We want veterans to be full participants in outdoor sports. We’re pleased to make these licenses available to qualifying veterans beginning next March under this new law.”
For more information about Michigan hunting and fishing licenses, visit www.mdnr-elicense.com.