Miscellaneous
Washington Reduced Fee Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Disabled Veterans
A resident veteran with a qualifying discharge and a 30% service-connected rating, or 65 or older with any service-connected rating, gets the combination fishing license for $6.90 and every hunting license at the youth price (RCW 77.32.480). A non-resident veteran who meets the same test pays resident prices, and Guard members get free hunting licenses.
Also called: hunting license, fishing license, WDFW, 77.32.480, 30 percent, youth price, $6.90, age 65, non-resident, National Guard, hunter education.
For: Veteran or service member.
Where it applies
Written for the jurisdictions listed here.
- WashingtonState
RCW 77.32.480(1) has the Department of Fish and Wildlife issue, on written application, "a combination fishing license ... at the reduced rate of $6.90 and all hunting licenses ... at the reduced rate of a youth hunting license fee" to a resident 65 or older "who has a qualifying discharge, as defined in RCW 73.04.005, from the United States armed forces and has a service-connected disability", and to a resident with a qualifying discharge and "a 30 percent or more service-connected disability". The reduction is to fixed reduced prices, not a percentage off.
The age path is the one worth flagging: at 65 a veteran rated 10 percent, or 0 percent with a service connection, qualifies on the same terms as one rated 30 percent.
Non-residents. Subsection (2): a non-resident veteran with a disability who meets the same tests "must be issued a combination fishing license or any hunting license at the same cost charged to a nondisabled Washington resident", a large saving on non-resident prices.
How. WDFW's veterans reduced fees page asks for its reduced fee application with the one-page VA disability rating letter. The page still says the veteran must have "been honorably discharged"; since chapter 146, Laws of 2024 the statute's test is a qualifying discharge, which also takes a general discharge and an other than honorable discharge with VA monetary benefits.
Guard members. Subsection (3) gives a resident member of the National Guard or state guard who is a full-time Guard employee or in drill status a free small game license, supplemental migratory bird permit and big game license; WDFW's package includes deer, elk, bear and cougar tags. Apply on WDFW's printed application with the verification of service and a Washington driver's license.
Active duty fishing. A member of the armed forces on active duty pays the resident rate for a temporary combination fishing license with a military ID (RCW 77.32.470(2)(c)).
Hunter education. RCW 77.32.155 exempts "current or retired members of the United States military" from the firearms skills portion of the online hunter education course; WDFW applies it to active and honorably discharged members, including Guard members. The rest of the course is still required for anyone born after January 1, 1972 buying a first hunting license.
Thresholds
| Gate | Rule |
|---|---|
| 30% service-connected, or any rating at 65 or older | The rating path is a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more with a qualifying discharge. A veteran aged 65 or older qualifies with any service-connected rating, which the rating filter cannot express, so a veteran over 65 below 30 percent should read the age path rather than the filter. |
| Age 65 with any service-connected rating | A veteran 65 or older with a qualifying discharge and any service-connected disability qualifies, whatever the percentage. The rating filter tests only the percentage, so this path is listed separately. |
Sources
- RCW 77.32.480, Reduced rate licensesOfficial
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Eligibility requirements for veterans' reduced fees (read 2026-10-24)Official
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Free National and State Guard hunting licenses (read 2026-10-24)Official
- RCW 77.32.155, Hunter education training programOfficial
- RCW 77.32.470, Personal use fishing licenses (active duty temporary license)Official
Updated
Last updated .
What changed then:
- Eligibility rule “30% service-connected, or any rating at 65 or older” now reads: “The rating path is a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more with a qualifying discharge. A veteran aged 65 or older qualifies with any service-connected rating, which the rating filter cannot express, so a veteran over 65 below 30 percent should read the age path rather than the filter.”
- Eligibility rule “Age 65 with any service-connected rating” now reads: “A veteran 65 or older with a qualifying discharge and any service-connected disability qualifies, whatever the percentage. The rating filter tests only the percentage, so this path is listed separately.”
- Summary reworded.
- And 10 more changes.
Request an update
Out of date, a broken link, or something else wrong? Say what you found, and an editor checks it against the official source.
Disclaimer
VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.