Wyoming Free Lifetime Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Disabled Veterans

Wyoming Game and Fish issues lifetime licenses to disabled veterans in tiers, and the word lifetime is meant literally: the license is issued once and does not have to be renewed, which is unlike the several states in this catalog that call a license lifetime but require annual validation. A veteran with a 100 percent service-connected disability receives a free lifetime bird, small game, and fishing license. A veteran with a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability receives a free lifetime fishing license. A Purple Heart recipient receives the same free lifetime bird, small game, and fishing license as the 100 percent tier, without regard to a rating percentage. Two provisions cover those still serving. An active duty service member serving in a combat zone may receive complimentary elk, deer, bird, small game, and fishing licenses, which is the most valuable package here because elk and deer licenses are what Wyoming hunting is actually about and what nonresidents pay heavily for. An active duty member stationed in Wyoming for 90 days or more may buy at resident prices. An honorably discharged service member is exempt from the hunter safety certification requirement. The gap worth naming is big game. The free lifetime licenses at 100 percent and 50 percent cover birds, small game, and fish. They do not include elk, deer, antelope, or other big game licenses, which are allocated by draw and priced separately. A veteran expecting a free elk tag will be disappointed, and the combat zone provision is the only route here that reaches big game. Apply through Wyoming Game and Fish with the VA documentation of the rating or proof of the Purple Heart.