Since the 1990s, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has offered reduced-fee hunting and fishing licenses to both resident and nonresident disabled veterans, as per Fish and Game Code, section 7150. Any honorable discharged, disabled veteran with a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability who wants to hunt birds or mammals or go fishing in California is eligible. The 2023 Disabled Veteran or Recovering Service Member Sport Fishing License and 2023 Disabled Veteran or Recovering Service Member Hunting License cost will be $9.46 when purchased at a CDFW license agent. To prequalify for a Disabled Veterans hunting or fishing license, customers must submit a letter from the Veteran’s Administration to a CDFW license sales office. Subsequent licenses may be purchased online or from a license sales agent.

Throughout the year, many California based nonprofit organizations and groups offer special hunting and fishing opportunities for veterans. A list of organizations and groups offering programs can be found on the Recruit, Retain, Reactivate webpage (wildlife.ca.gov/R3) under both the Hunting and Fishing tabs. Please note, these are not complete lists and specific opportunities are not endorsed by CDFW.

For veterans located in the Central Valley area, CDFW will be participating in the Assembly District 13 Veterans Stand Down event on Nov. 22, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Martin Luther King Plaza in Stockton, California. CDFW staff will be on site to answer questions regarding the above mentioned reduced-fee licenses, job opportunities and additional questions related to hunting and angling. This event is open to the public and more information can be found at: https://a13.asmdc.org/event/20221122-2022-veterans-stand-down-event

Additional information on reduced-fee fishing licenses can be found at: wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing#44521417-free--reduced-fee

Additional information on reduced-fee hunting licenses can be found at: wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Hunting#994193-reduced-fee

Fishing and hunting regulations and more information about licenses are available on the CDFW website: wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife thanks California veterans for their service to and sacrifice for our country.

To learn more about becoming a hunter or angler, or additional resources regarding hunting and angling, visit the Recruit, Retain, Reactivate webpage at: wildlife.ca.gov/R3