Free hunt-fish licenses for disabled vets, effective March, 2013

   The DNR will issue free hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans beginning March, 2013. This law 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.
   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.
   The part about vets having to be 100% disabled to qualify for the free licenses prompted reader, Dennis Rahn to comment:
   "It says they have to be 100% disabled or unemployable because of their disability.  So if they only lost one leg out of four limbs that is only 25% of a loss and they get no free license.
   If they can only lick stamps they are employable and they again get no free licenses.  This is total BS......In my book if the Vet was wounded they should get the free licenses just because they served.    
   The parasites that walk around with pants dragging on the ground and tattoos on their faces never will serve their country and it is they that should pay double the price of the license if they buy a license at all....Most would rather poach since the DNR doesn't make anyone wear their license on a back tag anymore so anyone can tell if they are legal or not.

   Rahn may have a point insofar as the 100% rule of disability goes. It would seem that if a vet is disabled-totally or not-they should be entitled to any and all benefits that come their way due to their sacrifices during service to the country.
   “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.