Relating to hunting, trapping, and fishing privileges for disabled veterans

This bill relates to hunting, trapping, and fishing privileges for certain disabled veterans. Under current law, a resident who served in the armed forces of the United States on federal active duty and who was disabled during that veteran’s military service is eligible to obtain a lifetime fishing license or a lifetime hunting and fishing combined license. Under the bill, a resident who is a disabled veteran may hunt without acquiring a hunting license, hunt or trap a fur-bearing animal without acquiring a fur harvester license, or fish without acquiring a fishing license. A resident hunting, trapping, or fishing in such manner shall, upon request of an officer of the department of natural resources, display proof of the veteran’s age, residency, veteran status, and disability status. As a matter of law, a person who is not required to possess a fishing license to fish is not required to pay a trout fishing fee to fish for or possess trout.