Relating to hunting by persons with disabilities arising from military service

This bill relates to hunting by persons with disabilities arising from military service. Current law provides a definition of “permanent disability” for the purposes of obtaining a hunting or fishing license. A resident who has a permanent disability may purchase a hunting or fur harvester license that does not include the wildlife habitat fee. Additionally, a resident who has a permanent disability whose income falls below the federal poverty guidelines may receive a free annual fishing or combined hunting and fishing license. The bill adds a person who served in the armed forces of the United States and has an injury arising from that person’s military service to the definition of “permanent disability”. The bill requires the natural resource commission to adopt rules allowing a person who has a permanent disability based on an injury arising from that person’s military service to use a crossbow while hunting with a tag designated for use in any archery season. Moneys appropriated to or received by the Iowa department of veterans affairs for purposes of funding the injured veterans grant program may be used to issue a grant for the purchase of an archery season deer hunting license and tag by a veteran who is otherwise eligible to receive a grant under the program. A veteran receiving a license and tag through the use of a grant is authorized to use a crossbow in any archery season while hunting with the tag.