Military Personnel and Veterans

• Hunting licenses and lotteries

• Firearms safety training

• Fishing licenses

• Cross country ski pass exemptions

• Minnesota State Park vehicle permits

• Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine

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Hunting licenses and lotteries

Residents On Leave

Who have maintained legal residency in Minnesota (must have a valid MN DL or Public Safety ID) and who are serving in the U.S. Military and stationed outside the state may:

• Hunt small game without a license while on leave. No Minnesota Waterfowl Stamp or Pheasant Stamp is needed but must have a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp to hunt waterfowl.
• May hunt deer (Firearms: Code 232; Archery: Code 233, Muzzleloader: Code 234), bear (Code 663), and wild turkeys (Spring: Code 615; Fall: Code 654) and Wolf (Early Season Firearm: Code 691; Late Firearm Code 692; Trapping Code 693) without charge after obtaining the appropriate licenses and tags from an ELS license agent by presenting official leave papers.
• Does not include Moose, Elk or Deer bonus permits. Such service personnel must carry proof of Minnesota residency and official leave papers on their person while hunting. Licenses are valid immediately upon issuance.

Residents Discharged

• From the U.S. Armed Forces within 10 days of the start or during the Firearms Deer Season may purchase a Firearms Deer License during the season upon showing official discharge papers. The license is valid immediately after purchase.
• Who have served at any time during the preceding 24 months in federal active service outside the United States and have been discharged from active service may:
  • Take small game without a license. Discharged residents must carry proof of Minnesota residency and official military discharge papers. No state stamps required. (Federal stamp required for migratory waterfowl hunting.)
  • Obtain a free deer license. Eligibility is limited to one deer license per person per year. Discharged residents must provide proof of residency and a copy of their official military discharge papers. (Firearms: Code 232, Archery: Code 233, Muzzleloader: Code 234).
  • Obtain a free wolf license. Eligibility is limited to one wolf license per person per year. Discharged residents must provide proof of residency and a copy of their official military discharge papers. (Early Firearms Season: Code 694, Late Firearm Season Code 695; Trapping Code 696)
• Who have served at any time during the past 24 months, in active service as a member of the United States armed forces, including the National Guard or other military reserves will receive first preference in drawings for special deer hunts, bear and turkey permits.
• http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/licenses/hunting/res_militarypreference.pdf

Resident Veterans

With proof of a 100 percent service-related disability may obtain a free Small Game License (241) and a free Firearms (242), or Muzzleloader (240), or Archery (243) Deer License from an ELS license agent. In addition, a disabled veteran is exempt from purchasing state pheasant or waterfowl stamps, but must purchase a federal duck stamp to hunt waterfowl. Disabled veterans with 100 % service connected disability will receive first preference in drawings for special deer hunts, bear and turkey permits.

• http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/licenses/hunting/res_militarypreference.pdf

Note: Military personnel and veterans who are issued firearms deer licenses under these provisions may take antlerless deer, but are restricted to bucks-only hunting in those lottery deer permit areas that have an either-sex permit quota of zero. To participate in special deer hunts, they must apply and be drawn. They may also purchase bonus permits.

Resident Veteran 100% Permanent Card

Resident Veterans who have 100 percent permanent service-connected disability as defined by the United State Department of Veterans Affairs may apply for a permanent card that may be presented to an agent annually to receive a free Small Game and/ or a Deer License. This card will assist with the process of receiving these types of license’s, however all eligibility requirements must be meet prior to receiving the license(s).

Application maybe found here http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/licenses/vet-deer-license-permanent.pdf
 

Resident Purple Heart Recipients

Must purchase licenses, but will receive first preference in drawings for antlerless deer permits, bear and turkey permits.

• http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/licenses/hunting/res_militarypreference.pdf

Nonresident

• Nonresident spouses of residents on active military duty may purchase resident hunting and fishing licenses. Nonresidents must provide proof of spouse’s residency and active military duty.
• A person in the U.S. Armed Forces who is stationed in the state may purchase resident hunting and fishing licenses, but not moose or elk licenses.

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Firearms safety training

A person who is on active duty and has successfully completed basic training in the US armed forces, reserve component, or National Guard may obtain a hunting license or approval authorizing hunting regardless of whether the person is issued a firearms safety certificate. (They must be on active duty, home on leave with leave papers (they then qualify only for that time frame). Once discharged or no longer on active duty, they must complete the firearms safety training course or online adult course the same as all others born after Dec 31, 1979.)

A person who has successfully completed basic training the US Armed Forces must complete the firearms safety certification (same as all others born after December 31, 1979), by either attending a classroom course, completing the on-line course, or a home study packet. These individuals would be exempt from the Field Day components of the Classroom or Home Study course by providing proof of basic training, i.e., discharge papers (DD214), or current military identification to the instructor conducting the course. The firearms safety certificate is valid throughout the U.S. Go to http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/firearms_isa/index.html.

See also mndnr.gov/safety/apprentice/index.html regarding the apprentice safety training two year exemption. The Apprentice Hunter Validation is available to residents and nonresidents. It does not meet any safety requirements for other states. Those using this exemption must hunt with a licensed hunter whose license was not obtained using an apprentice hunter validation.

 

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Fishing licenses

• A person in the U.S. Armed Forces who is stationed or training in the state may purchase a resident fishing license. (Includes those in training at Camp Ripley.)
• A resident who has served at any time during the preceding 24 months in federal active service outside the United States and has been discharged from active service may take fish without a license. Discharged residents must carry proof of Minnesota residency and official military discharge papers. Trout stamps are not required. (Note: Free sturgeon tags are available only from the DNR License Center in St. Paul.)
• Any Minnesota veteran with a 100% service-connected disability may obtain a permanent angling license. These permanent licenses are available only from the DNR License Center. A trout stamp is not required with this license.
• http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/licenses/fishing/res_specialanglingpermanent.pdf

The following are Exempt from Fishing License Requirements:

• Minnesota residents in the U.S. Military who are stationed outside the state and home on leave. Military staff must carry leave or furlough papers.
• Patients of a U.S. Veterans Administration hospital (with written permission of the superintendent or chief executive of the institution).
• http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/licenses/fishing/residents_institutions.pdf

 

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Cross country ski pass exemptions

• Minnesota residents in the US Military who are stationed outside the state and home on leave. Military staff must carry leave or furlough papers.
• Minnesota residents who have served at any time during the preceding 24 months in federal active service outside the United States and has been discharged from active service is exempt from the pass requirement if the resident possesses official military discharge papers (DD214).

 

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Minnesota State Park vehicle permits

Any active military service personnel stationed outside of Minnesota within the past 90 days can get a free one-day Minnesota state park vehicle permit. Bring your current military orders and military ID, and let the park attendant know your military status when you arrive.

Military personnel or their dependents who have a federal government access pass to federal recreational sites can get a free one-day Minnesota state park vehicle permit. Bring your federal access pass and military ID, and let the park attendant know your military status when you arrive.

Any resident veteran with any level of service-connected disability can get a free one-day Minnesota state park vehicle permit. Bring a copy of your determination letter and a photo ID, and let the park attendant know your military status when you arrive.

Any veteran who has a permanent and total service–connected disability can get a free annual Minnesota state park permit. Present a copy of your determination letter or VA ID card to the park attendant for the free annual sticker, which must be placed on a vehicle that is owned by the veteran. If the vehicle transporting the veteran is not owned by the veteran with the permanent service-connected disability, you can still get a free one-day Minnesota state park permit.

 

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Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine

A free two-year subscription to Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, the DNR’s donor-supported magazine advocating conservation and careful use of Minnesota’s natural resources. Call 1-888-646-6367 and ask for the Military Personnel and Veteran offer. Or go to mndnr.gov/magazine.

 

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