Photo credit
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing veterans at Rapidan Camp, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Photo: N. Lewis, National Park Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pennsylvania fishing licenses for veterans
What Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission says about free or reduced fishing licenses for veterans, disabled veterans, service members and their families.
What the agency says
Disabled veterans
Free resident fishing licence for veterans with a total VA-certified service-connected disability.
To qualify for a free fishing license, a disabled veteran applicant must: ... (2) Be 100% disabled as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, read October 20, 2026Disabled veterans
Reduced-fee resident annual or senior lifetime licence for partially disabled veterans.
Any disabled veteran who has a service-connected disability who is between 60 and 99 percent disabled as certified by the United States Veterans Administration and is a resident of this Commonwealth may initially obtain a reduced fee resident annual or a senior resident lifetime fishing license
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, read October 20, 2026Residents serving away, home on leave
Resident active-duty members stationed outside Pennsylvania and home on authorized leave are exempt.
Certain active duty military personnel are exempt from Pennsylvania's fishing license requirement. To be eligible for the military waiver, an angler must:
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, read October 20, 2026Service members stationed in the state
Members stationed in Pennsylvania under qualifying change-of-station orders get the resident licence.
Those who are stationed in Pennsylvania under permanent change of station orders (PCS) for 6 months or more or who produce documentation proving same qualify for a resident fishing license.
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, read October 20, 2026National Guard and Reserve
Special licence for Guard and Reserve members recently deployed overseas or released early for service injury.
National Guard & Armed Forces Reserve licenses are available to those persons who provide documentation that within the previous 24 months the person was deployed overseas as a member of the reserve component of the armed forces for a period of 60 consecutive days or more
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, read October 20, 2026
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission: licenses
Quoted from the agency's own page; rules, ratings and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you buy.
Fishing in Pennsylvania
Veteran-owned and veteran-serving guides and shops in Pennsylvania