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
Virginia fishing licenses for veterans
What Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources says about free or reduced fishing licenses for veterans, disabled veterans, service members and their families.
What the agency says
Service members stationed in the state
Active-duty personnel stationed and living in Virginia are eligible for resident licences.
Active-duty military personnel and their immediate family stationed and living in Virginia are eligible for resident hunting and fishing licenses.
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, read October 20, 2026Military families
Immediate family of active-duty personnel stationed and living in Virginia are eligible for resident licences.
Active-duty military personnel and their immediate family stationed and living in Virginia are eligible for resident hunting and fishing licenses.
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, read October 20, 2026Residents serving away, home on leave
Resident active-duty members on official leave may fish without a licence, except for trout.
Resident, active-duty members of the armed forces while on official leave are not required to purchase a license to fish, unless fishing for trout in designated waters, provided that person presents a copy of their leave papers upon request.
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, read October 20, 2026Disabled veterans
Discounted resident lifetime licence for veterans with a qualifying service-connected disability rating.
Virginia residents who are disabled due to a service-connected disability rated 30% or greater by the U.S. Veterans Administration office may apply for this lifetime license(s).
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, read October 20, 2026Disabled veterans
A nonresident annual fishing licence for totally and permanently disabled veterans is listed.
Nonresident Annual Fishing License for Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, read October 20, 2026Active duty
A special fishing licence for disabled active-duty personnel is listed; details are in its application.
Special Fishing License for Disabled Active Duty Military Personnel
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, read October 20, 2026
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources: licenses
Quoted from the agency's own page; rules, ratings and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you buy.
Fishing in Virginia
Veteran-owned and veteran-serving guides and shops in Virginia