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
Vermont fishing licenses for veterans
What Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says about free or reduced fishing licenses for veterans, disabled veterans, service members and their families.
What the agency says
Active duty
No-cost hunting, fishing or combination licence for residents serving on active duty.
Any resident of Vermont who certifies that he or she is: serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States ... may obtain at no cost a hunting or fishing license or combination hunting and fishing license.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, read October 20, 2026Service members stationed in the state
Nonresident active-duty members stationed in Vermont pay resident fees.
A nonresident member of the armed forces of the United States who certifies that he or she is: on active duty and stationed at a military, air or naval post, station or base within Vermont may buy a license to hunt or fish at the resident fee.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, read October 20, 2026Disabled veterans
Free permanent licence for resident veterans with a qualifying service-connected disability.
A Vermont resident who is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States and who is, or ever has been, 60% disabled due to a service connected disability, may receive a free permanent license, if qualified, upon presentation of a specific letter from the Veterans Administration.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, read October 20, 2026Disabled veterans
Free one-year licence for qualifying nonresident disabled veterans from reciprocal states.
Non-Resident veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States that reside in a state that provides reciprocal privilege for Vermont residents and who would qualify for a free license under the disabled veteran provision ... Presently NH and ME.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, read October 20, 2026
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department: licenses
Quoted from the agency's own page; rules, ratings and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you buy.
Fishing in Vermont
Veteran-owned and veteran-serving guides and shops in Vermont