In the state of Virginia, the rules and regulations surrounding fishing licenses for individuals with disabilities have undergone some changes in recent years. As of 2024, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR) has specific provisions in place to accommodate disabled residents when it comes to obtaining fishing and hunting licenses.
Disabled Lifetime Licenses in Virginia
According to the Code of Virginia § 29.1-302.1, any resident or nonresident individual who is permanently disabled, as defined in § 58.1-3217, can apply for and receive a special lifetime hunting and fishing license from the VDWR. This license is valid for the life of the individual, is nontransferable, and allows the person to engage in the licensed activity on any property in the Commonwealth.
The definition of “permanently and totally disabled” in the Code of Virginia § 58.1-3217 states that it refers to an individual who is “unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment or deformity which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for the duration of such person’s life.”
To qualify for this special lifetime license, the applicant must provide proof of their permanent disability that is acceptable to the Director of the VDWR. This proof can no longer be in the form of Social Security documentation, as the VDWR stopped accepting that as of July 1, 2014. Instead, the applicant must submit a completed physician’s affidavit form along with their application.
The fee for this special lifetime license is $15 for both resident and non-resident individuals with disabilities. This is a significant discount compared to the regular lifetime fishing license, which costs $295 for Virginia residents and $585 for non-residents as of 2024.
Fishing and Hunting Licenses for Disabled Military Personnel
In addition to the general disabled lifetime licenses, Virginia also offers special fishing licenses for disabled active duty military personnel. According to Code of Virginia § 29.1-302.01, any disabled active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the United States Armed Forces Reserves, or the Virginia National Guard who is a resident of Virginia can apply for a special fishing license.
This special fishing license is available for both freshwater and saltwater fishing, and the applicant must provide proof of their disability and active duty status that is acceptable to the VDWR Director. The fee for this license is $10 for both resident and non-resident disabled active duty military personnel.
Applying for Disabled Fishing and Hunting Licenses in Virginia
The process for applying for these special disabled fishing and hunting licenses in Virginia is straightforward. Residents can find the necessary application and physician affidavit form on the VDWR website, while non-residents can access the forms through the same website.
Once the completed application and affidavit form are submitted, the VDWR will review the documentation and issue the appropriate lifetime license if the applicant is approved. It’s important to note that these licenses are only valid for the life of the individual and are nontransferable.