Veterans & Military · Surprise rank #119
Get NY Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Licenses for $5—or Free!
New York DEC offers free or sharply reduced sporting licenses to several groups, including qualifying veterans, active-duty military members, legally blind residents and members of specified Indigenous Nations.
Who
Examples include NY-resident veterans with 40%+ service-related disability, certain active-duty/reserve military members, legally blind NY residents and enrolled members of the Shinnecock, Unkechaug or Haudenosaunee Nations who meet the residency rules.
What to do
Start here: Use DEC's free/reduced sporting-license page to identify the matching category and bring the required military, disability, tribal or residency documentation to an issuing agent or approved online route.
Eligibility: Each category has its own proof, residency and hunter-education requirements.
What you get
Qualifying groups can receive free or reduced-cost fishing, hunting, trapping and related privileges.
Benefit: For a qualifying disabled veteran, the first hunting/fishing/trapping license purchased in a calendar year costs $5 and subsequent licenses of those types that year are free; other qualifying groups have their own free/reduced rules.
Possible value: Usually tens of dollars per year, depending on licenses and privileges used.
Good to know
Important: The benefits differ sharply by category. For example, a NY resident veteran generally needs a 40%+ service-related disability for the $5 license rule; ordinary veteran status alone is not enough.
Availability: Active
Why people miss it: DEC combines several special populations on one page, so people may never realize their military, disability or tribal status changes the license price.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026