Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issues various
hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, permits, and tags (approvals). DNR also
issues certain combination licenses, including resident and nonresident
conservation patron licenses. A conservation patron license confers upon the
licensee the combined privileges of certain approvals, including a small game
hunting license, a deer hunting license, an archer hunting license, and an annual
fishing license. A conservation patron license also confers certain other privileges,
including the authority to take a motor vehicle into state parks and certain other
areas without a vehicle admission receipt.

This bill requires that a veteran who is a state resident be issued a conservation
patron license at a lower fee than the regular license fee if he or she produces
evidence showing that he or she has a service-connected disability rating of 70
percent or greater, as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA),
or is receiving disability benefits from the VA due to being unemployable based on
his or her education and skills as well as his or her medical condition. Under current
law, a resident veteran who produces this evidence is eligible for an annual fishing
license at a reduced fee. The bill also requires that the license be issued at the time
the veteran applies.