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The Military Gold Sportsman's Licence — $20 Instead of $100, But Not for Every Veteran

A Florida resident who is an ACTIVE or RETIRED member of the armed forces, reserves, National Guard, Coast Guard or Coast Guard Reserve buys the Gold Sportsman's Licence for $20 instead of $100. It carries the full bundle: hunting, freshwater and saltwater fishing, plus deer, wildlife management area, archery, muzzleloading, crossbow, turkey, waterfowl, snook and lobster permits. Read the eligibility carefully — this is active or RETIRED military, not veterans generally, and a current military ID is required.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

A Florida resident who is an ACTIVE or RETIRED member of the armed forces, reserves, National Guard, Coast Guard or Coast Guard Reserve buys the Gold Sportsman's Licence for $20 instead of $100. It carries the full bundle: hunting, freshwater and saltwater fishing, plus deer, wildlife management area, archery, muzzleloading, crossbow, turkey, waterfowl, snook and lobster permits. Read the eligibility carefully — this is active or RETIRED military, not veterans generally, and a current military ID is required.

What it's worth: $20 instead of $100 for the full Gold Sportsman's bundle

  • The price is $20 at point of sale, against $100 for the ordinary Gold Sportsman's Licence. The statutory base fee is $18.50.
  • IT IS NOT FOR ALL VETERANS. The eligible group is active or RETIRED members of the armed forces, reserves, National Guard, Coast Guard or Coast Guard Reserve. A veteran who served and left without retiring does not qualify on this route.
  • A current military ID is required, which is itself a practical filter on who can claim it.
  • The bundle covers hunting, freshwater and saltwater fishing, plus deer, wildlife management area, archery, muzzleloading, crossbow, turkey, waterfowl, snook and lobster permits.
  • Florida residency is required.
  • Veterans with a service-connected disability should look at the separate free hunting and fishing licence instead — different route, better price.

Who is entitled to it

  • You are in one of the groups this licence covers.
  • You are currently on active duty.
  • You retired from the armed forces.
  • You are a serving member of the Florida National Guard.
  • You are a Florida resident.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

  1. 1Take a CURRENT military ID. Retired ID counts; a DD-214 on its own does not establish this route.
  2. 2Ask for the Military Gold Sportsman's Licence by name — the ordinary Gold Sportsman's is five times the price.
  3. 3If you are a veteran who did not retire, this is not your route. Ask about the free disabled veteran hunting and fishing licence, or the ordinary resident licences.
  4. 4Check what the bundle already includes before buying permits separately. Snook, lobster and the wildlife management area permit are all inside it.
Form
Bought from a licence agent or online
File with
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or any licence agent
Renew annually
Worth knowingThis is a serving-and-retired benefit rather than a veterans benefit, and is tagged as such. It is carried because the price gap is large, because it reaches Guard members, and because veterans routinely assume it covers them and are refused.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.