The Patriot Plan — Free Sporting Licences, and Resident Prices for Those Stationed Here
New York gives free hunting, fishing and trapping licences to resident members of the New York Organized Militia and the U.S. Reserve forces, and to full-time active-duty New York residents stationed outside the state who are home on leave of 30 DAYS OR LESS. Separately — and this is the part outsiders miss — a NONRESIDENT active-duty member stationed in New York for MORE THAN 30 DAYS gets RESIDENT PRICING, which on a nonresident hunting licence is a large difference.
Verified August 27, 2026
What this benefit is
New York gives free hunting, fishing and trapping licences to resident members of the New York Organized Militia and the U.S. Reserve forces, and to full-time active-duty New York residents stationed outside the state who are home on leave of 30 DAYS OR LESS. Separately — and this is the part outsiders miss — a NONRESIDENT active-duty member stationed in New York for MORE THAN 30 DAYS gets RESIDENT PRICING, which on a nonresident hunting licence is a large difference.
What it's worth: Free hunting, fishing and trapping licences; resident pricing for qualifying nonresident military
- FREE licences for NYS-resident members of the NEW YORK ORGANIZED MILITIA and the U.S. RESERVE forces.
- FREE for full-time active-duty New York residents stationed outside New York who are HOME ON LEAVE OF 30 DAYS OR LESS.
- NONRESIDENT active military STATIONED IN NEW YORK FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS get RESIDENT-PRICE licences — a substantial saving over nonresident rates.
- Covers hunting, fishing and trapping.
- This is a benefit of current service, not of veteran status.
Who is entitled to it
- You serve in the U.S. armed forces.
- Your service is Guard, militia or Reserve.
- New York sporting licences.
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
- 1Ask for the Patriot Plan by name at a DEC licence issuing agent — that is what the provision is called.
- 2Have your military ID and, if you are home on leave, the leave paperwork showing 30 days or less.
- 3If you are stationed in New York but domiciled elsewhere, ask for RESIDENT PRICING rather than assuming you must pay nonresident rates.
- 4Reserve members qualify as well as the Organized Militia.
- 5Renew each year while you are serving.
- Form
- Application through DEC under the Patriot Plan
- File with
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
- Renew annually
Sources
- authority · published policyNYS DEC — sporting licences under the Patriot Plan
- operating · published policyNYS Department of Veterans' Services
This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.