Free Hunting, Trapping and Fishing — 100% P&T, Auto Grant or POW
A resident veteran with a 100% permanent and total rating, the federal auto grant, or former POW status qualifies for free hunting, trapping and fishing licences — and any service member on leave hunts and fishes with no licence at all, the leave papers serving instead.
Verified August 21, 2026
What this benefit is
A resident veteran with a 100% permanent and total rating, the federal auto grant, or former POW status qualifies for free hunting, trapping and fishing licences — and any service member on leave hunts and fishes with no licence at all, the leave papers serving instead.
What it's worth: Hunting, trapping and fishing licences free
- The printable application sits on the natural resources division site.
Who is entitled to it
- Your rating is 100% permanent and total.
- You are a resident of this state.
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
- 1Download the printable application from the natural resources division and submit with VA certification of the 100% permanent and total rating, the auto grant award, or POW documentation.
- 2All three licences — hunting, trapping AND fishing — ride on the same qualification.
- 3A service member on active duty home on leave needs no licence at all: leave or furlough papers serve in place of every required licence (state code §20-2-28).
- Form
- Free licence application (printable)
- File with
- Division of Natural Resources
- Documents you will need
- va benefit summary letter
- Periodic
- Re-confirmed from time to time.
Sources
- authority · published policyDepartment of Veterans Assistance — state benefits, veteran hunting and fishing licences (W. Va. Code §20-2-28 for the leave rule)
Why only one source type: The state veterans department's page states all three qualifying routes and the leave-papers rule; the natural resources site hosts only the application form.
This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.