The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced honorably discharged military veteran residents can purchase a recreational hunting and fishing combination license for $20, an $80 discount for the Sportsman’s Paradise license.
State Senator Brach Myers (R-Lafaytte) authored the legislation that resulted in a big discount for military veterans.
“This is an important step from an over $100 combo to $20 to try to both honor them but allow them to do what they love doing, which is being outdoors in Louisiana,” said Myers
LDWF operates mostly on license fees, but Senator Myers said giving our veterans the ability to hunt and fish in Louisiana at a reduced cost is a small token of our appreciation for their selfless service to our country.
“From a fiscal perspective, we’re trying to be very careful, but this was an investment,” said Myers. “There is a fiscal impact to this, but it’s for the right reason, for the right cause and obviously, for the right heroes.”
Myers said the law was a result of collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and The Boot, an organization seeking to incentivize military veterans to make Louisiana their home once their service has ended.
“They surveyed families that were potentially looking to relocate to other states and asked them what were those big drivers, those big things that would make them want to move and come here. Of course jobs are at the very top of that list and culture, but for veterans specifically it was the outdoors,” said Myers.
Applications for the combo license can be found on the LDWF’s website.