TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has implemented a recreational hunting and fishing license exemption for disabled veterans, active and reserve duty military personnel, immediate family members of these veterans and military personnel and assistants during special events designed for the enjoyment or rehabilitation of participating military personnel and disabled veterans.
Event organizers apply for the permit to exempt their qualifying participants. To qualify for exemption, special events must be designed to provide rehabilitation or enjoyment to participating disabled veterans or active or reserve duty military personnel in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Coast Guard or Florida National Guard. Immediate family members — parents, spouses and children — of participating disabled veterans and military personnel and one designated assistant for each disabled veteran are included in each event’s license and permit exemptions.
Exemptions will last for these events’ duration. FWC regional directors, as the executive director’s designee, will issue these permits. Established seasons, bag or slot limits, size restrictions and all other laws will still apply. Limited-entry activities won’t be permitted under this exemption.
This effort to help disabled veterans and those serving in the military arose during the 2013 legislative session, when the commission requested and the Legislature and governor approved the new license exemption.
Learn more about hunting and fishing licensing; see the link at www.crestviewbulletin.com/lifestyle.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FWC sets license exemption for disabled vets, military