Armed Forces Privileges

Overview

License rates

Active service means full time employment as a member of the Armed Forces and does not include annual training by members of the National Guard or Reserves.

Residents

Any resident in active service with the Armed Forces, who presents their military ID/CAC card or active-duty orders, and furlough or leave papers to any license agent is eligible for a free Small Game & Fishing License (state stamps included). All other hunting, trapping or fishing licenses can be purchased at resident rates.

Any resident Purple Heart recipient who exhibits proof at a DNR Service Center of having received a Purple Heart medal is eligible to purchase a Conservation Patron license for $10. More details including acceptable documentation available on Veteran's page.

Nonresidents

Qualified nonresident Armed Forces member, who present eligibility documents to any license agent may purchase nonresident military hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses at resident rates. Qualified Armed Forces members include: 

• Nonresident Armed Forces members on active duty, stationed in WI
  Required documents: military ID/CAC card or active-duty orders, and document showing you are stationed in Wisconsin.  You will also need to attest that you are currently on active duty in the Armed Forces.
• Members of the Wisconsin National Guard or a Reserves (active or non-active) located in Wisconsin
  Required documents: military ID/CAC card and document showing you are a member of the Wisconsin National Guard or Reserves and stationed in Wisconsin.
• Nonresident Armed Forces members on active duty or activated Reserves unit members, stationed outside of WI, but were WI residents at time of entering active services 
  Required documents: military ID/CAC card or active-duty orders. You will also need to attest that you are currently on active duty and was a WI resident when you entered active service.

Nonresident Purple Heart recipients who exhibit proof at a DNR Service Center of having received a Purple Heart medal is eligible to purchase a nonresident Conservation Patron license for $161 and other hunting, trapping, and fishing approvals at resident rates. More details, including acceptable documentation available on the Veteran's page.

Hunter safety

Anyone who presents their military ID/CAC card or other proof they've completed basic training in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard may purchase a hunting license without the need to possess a hunter safety certificate or accomplishment.

Deferral

Any U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard member who is serving on active duty unable to exercise his or her privilege to fish, hunt or trap as permitted by the permit/harvest authorization/license due to his or her service on active duty (includes members of a reserve unit when serving on active duty for the U.S. Armed Forces) may defer a permit, harvest authorization or license issued under a random or preference selection system. This deferral can be used for any of the following permits, harvest authorizations or licenses:

1. Bobcat hunting or trapping permit
2. Otter trapping permit
3. Fisher trapping permit
4. Spring Turkey hunting harvest authorization
5. Sharp-trailed grouse hunting permit
6. Class A Bear license
7. Elk hunting license
8. Upriver Sturgeon Spearing license

Qualified Armed Forces members shall present their military ID/CAC card and active-duty orders to a DNR Service Center or submit the request and qualification documents online.

Deer hunting

Deer hunting

Purchasing a unit-specific antlerless harvest authorization ("bonus" harvest authorization)

Any resident in active service with the Armed Forces stationed outside Wisconsin and who presents their required eligibility documents may purchase one bonus antlerless deer harvest authorization for any ONE unit with a quota, even if the unit is sold out.

Active service means full time employment as a member of the Armed Forces and does not include annual training by members of the National Guard or Reserves.

Qualified Armed Forces members must be at a license agent in-person to allow for payment of product, and eligibility documents submitted to the department. Qualified Armed Forces members shall present their military ID/CAC card or active-duty orders, document showing they are stationed outside Wisconsin, and furlough or leave papers to a DNR Service Center or submit the request and qualification documents online. The individual will also provide the requested authorization information (DMU, zone, and land type).

Qualifications for harvesting deer statewide

Qualified active duty Armed Forces members may use their Gun Buck Deer harvest authorization and one Farmland (Zone 2) Antlerless Deer harvest authorization that comes with the gun deer license statewide, with some limitations (see below for specifics relating to use of buck and antlerless harvest authorizations). The qualified active duty Armed Forces member must meet one of the following requirements:

• is a resident who is an active member of the Armed Forces* stationed outside of Wisconsin who is back in Wisconsin on furlough or leave; or
• is a nonresident who is an active member of the Armed Forces* stationed outside of Wisconsin, who is back in Wisconsin on furlough or leave, BUT ONLY IF they were a resident at the time they entered active service.

*Active U.S. Armed Forces members also includes any person who is a member of a unit incorporated into the Armed Forces, such as an activated National Guard unit serving under the direction of a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Bucks

Qualified active duty Armed Forces members may harvest a buck deer with their Gun Buck harvest authorization statewide with any legal weapon during any firearm deer season, including antlerless-only seasons. Gun Buck Deer harvest authorizations are provided with the purchase of a Gun Deer license.

Antlerless deer

Qualified active duty Armed Forces members may use one Farmland (Zone 2) Antlerless Deer harvest authorization, issued with their Gun Deer license to harvest an antlerless deer in any deer management unit statewide, including buck-only units, during a season open to hunting deer with firearms. The hunter must adhere to the land-type (public or private) listed on the authorization.  Farmland (Zone 2) Antlerless Deer harvest authorizations may be selected with the purchase of the Gun Deer license.

Turkey hunting

Turkey hunting

Any resident in active service with the U.S. Armed Forces stationed outside Wisconsin, and who presents required eligibility documents, may obtain a spring turkey harvest authorization for any zone and time period, without the need to go through the normal application and drawing process.

Active service means full time employment as a member of the Armed Forces and does not include annual training by members of the National Guard or Reserves.

Qualified Armed Forces members shall present their military ID/CAC card or active-duty orders, documents showing they are stationed outside Wisconsin, and furlough or leave papers to a DNR Service Center or submit the request and qualification documents online; indicating desired spring turkey zone and time period.

Once the eligibility has been posted to your account, you may purchase turkey license and approvals through any sales outlet (online, license agent, DNR Service Center).

Sturgeon spearing

Sturgeon spearing

Any resident in active service with the U.S. Armed Forces stationed outside Wisconsin, who presents required eligibility documents, may purchase a sturgeon spearing license after the October 31 deadline, through the end of the open season for spearing sturgeon.

Active service means full time employment as a member of the Armed Forces and does not include annual training by members of the National Guard or Reserves.

Qualified Armed Forces members shall present their military ID/CAC card or active-duty orders, document showing they are stationed outside Wisconsin, and furlough or leave papers to any license agent.

Bear

Bear

Residents and nonresident Purple Heart recipients who exhibit proof of Purple Heart award, or Active Duty Armed Forces members who exhibit proof of active service are eligible to receive a one-time transfer of a Class A Bear license.

Visit awarded harvest authorization transfers for application and additional qualification details.

Qualified Armed Forces members shall present the required qualification documents to a DNR Service Center or submit the request and qualification documents online; along with the Class A Bear Transfer application (form 9400-608).

Purple Heart recipient must present required proof to a DNR Service Center. More details, including acceptable documentation is available on the Veteran's page.

Elk

Elk

Nonresidents Armed Forces members who exhibit proof they meet one of the conditions below may submit an elk hunting application:

• Nonresident Armed Forces members on active duty, stationed in WI
  Required documents: military ID/CAC card or active-duty orders, and document showing you are stationed in Wisconsin.  You will also need to attest that you are currently on active duty in the Armed Forces.
• Members of the Wisconsin National Guard or a Reserves (active or non-active) located in Wisconsin
  Required documents: military ID/CAC card and document showing you are a member of the Wisconsin National Guard or Reserves and stationed in Wisconsin.
• Nonresident Armed Forces members on active duty or activated Reserves unit members, stationed outside of WI, but were WI residents at time of entering active services 
  Required documents: military ID/CAC card or active-duty orders. You will also need to attest that you are currently on active duty and was a WI resident when you entered active service.

Qualified Armed Forces members will present their eligibility documents in-person to a DNR Service Center or submit the request and qualification documents online.

Nonresident Purple Heart recipients who exhibit proof at a DNR Service Center of having received a Purple Heart medal is also eligible to submit an elk hunting. More details, including acceptable documentation available on the Veteran's page.

Once the eligibility has been posted to your account, you may purchase your elk application through any sales outlet (online, license agent, DNR Service Center).

Definitions

Definitions

Federal 22 CFR § 130.3 defines Armed Forces as any of the following:

• The US Army
• The US Navy
• The US Marine Corps
• The US Air Force
• The US Space Force
• The US Coast Guard
• The Maritime service, including merchant marine

Statutory references

• 29.164 (3m) Turkey Harvest Authorization
• 29.173 (2) Deer of Either Sex
• 29.177 (7) Antlerless Permit in Regular Unit (previously hunter's choice)
• 29.183 Deferral of approvals
• 29.192 (4c) Goose harvest authorization
• 29.194 Free Fishing & Small Game, Eligibility for licenses as a resident if resident at time entering service
• 29.569 Sturgeon Spearing License Purchase
• 29.593 Hunter Safety