Iowa Offers New Hunting Opportunity for Nonresident Disabled Vetreans and Nonresident Disabled Active Military Personnel

The Iowa Legislature passed a bill last year that allows a limited number of nonresident disabled veterans and disabled active military personnel to hunt in Iowa at resident prices.

To qualify for one of the special licenses in this program, the hunter must either be a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more, or serving on active duty in the federal military service and participating in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System.  The applicant must also be a participant in a hunt conducted by an approved nonprofit organization that provides hunting experiences for disabled veterans and military personnel.

The Legislature allocated 25 anysex deer tags and 25 turkey tags for this program from an existing special license program for nonresident hunters who promote the state of Iowa and its natural resources.  The tags will be available upon application, with a process to make sure that this opportunity is spread as evenly as possible among the nonprofit organizations that provide these hunting experiences.

Please go to http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/HuntingLicensesLaws/LicenseApplications.aspx  to find the applications.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for conserving and enhancing Iowa’s natural resources. The DNR manages fish and wildlife programs, ensures the health of Iowa’s forests and prairies, and provides recreational opportunities in Iowa’s state parks. Just as importantly, the DNR carries out state and federal laws that protect air, land and water through technical assistance, permitting and compliance programs. The DNR also encourages the enjoyment and stewardship of natural resources among Iowans through outreach and education.