RS 643 - Exemption of persons under age sixteen and certain military personnel from licensing requirements; active duty service members, their spouses, and their children; retired members of the armed services
A. Persons under sixteen years of age, whether residents or nonresidents of the state, shall not be required to pay fees for the issuance of noncommercial hunting and fishing licenses.
B.(1) Any person who possesses a military identification card that signifies that he is currently on active military duty with any one of the armed forces of the United States, including the National Guard, or the spouse or dependent of such person, may be issued a license for hunting or recreational fishing in Louisiana after payment of the same fee as that required of Louisiana residents for that same license. Any license purchased under the provisions of this Subsection shall be valid only during that time when the person is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States. In addition, the provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to the purchase of lifetime licenses. The military identification card or dependent card and the appropriate license must be on the licensee's person at all times when he is engaged in hunting or fishing activities.
(2)(a) Any Louisiana resident who submits proof of his status as an active member in good standing of the Louisiana National Guard or any reserve component of the United States armed forces, though not currently on active duty, shall, upon request, be issued a resident Louisiana National Guard license for a fee of fifty dollars. This license shall be in lieu of basic hunting, big game, bow, primitive firearms, and waterfowl licenses, turkey hunting stamps, WMA hunting permits, and the basic and saltwater fishing licenses. The license must be in the possession of the licensee when the licensee is engaged in hunting or fishing activities. The resident shall carry proof of his status as a member of the Louisiana National Guard or any reserve component of the United States armed forces and his resident Louisiana National Guard license on his person at all times when he is engaged in hunting and fishing activities. The resident Louisiana National Guard license shall be valid from June first through June thirtieth of the following year.
(b) For the purposes of this Paragraph, a resident is someone who is registered to vote in Louisiana, has filed a Louisiana state income tax return, or is licensed to drive a motor vehicle in Louisiana. A copy of the prior year's income tax return, a copy of the applicant's voter registration card, or the actual driver's license shall constitute sufficient proof of residence.
C. Upon application to the department and showing identification and proof of military service satisfactory to the department, any person who is a retired member of the United States Armed Forces, the Louisiana Army National Guard, or the Louisiana Air National Guard and was either born in Louisiana or is a bona fide resident of Louisiana, shall be issued a retired military hunting and fishing license. A fee of five dollars shall be charged for this license, and the license shall be available from June first of each calendar year and shall be valid from the date of purchase through the following June thirtieth. This license shall be in lieu of basic hunting, big game, bow, primitive firearms, and waterfowl licenses, turkey hunting stamps, WMA hunting permits, and the basic and saltwater fishing licenses and must be in the possession of the licensee when the licensee is engaged in hunting or fishing activities. Possession of this license shall also authorize the license holder to use a crossbow or a bow that is drawn, held, and released by mechanical means. Magnified scopes may be used with crossbows.
D. Any person, whether a resident or a nonresident, who has been awarded a Purple Heart shall be issued hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate.
NOTE: §643 as repealed by Acts 2021, No. 356, eff. June 1, 2022.
RS 643 - Repealed by Acts 2021, No. 356, §6, eff. June 1, 2022.
Amended by Acts 1954, No. 674, §1; Acts 1991, No. 587, §1, eff. July 16, 1991; Acts 2000, 2d Ex. Sess., No. 1, §3, eff. June 26, 2000; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 77, §1; Acts 2003, No. 271, §1; Acts 2003, No. 855, §1; Acts 2006, No. 221, §1; Acts 2006, No. 497, §1; Acts 2008, No. 51, §1, eff. June 5, 2008; Acts 2014, No. 222, §1; Acts 2020, No. 190, §1; Acts 2021, No. 356, §6, eff. June 1, 2022.