Arkansas Disabled Veteran Hunting Licenses
Oct 15, 2024
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Let's talk about something today that I am passionate about but also deeply disappointed in. That topic is Arkansas disabled veteran hunting licenses, or the lack of one actually! Currently, the State of Arkansas allows 100% disabled veterans to receive a free hunting license. Some might say, well that's great. I have to agree that is kind of them to do that but on the other hand I have to say, wow you couldn't do more. I have not looked up the data, but I would venture to say that the number of 100% VA disabled veterans in the state is probably a low number compared to the total number of any VA rated disabilities in the state. Now, why does this bother me? One, I'm currently an Arkansas resident that is rated at 60% disabled so I don't qualify. The other reason that it bothers me is because I run a nonprofit that takes veterans hunting and fishing so I have to watch the costs anywhere that I can. I would love to show as many veterans as I can the hunting and fishing opportunities that are available here in the "Natural State", but those license costs force me to look elsewhere the majority of the time. I will explain more about that in a minute. So, there is where my complete disappointment with the Arkansas Game and Fish resides. Let me explain and trust me, I have done all the research but please feel free to verify. Arkansas is so far behind every one of our neighboring states on this issue that we shouldn't even be considered as trying! Currently, Texas offers free hunting and fishing licenses to resident/nonresident who are 50% VA rated or above. Oklahoma offers resident lifetime licenses to veterans rated at 60% or above for $25. Missouri offers free hunting and fishing licenses to resident/nonresident who are 60% VA rated or above. Tennessee offers resident licenses for $10 to any veteran that is 30% VA rated or above. Louisianna offers free hunting and fishing licenses to resident/nonresident that is 50% VA rated or above.
Are you starting to see why I'm so disappointed in my State of Arkansas now? Are disabled veterans really not appreciated here or is because too much money is being raised right now to not upset the apple cart?
The next thing you are probably going to say is, find a way to try and change things, make your voice heard. I did that and I was even more upset after I began than before. In October of last year I contacted the Arkansas Game and Fish to complain. I was told at the time by email that any changes to the license structure would have to be done at the legislative level. Seamed easy enough, contact my state Senator (who works for me by the way) and ask him/her the possibility of helping me change something that seems unfair. I get on the state website, and I search for my Senator, who it turns out is Senator Kim Hammer from Benton. I send an email to him explaining everything that I just posted but, in more detail, so as to get his attention. I sent the email on November 2nd, 2023, and on November 6th Senator Hammer answered me with "Brian, let me talk to the game and fish". I thought that was great and I might get an answer or at least be told that this man heard my complaints and would take up the cause. What I got was completely different though. On December 7th, 2023, I sent an email to follow up and see if there had been any progress. I received nothing!! No response, maybe he is busy and will get back to me in a couple of days. Wrong, didn't hear thing. January 8th, 2024, I sent another email asking for progress or any updates and again nothing! Crickets!!!!! I was completely disgusted with a state Senator who is supposed to be my voice to just ghost me. Possibly he didn't have the power he thought he had when he told me that he would talk to the game and fish. Maybe he did talk to them, and they all decided that the money they are making is way more important than one disabled vet that is yelling. I don't know and maybe never will know why he couldn't answer me, but I just will not be defeated. I will continue this fight and hope that anyone reading this from the state of Arkansas will do the same. Multiple voices yelling the same thing seem to get more attention quicker. Contact your Senator if you agree and let the know your position. Contact Senator Hammer at kim.hammer@senate.ar.gov and ask him why he never did anything with my complaint or answered me, maybe you can get something out of him.
In all fairness, I have tagged Senator Hammer in this blog. He deserves the right to defend to defend himself. Comment, share, tag people (I'm really new at this so I don't know if you can. Let me know what you are thinking, am I way off on this?
Kim David Hammer on FB, kim.hammer@senate.ar.gov, http://www.thekimhammershow.com
The blog on licenses didn't mention Tennessee or Mississippi. Currently if you are more than 30% VA rated you can get a resident hunting and fishing license for $10 in Tennessee. Mississippi is another state like Arkansas that is way behind in what they provide, currently if you are 100% VA rated and a resident you don't have to purchase a license. I suppose all of us VA rated under 100% could move to another state because we just aren't getting a lot of respect in our own. If you are a resident Arkansas disabled veteran, please let your opinion be known and contact your Senator. Let's see if we can make some sort of change!