Special Licenses

Military Recreational Licenses

Active-duty members of the United States armed forces, including National Guard, are eligible to purchase annual licenses for the same fee that Louisiana residents pay for annual licenses. An active-duty military member’s spouse and/or any dependents may also obtain a fishing license at the Louisiana resident rate. In order to obtain Louisiana resident rate licenses the active-duty member of the military, spouse or dependents must present a valid active duty military ID card at the time of the license purchase. A Louisiana resident who is a member of the Louisiana National Guard or any reserve component of the United States armed forces may purchase a combination license to hunt and fish for $50. Information and applications are available at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/licenses or by calling 225-765-2887. A Louisiana resident or native born retired member of the United States armed forces, including Louisiana National Guard, is eligible to purchase a combination license to hunt and fish for $5. (Application for this license can be mailed to the Baton Rouge office or presented to the Baton Rouge office in person). A Louisiana resident who is a surviving spouse of a member of the United States armed forces, including Louisiana National Guard, who was killed in action while in a combat zone, is eligible to purchase a recreational fishing license for $2.50. (Application for this license can be mailed to the Baton Rouge office or presented to the Baton Rouge office in person).

Texas/Louisiana Reciprocal

Louisiana and Texas residents who hold resident licenses from their resident state or who are exempted from holding resident licenses in their state may fish the border waters between Texas and Louisiana without additional licenses. Boundary waters include:

  • Caddo Lake
  • Toledo Bend Reservoir
  • Sabine River
  • Sabine Lake
  • Sabine Pass

Louisiana residents who are 65 years old or older may fish in Texas public waters (both freshwater and saltwater) as long as they possess valid Louisiana resident licenses and comply with Texas law. Louisiana residents born before June 1, 1940 are not required to have a license to fish border waters, only. Louisiana residents who are 17 to 64 years of age must purchase Texas non-resident fishing license(s) when fishing in Texas, except when fishing in border waters. Texas residents who are 65 years old or older may fish in Louisiana public waters (both freshwater and saltwater) as long as they possess valid Texas resident license(s) and comply with Louisiana law. Texas residents born before Sept. 1, 1930 must possess Texas resident fishing license(s) when fishing in Louisiana, except in the border waters.

Disability Licenses

Resident veterans who have a permanent service-connected disability classification of 50 percent or more and residents who are blind, paraplegic or multiple amputee can be issued recreational basic and saltwater fishing license(s) for free. Residents who are totally and permanently disabled and receiving federal social security disability benefits or disability retirement income from a retirement system whose members are exempt from social security pursuant to the Railroad Retirement Insurance Act or employees of the state or a political subdivision of the state that has not voluntarily agreed to participate in federal social security may qualify for reduced rate basic and saltwater fishing licenses. (This exemption does not apply to Supplemental Security Income benefits). Residents required to use one or more artificial limbs or permanent braces for mobility or a single amputee can be issued recreational basic and saltwater fishing licenses for free. As defined in R.S. 47:463.4(E), Mobility impaired persons that are bona fide residents of Louisiana, in possession of valid identification, and over 60 years of age may use one legal slat trap and/or one hoop net not greater than 18 feet by 8 feet, without a license in any waters of the state, only for the purpose of catching catfish and only for home consumption. Applications for these licenses can be mailed to the Baton Rouge office or presented to the Baton Rouge office in person. Application forms for the Resident Disabled Sportsman License or Resident Disabled with Social Security Benefit License are available at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/licenses. For more information contact Sports License at 225-765-2887.

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