Department of Veterans Assistance and Division of Natural Resources Partner to Expedite Hunting Permit Application Process for Disabled Veterans

9/15/2011

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – As a follow up to the recent announcement regarding a new procedure for disabled or otherwise qualified veterans to obtain hunting and fishing permits, the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance (DVA) and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) are providing additional clarification which highlights a shortened process time for qualifying veterans.

“The mountains, lakes and streams of West Virginia provide endless opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors,” said Veterans Assistance Sec. Keith Gwinn. “We are pleased to work with DNR to expedite the application process for those qualifying disabled vets who want to fully enjoy our state’s fantastic natural resources.”

The new procedure, which is effective immediately, greatly decreases the length of time previously involved in verifying and confirming the qualified veteran’s eligibility. Previously, the process required veterans to submit an application to either the DNR or the DVA, where it was then routed to a federal Veterans Administration office for verification of the veteran’s eligibility, and then rerouted back to the DNR for issuance of the license. Now, with the establishment of the Department of Veterans Assistance, the Division of Natural Resources will receive faster confirmation of the status of the applicant as a result of state DVA veterans’ service officers having access to the federal documentation that certifies a veteran’s disability as permanent and total. Having this capability will eliminate the time it took to obtain the federal Veterans Administration’s signature requirement.

“Being able to remove this unnecessary step is the right thing to do for our veterans,” said DNR Director Frank Jezioro. “The efficiency gained by partnering with DVA in this process will get veterans their licenses in weeks, instead of months. In addition, application tracking will improve significantly.” 

Click here for the updated application form or visit www.wvdnr.gov.

Contact Information

Heather Miles, 304-558-3661
Hoy Murphy, 304-957-9365