Ohio Code § 1533.12

§ 1533.12.

(A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2) of this section, every person on

active duty in the armed forces of the United States who is stationed in this state

and who wishes to engage in an activity for which a license, permit, or stamp is required

under this chapter first shall obtain the requisite license, permit, or stamp.  Such a person is eligible to obtain a resident hunting or fishing license regardless

of whether the person qualifies as a resident of this state.  To obtain a resident hunting or fishing license, the person shall present a card

or other evidence identifying the person as being on active duty in the armed forces

of the United States and as being stationed in this state. (2) Every person on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, while on leave

or furlough, may take or catch fish of the kind lawfully permitted to be taken or

caught within the state, may hunt any wild bird or wild quadruped lawfully permitted

to be hunted within the state, and may trap fur-bearing animals lawfully permitted

to be trapped within the state, without procuring a fishing license, a hunting license,

a fur taker permit, or a wetlands habitat stamp required by this chapter, provided

that the person shall carry on the person when fishing, hunting, or trapping, a card

or other evidence identifying the person as being on active duty in the armed forces

of the United States, and provided that the person is not otherwise violating any

of the hunting, fishing, and trapping laws of this state. In order to hunt deer or wild turkey, any such person shall obtain a deer or wild

turkey permit, as applicable, under section 1533.11 of the Revised Code .  Such a person is eligible to obtain a deer or wild turkey permit at the resident

rate, regardless of whether the person is a resident of this state.  However, the person need not obtain a hunting license in order to obtain such a

permit. (B) The chief of the division of wildlife shall provide by rule adopted under section 1531.10 of the Revised Code all of the following: (1) Every resident of this state with a disability that has been determined by the veterans

administration to be permanently and totally disabling, who receives a pension or

compensation from the veterans administration, and who received an honorable discharge

from the armed forces of the United States, and every veteran to whom the registrar

of motor vehicles has issued a set of license plates under section 4503.41 of the Revised Code , shall be issued a fishing license, hunting license, fur taker permit, deer or wild

turkey permit, or wetlands habitat stamp, or any combination of those licenses, permits,

and stamp, free of charge on an annual, multi-year, or lifetime basis as determined

appropriate by the chief when application is made to the chief in the manner prescribed

by and on forms provided by the chief. (2) Every resident of the state who was born on or before December 31, 1937, shall be

issued an annual fishing license, hunting license, fur taker permit, deer or wild

turkey permit, or wetlands habitat stamp, or any combination of those licenses, permits,

and stamp, free of charge when application is made to the chief in the manner prescribed

by and on forms provided by the chief. (3) Every resident of state or county institutions, charitable institutions, and military

homes in this state shall be issued an annual fishing license free of charge when

application is made to the chief in the manner prescribed by and on forms provided

by the chief. (4) As used in division (B)(4) of this section, “blind” and “person with a mobility impairment”

have the same meanings as in section 955.021 of the Revised Code . Any person with a mobility impairment or blind person who is a resident of this state

and who is unable to engage in fishing without the assistance of another person shall

be issued an annual fishing license free of charge when application is made to the

chief in the manner prescribed by and on forms provided by the chief.  The person who is assisting the person with a mobility impairment or blind person

may assist in taking or catching fish of the kind permitted to be taken or caught

without procuring the license required under section 1533.32 of the Revised Code , provided that only one line is used by both persons. (5) As used in division (B)(5) of this section, “ prisoner of war ” means any regularly appointed, enrolled, enlisted, or inducted member of the military

forces of the United States who was captured, separated, and incarcerated by an enemy

of the United States. Any person who has been a prisoner of war, was honorably discharged from the military

forces, and is a resident of this state shall be issued a fishing license, hunting

license, fur taker permit, or wetlands habitat stamp, or any combination of those

licenses, permits, and stamp, free of charge on an annual, multi-year, or lifetime

basis as determined appropriate by the chief when application is made to the chief

in the manner prescribed by and on forms provided by the chief. (C) The chief shall adopt rules pursuant to section 1531.08 of the Revised Code designating not more than two days, which need not be consecutive, in each year as

“free sport fishing days” on which any resident may exercise the privileges accorded

the holder of a fishing license issued under section 1533.32 of the Revised Code without procuring such a license, provided that the person is not otherwise violating

any of the fishing laws of this state.