I did the math. What state has the best benefits?
Want the info before you hear anything else? Cool.
THE STATES THAT HONOR THEIR VETS
Veterans Benefit Index Score (VBIS)
#10 West Virginia – 73.2
#9 Alaska – 73.6
#8 Florida – 76.2
#7 Hawaii – 77.8
#6 Missouri – 78.2
#5 Louisiana – 78.6
#4 New Mexico – 81.2
#3 New Jersey – 81.6
#2 Connecticut – 86.6
#1 Illinois – 94.6
Before you brick in your pants, let me explain how this is scored. I didn’t take into account the volume of Boone & Crocket or Pope & Young scores on animals in making this list. This list is about being a VETERAN and a hunter. I want the benefits states provide to veterans to shine in this list, and they do.
If you don’t care about how I found these numbers, skip this paragraph below.
So, this is how it’s scored: The resident price for a hunting license is the lowest priority, so I took the national hunting license costs and put them on a scale of 10-100. 100 points = the best resident price, like $10 for an annual resident hunting license, and 10 Points = the worst, like Washington’s insane $90 annual hunting license fee. So, Washington would get 10 points, and Hawaii would get 100 points. Then, I will do the same for Veteran Disability Access, which means determining the degree of disability needed to access this benefit. No disability required for a veteran benefit = 100 points, and 100% disability needed to access the benefit = 10 points. Next is the Veteran Disability Discount, so how much will they give you? A free Lifetime License is 100 points. An annual small game license is 10 points. Lastly, the bonus points come into effect. If a state offers a special veteran season or a discount on tags, they get a boost before the final scoring takes place. Aside from bonus points, each category is multiplied by a percentage to reflect its importance. The regular resident cost is the least important, so it is multiplied by .5. Veteran Disability is multiplied by .3, and Disability Access is multiplied by .2 because it is the most important category. Here’s why. Veteran Access allows for most veterans to enjoy the benefit. This is what all of that bullshit looks like as an equation.
[Regular Resident Cost (RRC) x .5]+[Veteran Disability Discount(VDD) x .3]+
[Veteran Disability Access(VDA) x .2]+[Bonus Points] = Veteran Benefit Index Score (VBIS)
Here’s the summary for non-math guys. The number of veterans able to use their state hunting benefit is the most important metric for this list. Next, I think the size of the discount is most important. Lastly, I believe the resident cost is the least important. However, it is still important enough to include in the scoring because if the state benefits aren’t great, any resident veterans will still be paying that price. If you disagree, write a letter, attach it to the leg of an African swallow, and send it my way with a coconut in tow.
You may think lists like these are trivial, but they aren’t. Finding a way to score states in their performance with veterans is important because we can pressure our own states to pick up the pace. It’s easier to say, “Look at what these states are doing. They’re making us look like we don’t honor our vets.” SO, on that note… Here are some states that shit on their veteran populations with awful incentives to get in the woods:
THE STATES THAT LIKE KICKING VETS OUT OF THE WOODS AND IN THE NUTS
#5 Colorado – 50
#4 California – 48
#3 Wisconsin – 43.6
#2 Utah – 42.2
#1 Washington – 38
You may be thinking like I did, that these are big Western game states, and they’re always more expensive. Unfortunately, that doesn’t detract from the point at all. Focus on these main facts. These are LICENSE prices, not tags. These are also RESIDENT prices. Every state can treat those who serve with honor and care. Montana provides reduced tag prices. That’s because they know how to honor vets. Oklahoma offers a massively discounted Lifetime license to veterans with 1% or more disability (it’s 25$ if you’re over 60%).
It’s not about your state game. It’s about your state veterans association and what they’re doing to get veterans into places that help heal the invisible wounds of warfighting. Outdoor activities are clinically proven to help veterans heal their invisible wounds. If you belong in one of the bottom five states, write a letter to your senator and your state VA. Ask them why other states work much harder to support their vets in the woods.