MERCER - It's not the $20, says Robert Thompson Sr. It's the principle. He's a disabled vet, he notes, and ought to get the same hunting privileges given to people over age 70 by the state.

Now, waiting for a legislative change in Maine's hunting and trapping booklet to right the perceived wrong, he's one unhappy disabled veteran.

As a 100 percent disabled veteran, Thompson, is entitled to a complimentary license to hunt, trap or fish, according to the rules booklet published by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

But that free license doesn't include a permit to hunt wild turkeys. With turkey season coming up in May, Thompson recently went to his town clerk for his license as he did last year.

Complimentary licenses for disabled veterans, Thompson thought, are supposed to be the same as those for people over the age of 70, and those do include turkey hunting.

But a free turkey permit for disabled veterans' licenses hasn't been approved yet, said Deborah Turcotte, spokeswoman for the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, on Thursday.

Last year, when the Mercer town clerk couldn't issue him a complimentary permit for turkey hunting, Thompson called Augusta and was told it was a misprint in the 2006-07 booklet, he said. It couldn't just be corrected. It would need to go before the Legislature to have the wording changed, he said he was told.

This week, he went to the new town clerk, Yolanda Violet, who also called Augusta and was told the legislation has not passed, Violet said Thursday.

The change is before the Legislature and it will likely be acted upon, but since the measure does not have an emergency preamble, it has to go through a longer, standard process, according to Deputy IF&W Commissioner Paul Jacques, Turcotte said. Once approved, the change would goes into effect 90-days after the Legislature adjourns, she said.

If it is approved before adjournment, the free permits could be available for the fall hunt, she said.

While the department understands Thompson's wanting the change, the process isn't being held up, just taking time like other legislative actions, Turcotte said.

"It's not the $20 cost for the license. I was mad last year and wouldn't buy one, but I may this year," Thompson said.

"When I was asked to go to Vietnam, I didn't question, I went. When they say they are going to give us something, they should give it to us," he said. "Someone has to stand up and say something. It's an injustice to veterans," Thompson said, adding that he wanted to let other disabled veterans know about it.

Born and raised in Wilton, Thompson has hunted since he was 9, but never hunted wild turkeys. Thompson spent 18-months in Vietnam in the late 1960s, where he was exposed to chemicals, he said. He worked construction on his return until 1996 when health and post traumatic stress issues related to his service resulted in his disability, he said.