Tennessee to Increase Hunting and Fishing License Fees
Posted 2025-01-03 by
The TWRA has been operating at a deficit due to inflation
Tennessee hunting and fishing license fees are increasing to offset inflation. (Photo by Ken Stilger47)
During its final meeting of 2024, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to approve rule changes to adjust license prices and simplify the license structure.
According to Radio NWTN, the new rules increase most of the hunting and fishing license prices by 28 percent, while Sportsman and Lifetime license fees are increased by 12 percent. Boating registration fees will be increased by 22 percent.
License structure will also be adjusted to simplify regulations. Hunting device type supplemental licenses (gun, archery, muzzleloader) will change to species type supplemental licenses (deer, elk, bear, turkey, waterfowl).
The base hunting and fishing combination license now includes the trout supplemental license (stamp), so no additional license is needed. One single Wildlife Management Area (WMA) permit has taken the place of multiple individual WMA permits.
Following public comment on the proposed Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) fees for North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, the Commission voted to set a three-year gradual permit increase with options for daily, three-day, seven-day, and annual permits. Price changes will take effect July 1, 2025.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) receives more than 70 percent of its operating budget from license sales and federal grants based on the number of hunters in the state. The last broad license fee increase was in 2015. Since then, the Consumer Price Index has seen a 31.6 percent inflation, putting the agency in a significant operational deficit.
