Tennessee Hunting Licenses
The hunting and fishing licenses go on sale February 18 each year, the beginning of prime fishing, and are valid until the last day of February the following year. Seasons are subject to change. License fees are subject to change. Migratory bird seasons are determined by federal regulations. Most licenses, except the Lifetime Sportsman License and specialty licenses, such as Wheelchair, Disabled Veteran, SSI (Supplemental Security Income), and Blind Fishing licenses, are available from most county clerks, sporting goods stores, hardware stores, boat docks, online, and from all TWRA offices.
Hunting and fishing license sales and federal excise taxes comprise almost 100 percent of the TWRA's operating funds. Thank you for buying a hunting and fishing license. Without your support, Tennessee would not have the abundance of fish and wildlife that we all enjoy.
Hunting License Requirements
Who Must Have a Tennessee Hunting License?
If you hunt game or attempt to hunt game by any method or if you assist someone else to do so, you must have a valid hunting license. There are some exceptions:
- Residents born before March 1, 1926 (with proof of age and residency).
- Military personnel on leave carrying leave papers.
- Landowners, their spouses, and children who hunt on farmland which is owned by said landowners. The aforementioned must be residents of Tennessee but need not reside on the land. This license exemption does not apply if the farmland is owned jointly or in common by unrelated persons.
- Resident grandchildren (under the age of 16) and resident great-grandchildren (under the age of 16) who hunt on farmland which is owned by their resident grandparents or great-grandparents.
- Tenants, their spouses, and their dependent children who hunt on farmland owned by an individual or family. The aforementioned must be residents of Tennessee and must actually reside on the land and have the permission of the landowner to hunt. A tenant is a person who, for money, free rent, or other consideration, cares for farmland. The tenancy must be agricultural in nature.
- First cousins who own farmland jointly or in common may fish and hunt small game on the farmland. Their children may fish and hunt small game as well.
- Resident and nonresident youths under 13. Hunters ages 10-12 need only a hunter education certificate to hunt. However, youths 6-16 hunting big game on a WMA must have a valid Type 094 or Type 095 permit or quota permit, as applicable.
Farmland Owner License Exemption
Persons hunting without a license under a resident farmland owner exemption must complete and sign a statement, attesting where the property is located and how this land qualifies for a landowner exemption. Persons may complete the form in advance and carry it with them while hunting or they may complete the form when requested in the field by a TWRA official or when checking game. Resident landowners and their children hunting on their parent's land under this exemption are also exempt from Hunter Education Certification requirements.
Resident Licenses
Resident Hunting License Qualifications
- Persons who possess a valid Tennessee driver's license.
- Persons who have lived in Tennessee for 90 consecutive days with the genuine intent of making Tennessee their permanent home. Proof of residency required.
- Military personnel on active duty in this state and their immediate families, who reside with them, regardless of resident status.
- Students who are enrolled in a Tennessee school, college, or university for at least six months (must present a student ID card or other proof of enrollment
A Social Security Number is required to purchase a Tennessee hunting or fishing license
| Type | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 001 | Hunting and Fishing Combination* Minimum license required to fish and/or hunt small game *Supplemental Licenses (Types 005, 009, 010, or 011) are required and must be purchased, in addition to the Type 001 license, in order to hunt deer, bear, boar (feral hog), turkey, and waterfowl. The type of hunting equipment to be used determines which supplemental license is necessary. |
$28.00 |
| 005 | Waterfowl Supplemental License *Purchase with Hunting & Fishing Combination License |
$31.00 |
| 009 | Annual Big Game Gun Supplemental License *Purchase with Hunting & Fishing Combination License |
$28.00 |
| 010 | Annual Big Game Archery Supplemental License *Purchase with Hunting & Fishing Combination License |
$28.00 |
| 011 | Annual Big Game Muzzleloader Supplemental License *Purchase with Hunting & Fishing Combination License |
$28.00 |
| 019 | Trapping | $28.00 |
| 002 | Junior Hunt/Trap/Fish Ages 13-15. Good for hunting all game, fishing, and trapping. Must be purchased prior to 16th birthday. No supplemental licenses are required, but special season and WMA permits will need to be purchased in addition to this license. Fees apply when applying for quota hunt permits and "leftover" permits. |
$8.00 |
| 004 | Annual Sportsman An all-inclusive license valid for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing without any state supplemental licenses or non-quota permits and allows holders to apply for quota permits at no additional fee. Annual Sportsman licenses can be purchased from all license agents. |
$136.00 |
| 166 | Permanent Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap Available at all license agents and can only be purchased when the 65th birthday is reached. A valid Tennessee driver's license or proof of age and residency is required. No supplemental licenses are required, but special season and WMA permits will need to be purchased in addition to this license. Fees apply when applying for quota hunt permits and "leftover" permits. |
$11.00 |
| 167 | Annual Senior Citizen Permit May be purchased only by holders of a Type 166 license. It covers all non-quota permits required by TWRA and allows holders to apply for quota permits without payment of additional fees. |
$41.00 |
| 401 | Lifetime Sportsman (under 3 years old) An all inclusive lifetime license valid for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing without any supplemental state licenses or permits. Allows holders to apply for quota permits at no additional fee. Call your local TWRA office for an application or download an application to apply. |
$200.00 |
| 406 | Lifetime Sportsman (3-6 years old) An all inclusive lifetime license valid for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing without any supplemental state licenses or permits. Allows holders to apply for quota permits at no additional fee. Call your local TWRA office for an application or download an application to apply. |
$540.00 |
| 402 | Lifetime Sportsman (7-12 years old) An all inclusive lifetime license valid for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing without any supplemental state licenses or permits. Allows holders to apply for quota permits at no additional fee. Call your local TWRA office for an application or download an application to apply. |
$810.00 |
| 403 | Lifetime Sportsman (13-50 years old) An all inclusive lifetime license valid for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing without any supplemental state licenses or permits. Allows holders to apply for quota permits at no additional fee. Call your local TWRA office for an application or download an application to apply. |
$1,620.00 |
| 404 | Lifetime Sportsman (51-64 years old) An all inclusive lifetime license valid for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing without any supplemental state licenses or permits. Allows holders to apply for quota permits at no additional fee. Call your local TWRA office for an application or download an application to apply. |
$945.00 |
| 405 | Lifetime Sportsman (65+ years old) An all inclusive lifetime license valid for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing without any supplemental state licenses or permits. Allows holders to apply for quota permits at no additional fee. Call your local TWRA office for an application or download an application to apply. |
$270.00 |
| Permanent Hunting Licenses | ||
| 189 | Permanent Wheelchair Hunting and Fishing Available only by application from the TWRA License Sales Office (615-781-6585). The application must be accompanied by a doctor's statement stating that the applicant is permanently confined to a wheelchair. Covers all license requirements to hunt and fish but holder must purchase any applicable permits. |
$10.00 |
| 198 | Permanent DAV Hunting and Fishing Available only by application from the TWRA License Sales Office (615-781-6585) for resident veterans certified by the VA as 30 percent disabled by reason of war service or 100 percent service connected. Covers all license requirements to hunt and fish but holder must purchase any applicable permits. |
$10.00 |
Nonresident Hunting Licenses
Anyone who does not qualify for a resident license must purchase the appropriate nonresident license(s) to hunt in Tennessee. These do not include WMA or special season permits.
| Type | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 070 | Junior Hunt/Fish Required for nonresidents ages 13-15 to fish or hunt small game A Type 073 or 074 is required to hunt big game |
$9.00 |
| 072 | 7-Day Hunt-Small Game/Waterfowl | $50.50 |
| 071 | Hunt-Small Game/Waterfowl | $91.00 |
| 074 | 7-Day All Game | $175.00 |
| 073 | Annual All Game | $251.00 |
| 120 | Trapping | $401.00 |
Wildlife Management Area Permits
Everyone who hunts on a Wildlife Management Area is required to have a WMA permit except the holder of a Lifetime Sportsman License, Annual Sportsman License, Annual Senior Citizen Permit (Type 167), and youths under age 16 hunting small game and waterfowl. The youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult with a valid WMA permit. Youths under age 6 may not hunt big game on a WMA. All ages need a Type 094 permit for county non-quota hunts.
| Type | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 091 | WMA Small Game and Waterfowl | $51.00 |
| 092 | 1-Day Small Game and Waterfowl | $10.50 |
| 093 | WMA Small Game Only | $17.00 |
| 094 | Special Season/WMA Nonquota Big Game Valid for all County Special Season non-quota and WMA non-quota big game hunts, including Cherokee. |
$21.00 |
| 095 | Cherokee WMA Big Game Nonquota Valid only for Cherokee WMA non-quota big game hunts. |
$16.00 |
Migratory Bird Permit
Resident and nonresident hunters must possess a Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit to hunt waterfowl andf other migratory birds. Available anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold. The following do not need this permit:
- Landowners hunting on their own land
- Disabled veterans
- Tennessee residents 65 years of age or older
- Tennessee residents under 13 years of age
- Lifetime Sportsman license holders
| Type | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 006 | Migratory Bird Permit | $2.00 |
| 007 | Migratory Bird Permit available only to Sportsman License holders |
No Fee |
North Cumberland Special Use Permits
These permits may be purchased for horseback riding, bicycling, and ORV use. Youths under age 13 and persons holding a valid annual or permanent hunting license with a valid permit to hunt on these areas are exempt. At least one occupant of an enclosed vehicle must possess the proper permit(s). No permit shall be required on certain roads/trails as designated.
| Type | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 035 | Resident Annual Permit | $61.00 |
| 036 | Resident Daily Permit | $12.50 |
| 037 | Non-Resident Annual Permit | $191.00 |
| 038 | Non-Resident Daily Permit | $30.50 |
Reelfoot Preservation Permit
Required for all users except: those under 16 years of age, residents 65 years or older, & holders of the Annual Sportsman license, Lifetime Sportsman license, or the Annual Senior Citizen Permit
| Type | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 089 | Annual Reelfoot Preservation Permit | $17.00 |
| 088 | 3-Day Reelfoot Preservation Permit | $10.50 |
| 090 | 1-Day Reelfoot Preservation Permit | $3.50 |
Other Licenses, Stamps, & Permits
| Type | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 012 | Apprentice Hunting License This license is available to all hunters 10 years of age or older who have not completed the mandatory hunter education course. It exempts the hunter from the mandatory hunter education law until the end of the license year, but may only be purchased once during the lifetime of the hunter. Hunters who possess this license must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older, who must meet hunter education requirements and is able to take immediate control of the hunting device. |
$11.00 |
| Federal Duck Stamp Federal law requires that each waterfowl hunter, age 16 and over carry on his/her person, in addition to a hunting license and permit, a valid Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, (federal duck stamp), signed in ink across the face. These can be obtained through the Post Office, National Wildlife Refuge offices, and some discount and sporting goods stores. |
$15.00 |
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