MEMPHIS, Tenn. – As expected, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC) voted to raise hunting & fishing licenses in the state, along with an increase in boat registration fees.
The increased fees will take effect July 1, 2025. The last such increase was in 2015. Wildlife officials said since that increase, the Consumer Price Index has increased by more than 31 percent. The new boat registration fees will increase by 22 percent and most of the hunting and fishing license prices by 28 percent. Sportsman and Lifetime license fees are increased by 12 percent.
More than 70 percent of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) operating budget comes from license sales and federal grants based on the number of hunters in the state.
In addition to price increases, the ruling adjusts the license structure. Hunting device type supplemental licenses (gun, archery, muzzleloader) will change to species type supplemental licenses (deer, elk, bear, turkey, waterfowl).
The trout supplemental license (stamp) is now part of the base hunting and fishing combination license, so no additional license is needed. Multiple Wildlife Management Area (WMA) permits have been combined into one single WMA permit. There are no changes to resident disability licenses or changes to fees for TWRA lakes. A complete list of the license fees and permits will be available on the TWRA website prior to implementation in 2025.
