Hunting, fishing and boating in Tennessee will be more expensive for outdoors enthusiasts starting July 1. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is increasing prices for licenses by 28% on average, across the board.
The decision was voted on by the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission after funding challenges for the state wildlife agency. The agency has cited a Consumer Price Index increase of 32%.
Here are the key details:
Price Increases:Boat registration (vessel renewal) fees will go up by 22%.
Most hunting and fishing license fees will increase by 28%.
Sportsman and Lifetime license fees will increase by 12%.
Structural Changes:
Instead of having supplemental licenses based on device type (gun, archery, muzzleloader), new supplemental licenses will be based on species (deer, elk, bear, turkey, waterfowl).
The trout supplemental license (stamp) will now be included in the base hunting and fishing combination license; no separate stamp needed.
Multiple Wildlife Management Area (WMA) permits have been consolidated into a single WMA permit.
No changes for resident disability licenses or fees for TWRA lakes.
Timing: If you wish to avoid the higher fees, you must renew boats or purchase licenses before July 1, 2025.
Where to Buy: DeKalb County Clerk’s office is an approved location for purchasing hunting and fishing licenses and completing vessel renewals.
A complete list of new fees and permit changes will be posted on the TWRA website prior to July 1, 2025.
“Even coming out of the pandemic, expenses just continued to grow,” said Emily Buck, the TWRA Director of Public Relations. “Our agency we were operating in about a $15 million annual deficit.”
TWRA receives around 70% of its funding through license sales. But, it also asked Governor Bill Lee for an extra boost of $30 million, which was part of the budget proposal. Only $5 million in additional funding was approved.
“While we would have loved to see that $30 million, we fully understand the need for the governor’s office and for the General Assembly to create a budget that is sustainable and works for the state,” Buck said.
“And we will take that $5 million and put it to good use.”
The TWRA said it is struggling to staff officers with a limited budget.
“We’ve held approximately 20 law enforcement positions vacant,” Buck said. “Which means if there is a boating accident on the water, we may be slower to respond. If there’s an accident in the field, we may be slower to respond. Poachers may go uncaught.”
Upcoming license fee changes can be found online. Prices will stay at the current rate until July 1.
Other changes include a new law allowing two visibility colors for hunters: blaze orange and blaze pink. Buck said it’s a nod to Tennessee’s prevalent female hunters and anglers.
In addition, Buck said there are some changes to poaching fines and a new license to go into effect in 2026, which would allow deer baiting.